Charging cable arrangement for charging an electric vehicle and method for winding the charging cable arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging cable arrangement for charging an electric vehicle with a charging cable (3). According to the invention, the charging cable arrangement (1) has two or more winding aid elements (9; 11), wherein a first winding aid element (9) and a second winding aid element (11) are spaced apart from each other by a predefined distance (a) and are, preferably, arranged directly adjacent to each other on the charging cable (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging cable arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and according to claim 9 to a method for winding the charging cable arrangement.

[0002] A generic charging cable assembly for charging an electric vehicle is manually wound up for storage in a storage compartment of the vehicle. The storage compartment generally has predefined dimensions that must be adhered to when manually winding up the charging cable assembly in order to optimally store the wound charging cable assembly. The disadvantage of this charging cable assembly is that the winding diameter of the individual windings of the wound charging cable assembly must be estimated by the user when winding up the charging cable assembly. As a result of incorrect estimation, it frequently happens that the charging cable assembly becomes knotted during winding up, or that the wound charging cable assembly has a larger winding diameter than can be stored in the storage compartment. A cable protection clamp is known from CN 210074669 U. DE 10 2019 104 133 A1 discloses a charging station for electric vehicles. DE 11 2017 000 173 T5 discloses a cable with a multi-jointed support element and a stackable cable.

[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a charging cable arrangement which, in comparison to a known charging cable arrangement, can be wound up in a simple manner with repeatable accuracy.

[0004] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0005] According to the invention, a charging cable assembly, preferably for charging an electric vehicle, is proposed, comprising a charging cable. According to the invention, the charging cable assembly comprises one, two, or more auxiliary winding elements, wherein a first auxiliary winding element and a second auxiliary winding element are spaced apart from one another by a predefined distance and are arranged, preferably directly adjacent to one another, on the charging cable. The auxiliary winding elements prevent twisting of the charging cable when winding the charging cable assembly. Furthermore, with the aid of the auxiliary winding elements, a predefined winding diameter can be quickly and easily maintained, and the wound charging cable assembly can be stored in a space-saving manner.In addition, the wound charging cable arrangement has a winding diameter that is constant across all windings of the wound charging cable arrangement, so that the charging cable of the wound charging cable arrangement has a wave shape and does not rest completely on the floor of the storage space due to loops that have been created.

[0006] For example, it can be provided that two or more of the auxiliary winding elements are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable and adjacent to one another on the charging cable. Preferably, it can be provided that the charging cable arrangement has a source-side connecting element and a load-side connecting element, wherein it can preferably be provided that a source-side end of the charging cable is electrically connected to the source-side connecting element and a load-side end of the charging cable is electrically connected to the load-side connecting element.

[0007] For example, it can be provided that one of the auxiliary winding elements is formed by the source-side connecting element and / or that one of the auxiliary winding elements is formed by the consumer-side connecting element.

[0008] By way of example, it can be provided that the source-side connecting element is formed by a plug or a socket, and / or that the consumer-side connecting element is formed by a plug or a socket.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary winding elements can be photoluminescent and / or colored and / or formed by a paint application or by a print, preferably a color print, or by a preferably colored adhesive tape. In this way, the auxiliary winding elements can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively. For example, the auxiliary winding elements can be applied by a supplier during the manufacture of the charging cable assembly. Alternatively, the auxiliary winding elements can be subsequently applied by the customer or a service workshop, for example using a template, and / or their position on the charging cable can be modified.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the first winding aid element is arranged displaceably on the charging cable in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable, overcoming a frictional force between the first winding aid element and the charging cable, and / or the second winding aid element is arranged displaceably on the charging cable in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable, overcoming a frictional force between the second winding aid element and the charging cable. This displaceability allows the winding aid elements to be adapted to the geometries of different storage spaces.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary winding elements can be clamped to the charging cable, with the clamping force for establishing the clamped connection preferably being generated by clipping the auxiliary winding elements onto the charging cable or by tightening a clamping screw. In particular, clipping the auxiliary winding elements onto the charging cable allows attachment of the auxiliary winding elements to the charging cable without an additional joining element and thus solely due to the geometry of the auxiliary winding elements, which can be designed, for example, as slotted plastic sleeves.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the charging cable assembly, in the wound state, can have at least one, preferably helical, winding of the charging cable extending around a winding axis of the charging cable assembly in the wound state. The wound charging cable assembly thus has a winding diameter that remains constant across all windings of the wound charging cable assembly, so that the charging cable of the wound charging cable assembly has a wave shape and does not rest completely on the floor of the storage space due to loops formed.

