Charging station, especially for electric vehicles, plug adapters for use with such a charging station and methods for operating a charging station

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, with at least one charging point (5) having a charging plug (7) for electrical connection with an electrical device to be charged, and with at least one adapter receptacle (9) which is configured to receive a plug adapter (3) configured for use with the charging plug (7), wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to keep the plug adapter (3) secured against unauthorized removal in a locking state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter (3) for removal in an unlocking state of the plurality of states, wherein the charging station (1) also has a control device (11) which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle (9) and configured to monitor a momentary state of the adapter receptacle (9).

Description

The invention relates to a charging station, in particular for electric vehicles, a plug adapter for use with such a charging station and a method for operating a charging station.For charging electrical devices, in particular electric vehicles, at charging station, different standards of plugs and sockets have become established in different regions. In this case, there are in particular standards which allow only comparatively slow charging by means of alternating current, and combination standards in which the charging possibility via alternating current and, in addition, a comparatively faster charging possibility via direct current are provided in a common plug. In addition, fast charging stations typically use the contact pattern of the AC plug to exchange information with a device to be charged while the DC contacts are used for fast charging. Such combination standards can thus have separate contact systems for direct current on the one hand and alternating current on the other hand, such as CCS1 or CCS2, or they can use an identical contact system for direct current and alternating current, such as NACS, for example. It is problematic that a specific type of plug is typically fixedly installed at a conventional charging station, in particular at quick charging columns, so that electrical devices such as electric vehicles, for example, which have a charging socket that does not match this type of plug, cannot be charged. Although plug adapters have also become known in principle, with which one type of plug can be adapted to another type of socket, such plug adapters have to be carried laboriously by the user of the electrical device, for example in an electric vehicle. While it would in principle be possible to store such plug adapters at a charging station, this poses problems in consequence, in particular with regard to unintentional removal up to theft by users of the charging station.The object of the invention is therefore to create a charging station, in particular for electric vehicles, a plug adapter for use with such a charging station and a method for operating a charging station, wherein the disadvantages mentioned are at least reduced, preferably do not occur.The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims and the embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.The object is achieved in particular by providing a charging station, in particular for electric vehicles, which has at least one charging point which has at least one charging plug for electrical connection to an electrical device to be charged, in particular an electric vehicle. The charging station also comprises at least one adapter receptacle configured to receive a plug adapter configured for use with the charging plug, wherein the adapter receptacle is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states. The adapter receptacle is configured to hold the plug adapter secured against unauthorized removal in a locked state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter for removal in an unlocked state of the plurality of states. The charging station-or a unit assigned externally to the charging station-also has a control device which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle and is configured to monitor a current state of the adapter receptacle. Advantageously, in this way, at least one plug adapter can be stored directly in the region of the charging station, in particular at the charging station, so that the need for a user of an electrical device to be charged to carry such a plug adapter with him is dispensed with. Because the plug adapter is held secured against unauthorized removal in the locked state of the adapter receptacle, arbitrary removal of the secured plug adapter is effectively prevented. By virtue of the fact that the control device can monitor the instantaneous state of the adapter receptacle, a possibility is simultaneously created of preventing accidental or arbitrary removal of the plug adapter used for charging, and additionally or alternatively of initiating measures if the plug adapter is being misturned or accidentally carried along. This in turn makes it even possible to provide the plug adapter at the charging station from the perspective of an operator of the same expedient and economical.The fact that the charging station has the control device includes the fact that the control device is assigned to the charging station in such a way that the functionality of the control device can be implemented in or by the charging station. The control device itself can be arranged inside or outside a housing of the charging station, even remotely, for example in a backend or a cloud, or can also be implemented virtually. It is also possible for the functionality of the control device to be implemented partly inside the housing of the charging station and partly outside the housing, wherein in particular different computing devices can cooperate in order to implement the functionality of the control device. In particular, the control device is thus assigned to the charging station.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to monitor, as the current state of the adapter receptacle, in particular whether the adapter receptacle is arranged in the locked state or in the unlocked state. In this way, it can be directly determined whether the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle and is also locked.Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to monitor, as the current state of the adapter receptacle, whether the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle, in particular by means of a sensor device suitable for this purpose and described below. In this way, it can be more generally determined whether the plug adapter has been moved back-regardless of the locking state. However, in a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the adapter receptacle automatically enters the locking state as soon as the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle.In one embodiment, the adapter receptacle is designed as a plug socket with a locking device, in particular analogously to corresponding charging sockets known from electric vehicles, which likewise provide locking of the charging plug. The adapter receptacle can be geometrically matched to the charging plug, in particular without having corresponding electrical contacts, however. In this respect, the adapter receptacle then serves only for the geometric mounting and thus storage of the plug adapter. The state of the adapter receptacle is in this case in particular a state of the locking device of the charging socket.It is possible for the charging station additionally to have rain or moisture protection for the plug adapter arranged in the adapter receptacle, for example a type of rain roof above the adapter receptacle.In another embodiment, the adapter receptacle is designed as a storage compartment or storage space with lockable access, in particular with lockable door. In this case, the plug adapter is stored-in particular within the charging station-in a protected or access-restricted area, in particular a type of safe. The state of the adapter receptacle is in this case in particular a state of the lockable access, in particular of the lockable door.In one embodiment, the charging station has a plurality of adapter receptacles for a plurality of charging plugs-in particular one charging plug per adapter receptacle. In particular, in this case, the charging station has a plurality of adapter receptacles for a plurality of different charging plugs, that is to say in particular charging plugs having different pairings of plug connection types-on the plug side and on the socket side. Advantageously, in this way, more than two different electrical devices, in particular more than two different electric vehicles, can be charged with more than two different charging sockets at the charging station.In one embodiment, the charging station has an associated adapter receptacle-and optionally an associated plug adapter-for each charging point. In one embodiment, the charging station has a plurality of associated adapter receptacles for each charging point, and optionally a plurality of associated plug adapters in each case, in particular with different pairings of plug connection types-on the plug side and the socket side.In electrical engineering, the term charging station refers to any, in particular stationary or mobile, device or electrical installation which serves to supply energy to mobile battery-operated electrical devices, devices, machines or motor vehicles by simple setting or plugging in, without having to necessarily remove the drive energy store-for example the traction battery of an electric car. Charging stations for electric cars are sometimes also referred to as "electric power stations" and may comprise a plurality of charging points. In particular, direct current fast charging systems (high performance charging systems or high power charging systems, HPC systems) such as the so-called combined charging system (CCS) widely used in Europe are known here. In the case of direct current charging of the generic type, direct current is fed from the charging station directly into the battery of the vehicle and is provided for this purpose by a powerful rectifier, preferably the charging station, from the power grid or by large buffer accumulators at, for example, solar charging stations. A battery management system is located in the vehicle, which communicates directly or indirectly with the charging station in order to adjust the current intensity and voltage or to end the process when a predetermined capacity limit is reached. Power electronics are usually located in the charging station. Since the DC terminals of the charging station are connected directly-without detour via an AC / DC converter of the vehicle-to corresponding terminals of the traction battery, high charging currents with low losses can be transmitted, which enables short charging times.In one embodiment, the charging station is designed as a charging column. In particular, the charging station has at least one charging point, in particular exactly one charging point or exactly two charging points.In particular, the charging station is designed as a rapid charging station. In one embodiment, the charging station is designed as a battery-supported charging station, in particular as a battery-supported rapid charging station.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the control device is configured to control charging processes of the charging station and to complete an active charging process only when the adapter receptacle is in the locked state. Advantageously, a user is prevented in this way from ending the charging process and from removing as long as the plug adapter is not arranged again in the adapter receptacle.Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to complete the active charging process while noticing the unlocking state in a data set assigned to the active charging process if the adapter receptacle is not in the locking state. Advantageously, this creates a possibility of dealing with cases in which the plug adapter is not arranged again in the adapter receptacle.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to note the unlocking state in the data record by setting an note, for example a flag, in the data record, wherein the control device optionally notifies the police or another authority-in particular simultaneously-or automatically provides display, or initiates such a measure, optionally via a backend or a cloud. Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to assign a penalty charge to the active charging process, in particular to charge a correspondingly increased charge to the user, and in this way to note the unlocking state in the data record. Instead of a penalty fee, the cost or the monetary value of the plug adapter itself can also be calculated additionally.In an advantageous embodiment, this is communicated to the user-in particular optically or acoustically, in particular via an output of a warning message on a display of the charging station-wherein the user optionally simultaneously receives the opportunity to return the plug adapter into the adapter receptacle in order to avoid the consequences negative for him.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the control device is configured to put the adapter receptacle into the unlocked state. Advantageously, in this way, the adapter receptacle can be actively released by the control device, in particular if at least one predetermined condition is fulfilled, for example a charging process has been successfully initiated or identified beforehand.In one embodiment of the charging station, the adapter receptacle is configured to automatically or automatically pass from the unlocked state into the locked state when the plug adapter is received again by the adapter receptacle. This automatic locking can take place purely mechanically, for example by means of spring prestress of a locking mechanism, or electrically, in particular by means of an actuator or electromagnet controlled or triggered by the plug adapter.In another embodiment of the charging station, the control device is configured to put the adapter receptacle into the locked state, in particular when the plug adapter is received again by the adapter receptacle. For this purpose, the control device is operatively connected to a sensor device in one embodiment, which is configured to determine that the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle. The sensor device can be embodied purely mechanically, in particular as a type of button, or else can comprise a light measurement, for example a light barrier. It is also possible for the sensor device to have a photocell or a camera, it being possible to record changes in an exposure situation, brightness, or an image of the plug adapter arranged in the adapter receptacle. However, the sensor device can also be designed electrically or electromagnetically and can function, for example, via an electrical contact or a change in capacitance or the like.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to put the adapter receptacle into the unlocked state only after initialization, in particular only after identification of a charging process. Advantageously, the plug adapter can be released for removal only when a charging process is actually initialized and in particular-associable-is identified. It is thus also possible, if necessary, to assign removal of the plug adapter and to initiate appropriate measures in a targeted manner.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the control device is configured to unambiguously identify a charging process of the charging station, and to assign a removal process of the removal of the plug adapter to an identified charging process, if the adapter receptacle is placed in the unlocked state after the identification of the charging process. In particular in this way, it is possible to assign the removal of the plug adapter to a specific charging process and at the same time to a specific user and, in the event of removal of the plug adapter, to initiate corresponding measures in a targeted manner.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to unambiguously identify a user of the charging station and to assign the removal process to the identified user. The identification of the user simultaneously represents an identification of the charging process by the user, so that at the same time as the assignment of the removal process to the user, the removal process is also assigned to the charging process. The user can be identified in particular by means of a so-called charging card, which typically has an RFID chip with a specific identifier, by means of an app, by means of communication of the charging station with the device to be charged, for example plug & charge, or in another suitable manner. The charging process is thus simultaneously identified.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the adapter receptacle is configured to determine whether the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle, and to pass from the unlocked state into the locked state only when-in particular as soon as-the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle, and optionally whenever. In one embodiment, the adapter receptacle is assigned the above-described sensor device for this purpose, which is optionally operatively connected to the control device.Advantageously, the adapter receptacle is arranged in a unique state depending on the arrangement of the plug adapter in or on the adapter receptacle, namely exactly then and only in the unlocked state when the plug adapter is not received by the adapter receptacle, and exactly then and only in the locked state when the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the charging station, in particular the control device, is configured to transfer a plug locking of a plug adapter from a blocking position into a release position when the adapter receptacle is in the locking state. With the aid of the plug locking, the plug adapter can advantageously be locked to the charging plug of the charging station, so that it is also firmly connected to the charging station in this situation and cannot be removed.