Charging plug holder for a charging device for charging electric vehicles, and charging device

Abstract

A charging plug holder (10) for a charging device (14) for charging electric vehicles comprises an outer surface (18) with a receptacle (20) for inserting at least a partial section (22) of a charging plug (12) for an electric vehicle to hold the charging plug (12) in the receptacle (20), and at least one locking element (24) configured to engage a locking opening (26) of the charging plug (12) after the charging plug (12) has been inserted, thereby locking the charging plug (12) in the receptacle (20). The charging plug holder (10) further comprises an actuating element (32) extending from the outer surface (18) to the locking element (24) to push the locking element (24) into an unlocked position by manually pressing the actuating element (32), in which the charging plug (12) is unlocked.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging plug holder for a charging device for charging electric vehicles. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging device for charging electric vehicles, which comprises a charging plug holder.

[0002] Charging devices for electric vehicles, such as wall boxes, are designed to transmit high currents to the electric vehicle during a charging process. Therefore, the charging plugs used on charging devices, which are connected to the electric vehicle during a charging process, as well as the charging cables used, must meet high requirements and are accordingly large and relatively heavy. When no charging is in progress, the charging cable extending from the charging device with the attached charging plug must be held to the charging device.

[0003] EP 4 099 515 A1 discloses an unlocking element for electrical plug connections that acts on an elastically deflectable or displaceable locking arm of a locking arrangement. The unlocking element has at least one actuating tab designed for contact by a user, which is coated with or made of electrically insulating plastic.

[0004] The document DE 10 2020 213 884 A1 describes a charging device for an electric vehicle, comprising a housing, power electronics arranged in the housing, a charging cable connected to the power electronics, which extends from the housing and has a charging plug at a distal end, and a charging plug holder arranged on the housing. The charging plug has a handle and a contact portion. The charging plug holder is designed to hold the charging plug. The charging plug holder has a first recess sized and shaped to receive the contact portion of the charging plug along an insertion direction and to hold the charging plug when the charging device is in a standby state.

[0005] Document TW M629765 U describes a charging system with an interchangeable charging gun holder, wherein a buckle structure is provided on a mounting seat. A series of snap structures are arranged on opposite sides of a charging gun insertion opening. JP 2020-61923 A describes a charging device having a main body that outputs electrical energy to charge a storage battery used as a power source of a movable body and can be attached to a specific construction surface, and a holding part for holding a plug part when not in use. A hooking portion is configured to be movable between a hooking position and a release position.

[0006] The problem with existing charging devices is that a user who wants to charge must exert considerable force to pull the charging plug out of the holder in the charging device or wallbox. This is because the charging plug, due to its weight, must be secured relatively firmly in the holder to prevent it from falling out. Even after the charging process is complete, the user must exert considerable force to push or insert the charging plug back into its holder on or in the charging device. This means that very high counterforces are required both when inserting and removing the charging plug from the plug holder to secure the charging plug.

[0007] Further prior art includes the documents DE 10 2020 132 723 A1, DE 10 2019 206 413 A1 and EP 4 191 803 A1.

[0008] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a charging plug holder for a charging device for charging electric vehicles, which is designed more ergonomically and enables easier insertion and removal of the charging plug into and from the charging plug holder.

[0009] The object is achieved by a charging plug holder for a charging device for charging electric vehicles, comprising an outer side with a receptacle for inserting at least a portion of a charging plug for an electric vehicle in order to hold the charging plug in the receptacle; at least one locking element which is designed such that, after the charging plug has been inserted, it engages in a locking opening of the charging plug in order to lock the charging plug in the receptacle; and an actuating element which extends from the outer side towards the locking element in order to push the locking element into an unlocking position in which the charging plug is unlocked by manually pressing the actuating element.

[0010] The invention reduces the counterforce while maintaining the holding force in the non-actuated state, i.e., when the charging plug is not removed to charge an electric vehicle. Inserting and removing the charging plug into and from the charging plug holder can be performed with significantly less force. Nevertheless, the charging plug and the attached charging cable are held reliably and securely in the charging plug holder.

