DRIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE CHARGING SOCKET

Abstract

A drive device (7) for a charging socket (6) of a vehicle (1), in particular an electrically powered motor vehicle (1), is described, wherein the charging socket (6) is designed to be moved between a first end position, which corresponds to a service position and in which a front face (8) of the charging socket (6) is positioned within a vehicle body (2) towards an opening (5) of the vehicle body (2), and a second end position, which corresponds to a non-service position and in which the front face (8) of the charging socket (6) is positioned into the interior of the vehicle body (2) and away from the opening (5). The charging socket (6) can be driven by a drive unit (20) via a lever arrangement (12) and is adjustable along at least one guide unit (11), wherein the lever unit (12) comprises two lever elements (13, 14) articulated to each other, forming a toggle lever arrangement.The charging socket (6) is held locked in at least one of its end positions by an over-center position of the toggle lever arrangement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive device for a charging socket of a vehicle, in particular an electrically driven vehicle, according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] EP 2 646 277 B1 discloses a charging interface for an electric vehicle, comprising a charging socket with a corresponding internal charging cable for connecting the charging socket to a traction battery. The charging socket is slidably arranged in a receiving device that extends into the vehicle interior. A mechanism connects the charging socket to a cover that acts as a closure lid, which, when closed, sits flush with the vehicle body surface. When the cover is opened, it pivots outward relative to the outside of the vehicle body. At the same time, when the cover is opened, the charging socket, including the internal charging cable, is moved toward the vehicle body surface by means of the mechanism within the receiving device.In a further step of the lid opening process, the pivoted lid is pushed linearly into a slot-like recess inside the vehicle body, where it is partially stowed while the charging cable is plugged in. The mechanism is designed accordingly and features a hinge. Closing the lid pushes the charging socket with the connected charging plug back into the recess. The lid then closes flush with the body surface, with the external charging cable routed and secured to the outside through a recess in the lower part of the lid.

[0003] The problem, however, is that the charging socket, also called a charging inlet, rests on the cover when the charging cable is plugged in. Depending on the insertion force applied by the operator, the cover may then be subjected to forces that could permanently impair its functionality. To avoid this, both the cover and the mechanism must be designed with appropriate strength, which, however, undesirably increases manufacturing costs and component weight.

[0004] The object of the technology according to the invention is to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of a previously known solution or to propose an alternative solution. In particular, the object of the technology disclosed here is to provide a drive device for a charging socket, in particular a charging socket of an electrically powered vehicle, which is improved with respect to at least one of the following factors: manufacturing time, manufacturing costs, manufacturing complexity, assembly effort, space utilization, operational safety, sustainability, functionality, component reliability, and resistance to environmental influences.

[0005] The object is achieved with a drive device having the features of patent claim 1 and a vehicle constructed therewith according to claim 9. The dependent patent claims represent preferred embodiments.

[0006] A drive device for a charging socket of a vehicle, in particular an electrically driven motor vehicle, is therefore proposed. The charging socket is designed for displacement between a first end position, which corresponds to a use position and in which a front side of the charging socket is adjusted within a vehicle body in the direction of an opening in the vehicle body, and a second end position, which corresponds to a non-use position and in which the front side of the charging socket is adjusted into the interior of the vehicle body and away from the opening. The charging socket is driven by a drive unit via a lever arrangement and is adjustable along at least one guide unit.

[0007] According to the invention, the lever unit comprises two lever elements which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and form a toggle lever arrangement, wherein the charging socket is held locked in at least one of its end positions by an over-center position of the toggle lever arrangement.

[0008] The over-center position of the toggle lever arrangement in the respective end position results in a simple mechanical locking of the charging socket in its use position, in which an undesired displacement of the charging socket towards the interior of the vehicle while a charging cable is being plugged into the charging socket, or in the non-use position, in which a possibly noise-causing adjustment movement during driving is prevented, without the drive unit having to apply permanent forces to hold the charging socket in the respective end position.

[0009] The longer lever element can be pivotally connected to the charging socket, while the shorter lever element is pivotally connected to the drive unit. This ensures, in a simple design, that the charging socket can be moved at a lower speed shortly before reaching the opening while simultaneously applying high actuating forces, and can be moved between the use position and the non-use position toward the non-use position at higher speeds.