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to put the adapter receptacle into the unlocked state only when the plug lock of the plug adapter is in its locked position. A user must then first insert the charging plug into the plug adapter, whereby the plug lock reaches the blocking position and is thus locked before the plug adapter is released by the adapter receptacle and can be removed therefrom. The plug adapter is then firmly connected to the charging plug and in particular locked to the latter. Only when the plug adapter is again received by the adapter receptacle and the latter is arranged in particular in its locked state is the plug lock also moved back into its release position and the charging plug can be removed from the plug adapter. In this case, however, the plug adapter is then again fixedly connected to the adapter receptacle. Thus, in this embodiment, there is no state in which the plug adapter would not be fixedly connected to the charging station and could be removed.The charging station, in particular the control device, can be configured to actively transfer the plug locking of the plug adapter from the blocking position into the release position, in particular by a suitable signal or an electrical or electromagnetic pulse, or passively, in particular by a mechanical or magnetic operative connection.In one embodiment, the plug locking mechanism is configured to automatically pass from the release position into the blocking position when the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter, for example by a prestressed latching element or the like.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the charging station has a plug adapter, in particular a plug adapter according to the invention or a plug adapter according to one or more of the embodiments described below.In particular, the plug adapter is accommodated, in particular locking or locked, in the adapter receptacle.In one embodiment, the charging station has a plurality of plug adapters, in particular a plurality of different plug adapters, with a respectively different pairing of plug connection types-on the plug side and the socket side.In one embodiment, each plug adapter is assigned a separate adapter receptacle. The individual adapter receptacles are in particular each configured and optionally operatively connected to the control device in such a way as was described above in connection with the adapter receptacle. This applies in particular to each of the adapter receptacles. In particular, the control device is configured to monitor the plurality of adapter receptacles, in particular each adapter receptacle, with regard to their current state.The object is also achieved by providing a plug adapter for use with a charging station according to the invention or a charging station according to one or more of the embodiments described above, wherein the plug adapter has a socket part and a plug part, wherein the socket part is configured to cooperate with the charging plug of the charging station, wherein the plug part is configured to cooperate with a charging socket of an electrical device to be charged. In connection with the plug adapter, in particular those advantages are obtained which have already been described in connection with the charging station.In one embodiment, the socket part has a plug lock which is configured to lock the charging plug of the charging station to the plug adapter in a blocking position when the charging plug is inserted into the socket part and to release the charging plug in a release position. The plug lock is in particular configured and functions in the manner already described above in connection with the charging station.In this case, the plug locking device in particular automatically moves from the release position into the blocking position when the charging plug is plugged into the plug adapter. Alternatively or additionally, the plug lock is moved from the blocking position into the release position by the charging station, in particular by the control device, actively or passively.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the socket part has a plug connection type selected from a group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, type 1 or J1772, GB / T, type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS; wherein the plug part has another plug connection type selected from the same group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, type 1 or J1772, GB / T, type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS.In one embodiment, the socket part has the plug connection type CCS 1 and the plug part has the plug connection type NACS. In another embodiment, the socket part has the plug connection type NACS and the plug part has the plug connection type CCS1. In another embodiment, the socket part has the plug connection type CCS2 and the plug part has the plug connection type NACS. In another embodiment, the socket part has the plug connection type NACS and the plug part has the plug connection type CCS2. In other embodiments, in principle all conceivable combinations of already existing or else future plug connection types are possible.The object is also achieved by providing a method of operating a charging station, in particular for charging an electrical device at the charging station, wherein an instantaneous state of an adapter receptacle is monitored. In connection with the method, in particular those advantages are obtained which have already been explained in connection with the charging station or the plug adapter.In particular, in the method, a charging station according to the invention or a charging station is operated according to one or more of the embodiments described above.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the method has the following steps: a) initializing and / or identifying a charging process; optionally b) checking whether a plug adapter request is present; optionally c) charging the electrical device to be charged; d) checking whether the adapter receptacle is locked, and e) completing the charging process if the adapter receptacle is locked.A plug adapter requirement can be present in particular by the charging plug being inserted into the plug adapter. The charging station advantageously has a suitable checking mechanism with which this can be detected. Thus, in one embodiment, a check is made in step b) as to whether the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter.In particular, the adapter receptacle is unlocked-in a step b1) after step b) and before step c) or d)-i.e. is placed in its unlocked state if a plug adapter request is present.Optionally, in a step b2), after step b1) and before step c) or d), the plug adapter is removed.Optionally, in a step d0) before step d), in particular after step c), the plug adapter is arranged in the region of the adapter receptacle, in particular in or on the adapter receptacle. Furthermore, optionally, in a step d 01) after the step d 0) and before the step d), the adapter receptacle is placed in the locking state.