[0011] Preferably, the locking element is designed to be elastic.

[0012] Preferably, the locking element is designed such that it automatically engages in the locking opening of the charging plug when it is in the receptacle.

[0013] Preferably, the locking element engages into the locking opening of the charging plug by spring force.

[0014] Advantageously, the actuating element comprises a ring-shaped actuating surface for manually pressing the actuating element.

[0015] The actuating surface is arranged in particular on the outside of the charging plug holder.

[0016] In particular, the actuating element comprises a spring-loaded, press-in ring at the opening to the plug holder, which forms the receptacle for the charging plug.

[0017] In particular, the actuating surface is formed by the spring-loaded, depressible ring.

[0018] The actuating surface or the spring-loaded ring preferably forms a screen.

[0019] Preferably, the actuating surface partially or completely surrounds the receptacle.

[0020] Advantageously, the actuating element is designed such that it can be displaced along the receptacle in the insertion direction of the charging plug in order to push the locking element with an inner end section of the actuating element into the unlocking position.

[0021] Preferably, several locking elements are provided to accommodate the charging plug between them.

[0022] Preferably, the one or more locking elements can be unlocked by pressing the actuating element.

[0023] Advantageously, the actuating element and the at least one locking element are arranged such that when the actuating element is pressed, the locking element is pressed radially outwards with respect to the receptacle in order to unlock the charging plug.

[0024] In particular, the locking elements are designed as locking lugs or retaining lugs.

[0025] When the actuating element is pressed in, i.e. when it is pressed against the actuating surface arranged on the outside of the charging plug holder, the locking elements are pushed outwards so that the locking force or holding force of the locking elements decreases and the plug can be removed or inserted more easily.

[0026] Preferably, the actuating element and the at least one locking element are arranged such that the actuating element is returned to its initial position by the spring force of the at least one locking element after the charging plug has been removed.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, a charging device for charging electric vehicles is provided, which includes a charging plug holder according to the invention. The charging device is, for example, a wallbox, in particular a mini-wallbox.

[0028] Advantages, details and features described in connection with the charging plug holder also apply mutually to the other aspect of the invention.

[0029] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a charging device for charging electric vehicles, comprising a charging plug holder according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a view of its front side; Fig. 2 a sectional view of the Fig. 1 shown charging plug holder together with a charging plug before inserting the charging plug; Fig. 3 a representation of the charging plug holder similar to that of Fig. 2, while the charging plug holder is operated; Fig. 4 a representation of the charging plug holder similar to that of Fig. 2, while the charging plug holder is operated and the charging plug is inserted; and Fig. 5 a representation of the charging plug holder similar to that of Fig. 2, with the charging plug inserted without operating the charging plug holder.

[0030] In the figures, identical or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals and are therefore not described again unless expedient. The disclosures contained throughout the description apply mutatis mutandis to identical parts with the same reference numerals or component designations. Furthermore, the positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the directly described and illustrated figure and, in the event of a change in position, is to be applied mutatis mutandis to the new position.

[0031] The Fig. 1 shows a charging plug holder 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as part of a charging device 14 for electric vehicles, in a front view. Fig. 2 shows the charging plug holder 10 in a sectional view along the insertion direction E of a charging plug 12.

[0032] The charging plug holder 10 is designed to hold the charging plug 12 in the charging device 14 for charging electric vehicles which are Fig. 1 is visible. To charge an electric vehicle at the charging device 14, the charging plug 12 can be removed from the charging plug holder 10 and connected to a charging socket or charging receptacle of the electric vehicle. After connecting or plugging the charging plug 12 to the electric vehicle, which is connected to the charging device 14 via a charging cable 16, the charging process can begin to charge a drive or traction battery of the electric vehicle with electrical current.

[0033] The charging device 14 is designed, for example, as a wallbox or mini-wallbox, which is installed, for example, in a garage or other parking space for the electric vehicle. The charging plug holder 10 is, in particular, part of the charging device 14 or is formed in the charging device 14.