[0010] In the position of use, the front of the charging socket can be flush with the opening on the circumference and at least approximately flush with the surrounding vehicle outer skin.

[0011] Furthermore, the front of the charging socket can be flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body, which borders the opening, when in use, and can be guided out of engagement with the opening towards the inside of the vehicle when not in use. This not only prevents dirt-prone recesses when in use, but also creates a visually appealing "flush" appearance that enhances the overall visual appearance of the vehicle.

[0012] To cover the body opening in the non-use position of the charging socket, a known cover element or a charging flap can be provided, which can be designed with a support and a panel manufactured in the vehicle outer skin quality and which opens either outwards or inwards below an adjacent area of ​​the vehicle body.

[0013] An interior of the vehicle body that can be accessed through the opening can thus be safely shielded from environmental influences both in the use position by the charging socket and in its non-use position by such a cover element or a charging flap.

[0014] Furthermore, it can be provided that an edge region of the charging socket surrounding the front side has a sealing unit on its side facing the inside of the vehicle body, with which the charging socket lies sealingly against the inside of the vehicle body in the position of use.

[0015] The guide unit can be designed simply as a linear guide. However, depending on the available installation space, the skilled person can also provide a movement guide for the charging socket that involves pivoting during its adjustment within the scope of the invention.

[0016] The lever elements of the toggle lever assembly can be supported on a fixed stop in the over-center position locking the charging socket. This stop prevents further deflection of the lever elements and thus a so-called over-pressing of the toggle lever assembly in the over-center position. The lever elements of the toggle lever assembly can be supported directly on the vehicle body or indirectly, for example, on a vehicle-mounted housing of the charging interface.

[0017] Instead of a single toggle lever arrangement, the charging socket can also be connected to the drive unit via two toggle lever arrangements, with each toggle lever arrangement being assigned to an end position of the charging socket. The charging socket can be arranged between the toggle lever arrangements, viewed transversely across the charging socket. This creates a simple, uniform, two-sided drive, preventing tilting of the charging socket relative to the guide unit during movement of the charging socket between the use position and the non-use position. This tilting position results in an undesirable increase in the actuating forces and may even prevent the charging socket from being adjusted entirely.

[0018] The invention is not limited to the specified combination of features of the independent claim or the dependent claims. Within the scope of the claims, there are also possibilities for combining individual features, provided they emerge from the claims, the following description of embodiments, or directly from the drawings. The reference of the claims to the drawings by the use of reference symbols is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the claims.

[0019] Preferred developments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto.

[0020] It shows: Fig. 1 a simplified three-dimensional view of an electrically driven vehicle with a charging interface in which a drive device actuates a charging socket between a first end position, which corresponds to a use position, and a second end position, which corresponds to a non-use position; Fig. 2 a simplified, isolated side view of the charging interface, with the charging socket and its drive device in the use position; and Fig. 3 one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation of the charging interface, with the charging socket and its drive device in the non-use position.

[0021] Referring to Fig. 1 shows a purely electrically driven vehicle 1 or a so-called hybrid vehicle with a vehicle body 2, which has a charging interface 4 for charging at least one electrical storage device 3 designed as a vehicle battery, from which a vehicle drive (not shown in detail) can be supplied with electrical energy. The charging interface 4 comprises a so-called charging recess in the region of an opening 2A of the vehicle body 2, through which an electrical plug system with a corresponding coupling element, here a Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, which is arranged inside the vehicle body 2 below the outer skin of the vehicle 1, can be brought into operative connection in order to be able to charge the vehicle battery 3 or to supply current from it to an external charging device.

[0022] A cover unit or loading flap unit 5 is provided to cover the opening when not in use. The loading flap unit 5 includes, among other things, a plate-like element 5A, shown only schematically, which, when the opening 2A is closed, forms part of the vehicle's outer contour and is also referred to as a loading flap or cover.

[0023] The opening or closing movement of the charging flap unit 5 or of the plate-like element 5A can be coupled to the movement of the charging socket 6 between its first end position, in which the charging socket 6 is in the use position or charging position, and its second end position, in which the charging socket 6 is in the non-use position, via a lever kinematics.

