Electrical charging socket for a motor vehicle, corresponding charging plug and passenger car equipped therewith

Abstract

For the purpose of improved comfort in the operation of an electrical charging socket (5) for a passenger car (1), wherein the charging socket (5) has a charging socket body (10) into which at least one contact (15, 20, 25) extends and which is designed to at least temporarily receive a charging plug (35) in a receiving space (40), a cover (45) which is designed to selectively open or close the charging socket body (10), a locking means () which is designed to selectively lock or release a movement of the charging plug (35) located in the charging socket body (10), and a drive means (90) which is operatively connected to the cover (45) in order to open or close the cover (45) and which is operatively connected to the locking means () in order to lock or release the movement.In order to release the charging plug (35), it is provided that the drive means (90) is designed to move the charging plug (35) into and / or out of the charging socket body (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical charging socket according to claim 1, a corresponding charging plug according to claim 11 and a passenger car equipped with such a charging socket according to claim 12.

[0002] From EP 2 492 134 A2 a passenger car having an electric charging socket is known, comprising: - a charging socket body into which at least one electrical contact extends and which is designed to at least temporarily accommodate a charging plug in a receiving space, - a lid which is designed to selectively open or close the charging socket body, - a locking means configured to selectively lock or unlock movement of the charging plug located in the charging socket body, - a drive means operatively connected to the lid to open or close the lid and operatively connected to the locking means to lock or release the charging plug.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical charging socket whose user comfort is further improved.

[0004] This object is achieved by an electrical charging socket having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Specifically, this object is achieved by an electrical charging socket designed to be installed in a passenger car. This charging socket comprises a charging socket body into which at least one contact, in particular an electrical contact, extends and which is designed to at least temporarily accommodate a corresponding charging plug in a receiving space.

[0006] The charging socket further comprises a lid configured to selectively open or close the charging socket body, and a locking means configured to selectively block or release movement of the charging plug located in the charging socket body.

[0007] Finally, the charging socket has a drive means which is operatively connected to the lid in order to open or close the lid, wherein the drive means is operatively connected to the locking means in order to lock or release the charging plug.

[0008] The electrical charging socket according to the invention is characterized in that the drive means is configured to move the charging plug into and / or out of the charging socket body. This advantageously creates an electrical charging socket in which the cover can be selectively opened, closed, and locked by means of a single drive means, and the plug can be selectively moved into, locked in, and removed from the charging socket.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the electrical charging socket according to the invention includes a spring pin on the drive means, which is configured to be received in a corresponding receptacle of the charging plug when the latter is at least partially located in the charging socket body. This creates a comparatively simple means by which the charging plug can be moved within the charging socket, either into or out of it. Furthermore, the spring pin advantageously acts as a locking means for the charging socket, preventing unwanted removal of the charging plug from the charging socket.

[0010] According to an additional preferred embodiment, the spring pin has a spring pin axis around which a first spring pin section extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring pin axis and a second spring pin section movably mounted relative to the first spring pin section are positioned. The first spring pin section and the second spring pin section are preloaded by means of a cylindrical spring extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring pin axis, with the first spring pin section being located on the side of the spring pin remote from the receiving space of the charging socket and the second spring pin section being located on the side adjacent to the receiving space of the charging socket. This creates a comparatively simply constructed and reliably acting spring pin.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment, the spring pin is guided in a slotted guide extending in a longitudinal direction of the charging socket. This advantageously provides a simple means for achieving reliable movement of the charging plug.

[0012] According to an additional preferred embodiment, the guide has a first section in which the spring pin does not extend into the receiving space, a second section in which the spring pin extends partially into the receiving space, and a third section in which the spring pin extends into the receptacle of the charging plug. This advantageously provides a simple means by which three different positions of the element guided in the guide can be realized.

[0013] A particularly space-saving electrical charging socket of the type disclosed above is advantageously achieved if the gate is located in a wall of the charging socket.

[0014] A particularly space-saving electrical charging socket of the type disclosed above is advantageously created when the cover is mounted on a spring-loaded hinge against which a pin movably mounted in a slot rests, the pin being operatively connected to the drive means.

[0015] This is all the more true if the slot is advantageously located in the wall and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the charging socket.

[0016] A particularly space-saving, yet reliable electrical charging socket is advantageously created if the drive means is designed as a linear actuator that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the charging socket.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the spring pin axis protrudes orthogonally from an arm of the linear actuator. This advantageously further reduces the installation space required for the device according to the invention.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a charging plug that is compatible with a charging socket of the type described above. This object is achieved by a charging plug that is configured to be received in a charging socket of the type disclosed above. The aforementioned advantages apply adequately.

[0019] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a passenger car whose operation is more convenient than known passenger cars. This object is achieved by a passenger car having an electrical charging socket of the type disclosed above. The advantages mentioned above apply adequately.

[0020] Below, a detailed, non-prejudicial, particularly limiting, description of an embodiment of the present invention is given with reference to the attached drawing, which is not to scale. Fig. 1A is a simplified schematic plan view of a passenger car provided with an electrical charging socket according to the invention in a first operating position. Fig. 1B shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a simplified side view. Fig. 2A shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a second operating position. Fig. 2B shows the subject of Fig. 2A in a simplified side view. Fig. 3A shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a third operating position. Fig. 3B shows the subject of Fig. 3A in a simplified side view. Fig. 4A shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a fourth operating position. Fig. 4B shows the subject of Fig. 4A in a simplified side view. Fig. 5A shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a fifth operating position. Fig. 5B shows the subject of Fig. 5A in a simplified side view. Fig. 6A shows the subject of Fig. 1A in a sixth operating position. Fig. 6B shows the subject of Fig. 6A in a simplified side view.