[0034] The charging plug holder 10 comprises an outer side 18 in which a receptacle 20 is formed for inserting at least a partial region 22 of the charging plug 12. The partial region 22 is formed, for example, by a plug-in region of the charging plug 12, which is plugged into the charging socket or charging inlet of the electric vehicle to carry out a charging process, thereby establishing an electrical connection. As long as the charging plug 12 is not connected to an electric vehicle, it can be inserted into the receptacle 20 and held there.

[0035] The charging plug holder 10 comprises a plurality of locking elements 24, which are designed as locking lugs. The locking elements 24 are configured such that, after the charging plug 12 is inserted into the charging plug holder 10, they each engage or snap into a locking opening 26 of the charging plug 12, thereby locking the charging plug 12 in the receptacle 20.

[0036] In the embodiment shown here, two opposing locking lugs or locking elements 24 are provided, one of which is arranged on the top side 28 and one on the bottom side 30 of the recess 20. However, it is equally possible to provide a different number or arrangement of the locking elements 24 in the charging plug holder 10, such as only a single locking element 24, or even three or more such locking elements.

[0037] The charging plug holder 10 further comprises an actuating element 32 that extends from the outer side 18 to the at least one locking element 24. The actuating element 32 is configured such that the locking element 24 or the locking elements 24 are pushed into an unlocking position by manually pressing the actuating element 32 on the outer side 18 of the charging plug holder 10. In this unlocking position, the charging plug 12 can be easily inserted into the receptacle 20 of the charging plug holder 10 and removed from the receptacle 20 of the charging plug holder 10.

[0038] The one or more locking elements 24 are designed to be elastic, so that they engage automatically or by their spring force in the respectively associated locking opening 26 of the charging plug 12 when, after being inserted into the charging plug holder 10, it is located with its partial area 22 in its final position within the receptacle 20.

[0039] The actuating element 32 comprises a ring-shaped actuating surface 34, which is arranged on the outer side 18 of the charging plug holder 10 such that a user of the charging device 14 can push the locking elements 24 into their unlocking position by pressing on the actuating surface 34 from the outside. Since the locking elements 24 do not have to be pushed aside by the charging plug 12 against the spring force of the locking elements 24 when inserting the charging plug 12 into the charging plug holder 10 and when removing the charging plug 12 from the charging plug holder 10, the force required when inserting and removing the charging plug 12 is significantly reduced.

[0040] The ring-shaped actuating surface 34 surrounds an opening 36 provided on the front or outer side 18 of the charging plug holder 10, through which opening the charging plug 12 or its front portion 22 is pushed into the receptacle 20 in order to hold the charging plug 12 in the receptacle 20.

[0041] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the charging plug holder 10 in its initial position, in which the locking elements 24 each protrude into the receptacle 20 with a partial section 38 forming a projection. In this state, the elastically designed locking elements 24 are relaxed and are in their locking position.

[0042] In order to insert or insert the charging plug 12 into the receptacle 20 of the charging plug holder 10, the actuating element 32 is moved by pressing the annular actuating surface 34 in the direction P towards the locking elements 24, whereby the latter are pressed radially outwards in the direction A against their spring force, so that their partial sections 38 move out of the receptacle 20 and clear the way for inserting the charging plug 12 into the receptacle 20.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows the charging plug holder 10 in its unlocked position. The actuating element 32 is pushed inwards by pressing the annular actuating surface 34 in the direction P and the locking elements 24 are unlocked against their spring force. For this purpose, an end region 40 of the respective locking element 24 extends obliquely to an inner end 42 of the actuating element 32. By moving the actuating element 32 towards the locking elements 24, the inner end 42 of the actuating element 32 slides along the end section 40 of the respective locking element 24 running obliquely thereto, whereby the latter is pushed radially outwards in the direction A and reaches the unlocked position. The charging plug 12 can now be easily pushed into the receptacle 20 with the actuating element 32 pressed in, i.e. inserted in the insertion direction E.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows the charging device 10 with the charging plug 12 fully inserted therein, wherein the actuating element 32 is pressed inward and, accordingly, the locking elements 24 are bent outward against their spring force due to the inwardly pressed actuating element 32 and are thereby tensioned toward the receptacle 20, so that the locking elements 24 do not yet engage the locking openings 26 of the charging plug 12. In this state, the charging plug 12 is inserted into the charging plug holder 10 and is still unlocked.