[0024] The Fig. 2 shows a part of the charging interface 4 with the charging socket 6 and a drive device 7 associated therewith, by means of which the charging socket 6 is moved from the Fig. 2 shown first end position or use position into the position shown in Fig. 3 shown second end position or locked non-use position.

[0025] In the use position, a portion of a front side 8 of the charging socket 6 is circumferentially surrounded by the vehicle body 2 defining the opening 2A, whereby this region of the front side 8 of the charging socket 6 is flush with an outer side 2B of the vehicle body 2. In addition, an edge region 9 of the charging socket 6 surrounding the front side 8 lies sealingly against an inner side 10 of the vehicle body 2 in the use position of the charging socket 6, thus reliably preventing moisture and dirt from entering the interior of the vehicle body 2 during a charging process. For this purpose, the edge region 9 is designed with a sealing unit 22 on its side facing the inner side 10 of the vehicle body 2.

[0026] In a known manner, the front side 8 of the charging socket can have, in addition to a connector face for a charging plug, a so-called HMI shield with operating sensors, displays and lighting elements.

[0027] During the adjustment of the charging socket 6 from its first end position or use position towards its second end position or non-use position or vice versa, the charging socket 6 is translationally displaced along a guide unit 11, which in this case is designed as a linear guide and is mounted in a body-mounted housing 23 of the charging interface 4, from the opening 2A into the interior of the vehicle body 2 and away from the opening 2A or in the opposite direction. The linear guide 11 comprises rod elements 11A arranged laterally of the charging socket 6, which surround the charging socket 6 with guide sleeves 11B and which slide along the rod elements 11A during the adjustment movement of the charging socket 6.

[0028] A lever arrangement 12 engages the charging socket 6 and is driven by a preferably electric motor drive unit 20 to adjust the charging socket 6 along the guide unit 11. The lever arrangement 12 comprises two lever elements 13, 14, which form a so-called toggle lever arrangement or a two-stroke mechanism and are pivotally connected to one another in the region of a rotation axis 15. In the embodiment shown, the longer lever element 14 is rotatably connected to the charging socket 6, while the shorter lever element 13 is rotatably connected to the drive unit 20. The lever element 13 rotates about a rotation axis 16 relative to the drive unit 20. The rotation axis 16 here corresponds to the rotation axis of an output shaft 21 of the drive unit 20. In addition, the longer lever element 14 rotates about a rotation axis 17 relative to the charging socket 6.

[0029] In a different embodiment, the drive unit 20 can also have, for example, a drive cylinder or another suitable actuating element and can indirectly apply force to the toggle lever arrangement 13, 14, for example via a lever mechanism.

[0030] The axes of rotation 15, 16 and 17 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the axes of rotation 16 and 17, in the first end position between the use position of the charging socket 6, lie on a line F1 which runs parallel to the course of the rod elements 11A and thus to the direction of travel of the charging socket 6 between the use position and the non-use position of the charging socket 6. In this position, the axes of rotation 15 to 17 and thus the lever elements 13, 14 are in an over-center position relative to one another, ie the pivot point connecting the lever elements 13, 14 to the axis of rotation 15 minimally exceeds the line F1 in the direction of rotation when the charging socket 6 moves towards the first end position and is held against further rotation by a stop which is not visible in detail.

[0031] By virtue of the over-center position of the lever elements 13 and 14 in the use position of the charging socket 6, it is achieved, without the need for any additional locking device or permanent active force, that the charging socket 6 cannot be moved toward the vehicle interior during the insertion of a plug element into the charging socket 6 and during a charging process. Adjusting the charging socket 6 toward the non-use position is thus only possible when a corresponding drive is provided by the drive unit 20.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the axes of rotation 15, 16 and 17 are still arranged relative to one another and the lever elements 13, 14 of the toggle lever arrangement are curved in the same direction such that the lever elements 13, 14 of the toggle lever arrangement are held in an over-center position relative to one another even in the second end position or non-use position of the charging socket 6, and the charging socket 6 is locked by the toggle lever arrangement. In this case, the toggle lever arrangement again rests against a stop (not shown in detail) to prevent further rotation. The charging socket 6 therefore remains in the non-use position until the drive unit 20 drives the lever arrangement 12 accordingly, moving the lever elements 13 and 14 from the over-center position and moving the charging socket 6 towards the use position.