[0013] Preferably, it can be provided that the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element delimit a winding of the charging cable arrangement in a wound-up state of the charging cable arrangement, and / or that in a wound-up state of the charging cable arrangement, a winding of the wound-up charging cable arrangement extends, preferably exactly, between the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element abut one another or are aligned with one another in the wound state of the charging cable assembly, preferably parallel to a winding axis of the charging cable assembly in the wound state. The wound charging cable assembly thus has a wave shape and does not rest fully on the floor of the storage compartment due to loops formed.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element can be positively connected to one another in the wound state of the charging cable assembly, preferably via a snap connection or a clip connection. This ensures that the wound charging cable assembly is held together in the wound state.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element are each magnetic, wherein it is preferably provided that, in the wound state of the charging cable assembly, the first auxiliary winding element and the second auxiliary winding element are magnetically connected to one another. This ensures that the wound charging cable assembly is held together in the wound state in an easily releasable manner, so that, for example, no form fit needs to be released.

[0017] Preferably, it can be provided that the adjacent winding auxiliary elements are equidistantly spaced from one another.

[0018] The invention further proposes a method for winding a charging cable assembly, comprising a provision step in which a charging cable assembly as described above is provided in the unwound state, and a winding step in which the charging cable assembly is transferred from the unwound state to the wound state, specifically by winding the charging cable assembly such that the charging cable, in the wound state, has the shape of a cylindrical helix and adjacent auxiliary winding elements abut one another, preferably directly, or are connected to one another. The same advantages apply to the method as to the charging cable assembly described above.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment of the method, it can be provided that in the winding step the charging cable arrangement is wound up in such a way that the auxiliary winding elements lie on top of one another, viewed parallel to the winding axis of the charging cable, and / or that the windings of the charging cable lie on top of one another along the winding axis in the wound-up state of the charging cable arrangement.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 in a side view a charging cable arrangement in an unwound state with two winding auxiliary elements; Fig. 2 in a perspective view the charging cable arrangement in a wound-up state, and Fig. 3 in a perspective view a charging cable arrangement in a wound-up state with six winding auxiliary elements.

[0022] In the Fig. 1 shows a charging cable assembly 1. The charging cable assembly 1 has a charging cable 3 with a longitudinal extension direction. Additionally, the charging cable assembly 1 has a source-side connecting element 5, which is electrically connected to the charging cable 3 at a source-side end of the charging cable 3. Furthermore, the charging cable assembly 1 has a consumer-side connecting element 7, which is electrically connected to the charging cable 3 at a consumer-side end of the charging cable 3. For example only, the source-side connecting element 5 and the consumer-side connecting element 7 can each be formed by a plug.

[0023] By way of example only and to simply explain the functional principle, the charging cable assembly 1 comprises a first auxiliary winding element 9 and a second auxiliary winding element 11, which are arranged on the charging cable 3. In the charging cable assembly 1 shown, the first auxiliary winding element 9 and the second auxiliary winding element 11 are each formed, by way of example only, by a longitudinally slit and colored plastic sleeve.

[0024] The winding aid elements 9 and 11 formed by the plastic sleeves are clipped onto the charging cable 3 from the radial outside and are arranged displaceably on or on the charging cable 3 by overcoming a frictional force between the respective winding aid element 9 or 11 and the charging cable 3.

[0025] Only optionally, the plastic sleeves can be made of photoluminescent material or be colored. Furthermore, the plastic sleeves can contain magnets. The magnets keep the auxiliary winding elements 9 and 11 magnetically connected to each other after they have been brought into contact with each other in the wound state of the charging cable assembly 1.

[0026] The first winding aid element 9 is arranged adjacent to the winding aid element 11, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable 3. Furthermore, the first winding aid element 9 is spaced apart from the second winding aid element 11 by a predefined distance a, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable 3.

[0027] The winding aid elements 9 and 11 are suitable and designed and arranged on the charging cable 3 in such a way that the charging cable arrangement 1 can be changed from an unwound state of the charging cable arrangement 3, as shown in the Fig. 1, can be converted into a wound-up state of the charging cable arrangement 1 as shown in the Fig. 2 shows that the two auxiliary winding elements 9 and 11 abut one another or are aligned parallel to a winding axis w. In the wound state of the charging cable assembly 1, the charging cable 3 extends helically around the winding axis w of the charging cable assembly 1. Thus, in the wound state, the charging cable assembly 1 has a winding diameter D corresponding to the predefined distance a between the auxiliary winding elements 9 and 11.