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the charging process-in a step f)-is not concluded if the adapter receptacle is not locked.Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the charging process is completed by recording an indicium in a data set assigned to the charging process if the adapter receptacle is not locked.In one embodiment, the method uses a plug adapter according to the invention or a plug adapter according to one or more of the embodiments described above.Optionally, the plug adapter is locked to the charging plug-in in a step b0) before step d), in particular before step c), in particular before step b1), by the plug lock being moved into the locking position.Optionally, in a step d 1) before step e), in particular after step d), the plug adapter releases the charging plug by displacing the plug lock into the release position if it is determined in step d) that the adapter receptacle is locked.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a charging station with a plug adapter, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method for charging an electrical device at the charging station.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a charging station 1 with a plug adapter 3.The charging station 1, which is configured in particular for charging a drive energy store of an electric vehicle, has at least one charging point 5 having a charging plug 7 for electrical connection to an electrical device to be charged-in particular to the electric vehicle. In addition, the charging station 1 has at least one adapter receptacle 9 which is configured to receive the plug adapter 3 configured for use with the charging plug 7. The adapter receptacle 9 is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states, specifically to keep the plug adapter 3 secured against unauthorized removal in a locked state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter 7 for removal in an unlocked state of the plurality of states. The charging station 1 also has a control device 11 which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle 9 and is configured to monitor a current state of the adapter receptacle 9.The charging station 1 can have a plurality of charging points 5 and / or a plurality of adapter receptacles 9.In particular, the charging station 1 has the at least one plug adapter 3, in particular one plug adapter 3 per adapter receptacle 9, preferably at least one adapter receptacle 9 with a plug adapter 3 per charging point 5.The plug adapter 3 has a socket part 13 and a plug part 15. The socket part 13 is configured to cooperate with the charging plug 7. The plug part 15 is configured to cooperate with a charging socket of the electrical device to be charged, in particular of the electric vehicle.The socket part 13 preferably has a plug lock 17 which is configured to lock the charging plug 7 to the plug adapter 3 in a blocking position when the charging plug 7 is inserted into the socket part 13 and to release the charging plug 7 in a release position.The adapter receptacle 9 preferably has a locking device 19. In particular, the control device 11 is operatively connected to the locking device 19.The charging station 1 preferably additionally has rain or moisture protection for the plug adapter 3 arranged in the adapter receptacle 9, in particular a rain roof 20 above the adapter receptacle 9.Preferably, the socket member 13 has a plug type selected from a group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, type 1 or J1772, GB / T, type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS. The plug part 15 has a different plug connection type selected from the same group.The control device 11 is preferably configured to control charging processes of the charging station 1 and to complete an active charging process only if the adapter receptacle 9 is in the locked state, or to complete the active charging process while not establishing the unlocked state in a data record assigned to the active charging process if the adapter receptacle 9 is not in the locked state.The control device 11 is also preferably configured to put the adapter receptacle 9 into the unlocked state, in particular only after initialization-in particular identification-of a charging process.Furthermore, the control device 11 is preferably configured to unambiguously identify a charging process of the charging station 1, in particular a user, and to assign a removal process of the removal of the plug adapter 3 to an identified charging process if the adapter receptacle 9 is placed in the unlocked state after the identification of the charging process.The adapter receptacle 9 is preferably configured to determine whether the plug adapter 3 is received by the adapter receptacle 9 and to pass from the unlocked state to the locked state only when the plug adapter 3 is received by the adapter receptacle 9.The charging station 1, in particular the control device 11, is preferably configured to transfer the plug lock 17 of the plug adapter 3 from the locked position into the released position when the adapter receptacle 9 is in the locked state.