[0033] The design of the lever elements 13, 14 of the toggle lever arrangement with regard to the lever lengths and the lever curvature can of course vary depending on the installation space conditions and further design of the lever arrangement 12.

[0034] To prevent tilting of the charging socket 6 relative to the rod elements 11A, which would result in undesirable clamping forces in the area between the guide sleeves 11B and the rod elements 11A that impair the positioning movement of the charging socket 6, the drive device 7 can have another similar toggle lever arrangement on the side of the charging socket 6 facing away from the lever elements 13 and 14 shown. Depending on the design of the drive device 7, a symmetrical drive of the charging socket 6 can support proper function.

[0035] However, it is also possible to provide a toggle lever arrangement 13, 14 for locking the charging socket 6 in the first end position on one side of the charging socket 6 and to arrange a further toggle lever arrangement for locking the charging socket 6 in the second end position on the other side of the charging socket 6. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 vehicle 2 vehicle body 2A Opening the vehicle body 2B Exterior of the vehicle body 3 electrical storage device, vehicle battery 4 Charging interface 5 Lid unit, loading flap unit 5A charging flap, cover 6 Charging socket 7 Drive device 8 Front of the charging socket 9 Edge area of ​​the front of the charging socket 10 Inside of the vehicle body 11 Management unit 11A Rod element 11B Guide sleeve 12 Lever arrangement 13, 14 lever element 15 Rotation axis between the lever elements 12 and 13 16 Rotation axis of the lever element 14 opposite the charging socket 17 Rotation axis of the lever element 13 relative to the drive unit 20 drive unit 21 Output shaft of the drive unit 22 Sealing unit 23 housings F1 Line QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 646 277 B1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Drive device of a charging socket (6) of a vehicle (4), in particular of an electrically driven motor vehicle (1), wherein the charging socket (6) is designed to be displaced between a first end position, which corresponds to a position of use and in which a front side (8) of the charging socket (6) is displaced within a vehicle body (2) in the direction of an opening (5) of the vehicle body (2), and a second end position, which corresponds to a non-use position and in which the front side (8) of the charging socket (6) is displaced into the interior of the vehicle body (2) and away from the opening (5), and wherein the charging socket (6) can be driven by a drive unit (20) via a lever arrangement (12) and can be adjusted along at least one guide unit (11), characterized bythat the lever unit (12) comprises two lever elements (13, 14) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner and which form a toggle lever arrangement, wherein the charging socket (6) is held locked in at least one of its end positions by an over-center position of the toggle lever arrangement. [2] Drive device according to claim 1, characterized by that the longer lever element (14) of the toggle lever arrangement is rotatably connected to the charging socket (6), while the shorter lever element (13) is rotatably connected to the drive unit (20). [3] Drive device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the charging socket (6) in the position of use is flush with the opening (5) with its front side (8). [4] Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the charging socket (6) in the position of use is flush with its front side (8) with an outer side (2A) of the vehicle body (2) which circumferentially delimits the opening (5) and is guided out of engagement with the opening (5) towards the inside of the vehicle in the position of non-use. [5] Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that an edge region (9) of the charging socket (6) surrounding the front side (8) of the charging socket (6) has, on its side facing the inside (10) of the vehicle body (2), a sealing unit (22) with which the charging socket (6) lies sealingly against the inside (10) of the vehicle body (2) in the position of use. [6] Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the guide unit (11) is designed as a linear guide. [7] Drive device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the lever elements (13, 14) of the toggle lever arrangement are supported in the over-dead-center position locking the charging socket (6) on a stop, in particular on the vehicle body (2) or a vehicle-fixed housing (23) of the charging interface (4). [8] Drive arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the charging socket (6) is connected to the drive unit (20) via two toggle lever arrangements, wherein each toggle lever arrangement is assigned to an end position of the charging socket (6) and the charging socket (6) is arranged, in the transverse direction of the charging socket (6), in particular between the toggle lever arrangements. [9] Electrically driven vehicle with a charging socket (6) which is designed with a drive device (7) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8.

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