[0045] Fig. Figure 5 shows the charging plug holder 10 with the charging plug 12 plugged in and locked. The locking elements 24 are engaged in the corresponding locking opening 26 of the charging plug 12, so that the charging plug 12 is secured in the charging plug holder 10 and cannot fall out. In the locked state, the arcuate sections 38 of the locking elements 24, designed as locking sections, are located within the respective locking opening 26 in the front section 22 of the charging plug 12.

[0046] The locking elements 24 engage automatically in the respective locking opening 26 due to the pretension or spring force of the locking elements 24. When engaging, the actuating element 32 is automatically pushed outwards by the obliquely extending end section 40 of the respective locking element 24 and reaches its starting position.

[0047] The charging plug holder 10 with the charging plug 12 locked therein can now be unlocked and removed from the charging plug holder 10 by manually pressing from the outside against the actuating element 32 on its annular actuating surface 34, which surrounds the inserted charging plug 12.

[0048] The elastically designed locking elements 24 exert a restoring effect on the actuating element 32, whereby the actuating element 32, which forms a button, returns to its initial position, which in Fig. 2 is shown. List of reference symbols 10 charging plug holders 12 charging plugs 14 Charging device 16 charging cables 18 Outside 20 recordings 22 sub-area 24 locking elements 26 Snap-in opening 28 Top 30 subpage 32 Actuating element 34 operating surface 36 Opening 38 Partial section of the locking element 40 End area of ​​the respective locking element 42 inner end of the actuating element P Direction of pressing A Direction radially outwards E Insertion direction

Claims

[1] Charging plug holder for a charging device for charging electric vehicles, comprising an outer side (18) with a receptacle (20) for inserting at least a portion (22) of a charging plug (12) for an electric vehicle in order to hold the charging plug (12) in the receptacle (20); at least one locking element (24) which is designed such that, after the charging plug (12) has been inserted, it engages in a locking opening (26) of the charging plug (12) in order to lock the charging plug (12) in the receptacle (20); and an actuating element (32) extending from the outer side (18) to the locking element (24) in order to push the locking element (24) into an unlocking position in which the charging plug (12) is unlocked by manually pressing the actuating element (32). [2] Charging plug holder according to claim 1, characterized bythat the locking element (24) is elastically designed to automatically engage in the locking opening (26) of the charging plug (12) when it is located in the receptacle (20). [3] Charging plug holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the actuating element (32) comprises an annular actuating surface (34) for manually pressing the actuating element (32), which partially or completely surrounds the receptacle (20). [4] Charging plug holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating element (32) is designed such that it can be displaced along the receptacle (20) in the insertion direction (E) of the charging plug (12) in order to push the locking element (24) with an inner end (42) of the actuating element (32) into the unlocking position. [5] Charging plug holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a plurality of locking elements (24) are provided to accommodate the charging plug (12) between them, wherein the locking elements (24) can be unlocked by pressing the actuating element (32). [6] Charging plug holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating element (32) and the at least one locking element (24) are arranged such that the locking element (24) is pressed radially outwards with respect to the receptacle (20) when the actuating element (32) is pressed in order to unlock the charging plug (12). [7] Charging plug holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating element (32) and the at least one locking element (24) are arranged such that the actuating element (32) is returned to its starting position by the spring force of the at least one locking element (24) after the charging plug (12) has been removed. [8] Charging device for charging electric vehicles, characterized bya charging plug holder according to one of the preceding claims.

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