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method for charging an electrical device at the charging station 1.Identical and functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols in all figures, so that reference is made to the preceding description in each case in this respect.In a first step a), a charging process is initialized and identified. In a second step b), it is checked whether a plug adapter request is present, preferably by checking whether the charging plug 7 is plugged into the plug adapter 3.In a third step b 1), the adapter receptacle 9 is unlocked if a plug adapter request is present, in particular if the charging plug 7 is plugged into the plug adapter 3. Otherwise, the adapter receptacle 9 remains locked in a fourth step b1').If the adapter receptacle 9 is unlocked, the plug adapter 3 is removed in a fifth step b 2), and the electrical device to be charged is charged in a sixth step c). Otherwise, without plug adapter request, the electrical device to be charged is charged without the plug adapter 3 in step c).If the plug adapter 3 is used, it is again arranged in the region of the adapter receptacle 9 in a sixth step d 0)-after the charging-and the adapter receptacle 9 is again placed in the locked state in a seventh step d 01).In an eighth step d), it is checked whether the adapter receptacle 9 is locked, and in a ninth step e), the charging process is concluded if the adapter receptacle 9 is locked. Alternatively, the charging process is not concluded in a tenth step f) if the adapter receptacle 9 is not locked, or the charging process is concluded in the tenth step f) by receiving an entry in a data record assigned to the charging process if the adapter receptacle 9 is not locked. Optionally, in the tenth step f), additional measures are automatically taken or initiated by the control device 11, optionally sent via a backend or a cloud, such as, for example, information to the police or another authority, automatically giving a display, or billing a penalty charge or cost of the plug adapter 3.Optionally, the plug adapter 3 is locked to the charging plug 7 before step b 1) by displacing the plug lock 17 into the locking position. Only then is the adapter receptacle 9 unlocked.Optionally, the plug adapter 3 releases the charging plug 7 after step d) by moving the plug lock 17 into the release position if it is determined in step d) that the adapter receptacle 9 is locked.

Claims

Charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, having at least one charging point (5) having a charging plug (7) for electrical connection to an electrical device to be charged, and having at least one adapter receptacle (9) which is configured to receive a plug adapter (3) configured for use with the charging plug (7), wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to keep the plug adapter (3) secured against unauthorized removal in a locked state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter (3) for removal in an unlocked state of the plurality of states, wherein the charging station (1) also has a control device (11) which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle (9) and is configured to monitor a current state of the adapter receptacle (9).Charging station (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (11) is configured to control charging operations of the charging station (1) and to complete an active charging operation only if the adapter receptacle (9) is in the locking state, or to complete the active charging operation while not identifying the unlocking state in a data set associated with the active charging operation if the adapter receptacle (9) is not in the locking state.Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (11) is configured to put the adapter receptacle (9) into the unlocked state, in particular only after initialization - in particular identification - of a charging process.Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (11) is configured to unambiguously identify a charging process of the charging station (1), in particular a user, and to assign a removal process of the removal of the plug adapter (3) to an identified charging process if the adapter receptacle (9) is moved into the unlocked state after the identification of the charging process.Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to determine whether the plug adapter (3) is received by the adapter receptacle (9) and to pass from the unlocked state to the locked state only when the plug adapter (3) is received by the adapter receptacle (9).Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (1) is configured to transfer a plug locking of a plug adapter (3) from a locking position into a release position when the adapter receptacle (9) is in the locking state.Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (1) has a plug adapter (3), in particular a plug adapter (3) according to one of Claims 8 or 9.Plug adapter (3) for use with a charging station (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plug adapter (3) comprises a socket part (13) and a plug part (15), wherein the socket part (13) is configured to cooperate with the charging plug (7) of the charging station (1), wherein the plug part (15) is configured to cooperate with a charging socket of an electrical device to be charged, wherein optionally the socket part (13) comprises a plug lock (17) configured to lock the charging plug (7) of the charging station (1) to the plug adapter (3) in a locking position when the charging plug (7) is inserted into the socket part (13) and to release the charging plug (7) in a releasing position.The plug adapter (3) according to claim 8, wherein the socket part (13) has a plug connection type selected from a group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, type 1 or J1772, GB / T, type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS, and wherein the plug part (15) has another plug connection type selected from the same group.Method for operating a charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, wherein a momentary state of an adapter receptacle (9) is monitored.Method according to claim 10, wherein the following steps are carried out: - initializing and / or identifying a charging process; - optionally charging the electrical device to be charged; - checking whether the adapter receptacle (9) is locked, and - completing the charging process if the adapter receptacle (9) is locked.Method according to claim 11, wherein the charging process is not concluded or is concluded by recording an indicium in a data record assigned to the charging process if the adapter receptacle (9) is not locked.

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