[0028] In the Fig. 3 shows a charging cable assembly 100 in the wound state. The charging cable assembly 100 has a charging cable 101 that is significantly longer than the charging cable 3. In addition, the charging cable 101 has, here merely as an example, six auxiliary winding elements 103, wherein the immediately adjacent auxiliary winding elements 103, viewed along the longitudinal direction of the charging cable 101, are arranged next to one another parallel to the winding axis w.

[0029] A method for winding the charging cable assembly 1 is described below purely by way of example. The method comprises a provision step and a winding step.

[0030] In the provision step, the charging cable arrangement 1 is first provided in the unwound state, as shown in Fig.1. Subsequently, the winding step is carried out, in which the charging cable arrangement 1 is transferred from the unwound state to the wound state by manual winding, namely by winding the charging cable arrangement 1 such that the charging cable 3 has the shape of a cylindrical helix in the wound state and the immediately adjacent auxiliary winding elements 9 and 11, viewed along the longitudinal direction of the charging cable 3, abut one another. List of reference symbols 1 Charging cable arrangement 3 charging cables 5 source-side connecting element 7 consumer-side connecting element 9 first winding aid element 11 second winding aid element 100 Charging cable arrangement 101 charging cables 103 Winding aid element a distance D Winding diameter w winding axis 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] CN 210074669 U

[0002] DE 10 2019 104 133 A1

[0002] DE 11 2017 000 173 T5

[0002]

Claims

[1] Charging cable arrangement, preferably for charging an electric vehicle, comprising: a charging cable (3), characterized by , that the charging cable arrangement (1) has two or more winding aid elements (9; 11), and that a first winding aid element (9) and a second winding aid element (11) are spaced apart from each other by a predefined distance (a) and are preferably arranged directly adjacent to each other on the charging cable (3). [2] Charging cable arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the winding aid elements (9; 11) are photoluminescent and / or colored. [3] Charging cable arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the first winding aid element (9) is arranged to be displaceable on the charging cable (3) in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable (3) by overcoming a frictional force between the first winding aid element (9) and the charging cable (3), and / or the second winding aid element (11) is arranged to be displaceable on the charging cable (3) in the longitudinal direction of the charging cable (3) by overcoming a frictional force between the second winding aid element (11) and the charging cable (3). [4] Charging cable arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the winding aid elements (9; 11) are in clamping connection with the charging cable (3), wherein it is preferably provided that a clamping force is built up to produce the clamping connection by clipping the winding aid elements (9; 11) onto the charging cable (3) or by tightening a clamping screw. [5] Charging cable arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the charging cable arrangement (1) in the wound-up state has at least one winding of the charging cable (3) extending around a winding axis (w) of the charging cable arrangement (1) in the wound-up state, preferably helical. [6] Charging cable arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first winding aid element (9) and the second winding aid element (11) are in contact with each other or aligned with each other in the wound state of the charging cable arrangement (1), preferably parallel to a winding axis (w) of the charging cable arrangement (1) when viewed in the wound state. [7] Charging cable arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first winding aid element (9) and the second winding aid element (11) are positively connected to each other in the wound state of the charging cable arrangement (1), preferably via a snap connection or a clip connection. [8] Charging cable arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first winding aid element (9) and the second winding aid element (11) are each magnetic, wherein it is preferably provided that in the wound state of the charging cable arrangement (1) the first winding aid element (9) and the second winding aid element (11) are magnetically connected to each other. [9] Method for winding a charging cable assembly, comprising: a provisioning step in which a charging cable arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims is provided in the unwound state, and a winding step in which the charging cable arrangement (1) is transferred from the unwound state to the wound state by winding the charging cable arrangement (1) in such a way that the charging cable (3) in the wound state has the form of a cylindrical helix and, preferably directly, adjacent winding aid elements (9; 11) are in contact with each other or are connected to each other. [10] Method according to claim 9, characterized by , that during the winding step the charging cable arrangement (1) is wound up such that the winding aid elements (9; 11) lie on top of each other parallel to the winding axis (w) of the charging cable (3), and / or that the windings of the charging cable (3) lie on top of each other along the winding axis (w) in the wound state of the charging cable arrangement (1).

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