[0021] In Fig. 1A shows a part of a symbolically depicted passenger car 1 in which an electrical charging socket 5 is mounted. The charging socket 5 itself comprises a charging socket body 10, which has two spaced-apart electrical contacts 15 and 20, respectively, extending in the longitudinal direction L of the charging socket 5, for conducting electrical energy, and a contact 25 for conducting electrical signals at one end. The respective contacts 15, 20, and 25 are connected to an on-board power system (not shown here) or to on-board electronics (not shown here) of the passenger car 1.

[0022] At the other end, the charging socket 5 is essentially flush with the outer skin 30 of the passenger car 1. The receiving space 40 provided for accommodating a charging plug 35 (only partially shown here) in the charging socket 5 is closed in the first operating position shown in this figure by a cover 45 in a conventional manner, wherein the cover 45 bears against a circumferential seal 50 positioned in the charging socket body 10. The cover 45 is rotatably mounted on a spring-loaded hinge 55, which—in order to prevent unwanted movement of the cover 45 and thus unwanted opening of the charging socket body 10—is held in position by a pin 65 guided in an elongated hole 60. On its outer side, the hinge 55 is provided with a guide 70 against which the pin 65 bears in the operating position shown.Thus, the hinge 55 undergoes a movement guided by the link 70 when the pin 65 moves in the elongated hole 60. The elongated hole 60 itself is located in a wall of the charging socket body 10.

[0023] In addition, there is, on the one hand, a further elongated hole 75 extending in the longitudinal direction L in the charging socket body 10, and on the other hand, a receptacle 80 designed as a latching opening in the charging plug 35, the respective functions of which will be described later.

[0024] As mentioned, the Fig. 1A is a simplified schematic plan view. In Fig. 1B is now the Fig. 1A is shown in a simplified schematic side view, and thus also in the first operating position. As can be seen from the latter figure, on one side 85 of the charging socket body 10 there is a linear actuator 90 which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L and is connected to the on-board electronics (not shown), which acts as a drive means. Its arm 95, which can be adjusted parallel to the longitudinal direction L, is operatively connected on the one hand to the pin 65 and on the other hand to a spring pin 100 positioned orthogonally thereto. The spring pin 100 is thus connected to its Fig. 1B right-hand end in the longitudinal direction L along a guide 105 located on the side 85. The guide 105 located in a wall of the charging socket 5 comprises three guide sections 110, 115 and 120 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L, which essentially differ from one another in that the Fig. 1B lower link section 110 is further away from the receiving space 40 than the one in the Fig. 1B upper link section 120, while the distance of the link section 115 located between them corresponds to a substantially average distance of the link section 110 and link section 120 from the receiving space 40. As the Fig. 1B, the spring pin 100 is in the first operating position in the lower link section 110.

[0025] The spring pin 100 itself comprises a first spring pin section 125, which bears against the lower link section 110, and a second spring pin section 135, which is transversely movable relative to the first spring pin section 125 along a spring pin axis 130. The spring pin axis 130 projects essentially orthogonally from the arm 95 in the direction of the receiving space 40, in particular in the direction of the longitudinal direction L (which can also be understood as the longitudinal axis). It is received within a cavity formed by the first spring pin section 125 and the second spring pin section 135, in which cavity a cylindrical spring 140 is arranged around the spring pin axis 130. The cylindrical spring 140 is designed such that it presses the first spring pin section 125 and the second spring pin section 135 apart.In the first operating position shown, the cylinder spring 140 experiences its greatest compression compared to the other operating positions still to be described, so that the relative distance between the in the . Fig. 1B left end of the second spring pin 135 opposite the one in the Fig. 1B right end of the first spring pin 125 is comparatively the smallest.

[0026] Fig. 2A now shows the Fig. 1A in a second operating position, in which the cover 45 is partially opened in the direction of the receiving space 40. For this purpose, the pin 65 driven by the linear actuator 95 moves according to the Fig. 1A or Fig. 2A, in the elongated hole 60 upwards, whereby the link 70 of the hinge 55 follows the pin 65 due to the hinge's own spring preload and the cover 45 pivots.

[0027] These relationships are also the Fig. 2B, which describes the subject of Fig. 2A in a simplified side view. As the Fig. 2B, the spring pin 100 has moved in accordance with a movement of the arm 95 in the link section 110, while still being located in the latter. The distance between the first spring pin section 125 and the second spring pin section 135 is increased here compared to the first operating position.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3A now shows the Fig. 1A and Fig. 2A in a third operating position, in which the cover 45 is fully open and is located in the receiving space 40. To assume this operating position, the pin 65 driven by the linear actuator 95 moves according to the Fig. 1A to Fig. 3A, further upwards in the elongated hole 60, whereby the link 70 of the hinge 55 follows the pin 65 due to the hinge's own spring preload and the cover 45 pivots.

[0029] These relationships are also the Fig. 3B, which is the subject of the Fig. 3A in a simplified side view. As can be seen from the Fig. 3B, the spring pin 100 has moved further in accordance with a movement of the arm 95 in the link section 110 such that it is now located in the link section 115. The distance between the first spring pin section 125 and the second spring pin section 135 is maximally increased here compared to the first operating position and the second operating position, with the second spring pin section 135 protruding straight into the receiving space 40.

[0030] Fig. Figure 4A shows the Fig. 1A to Fig. 3A in a fourth operating position. In this fourth operating position, as symbolized by arrow I, the charging plug 35 is manually moved into the receiving space 40. As can be seen from Fig. 4B, which is the subject of Fig. 4A in a simplified side view, the second spring pin section 135 rests against the outside of the charging plug 35 and is moved back towards the first spring pin section 125. As a result, the cylinder spring 140 is offset relative to the Fig. 3B shown operating position, so that their preload increases.

[0031] Fig. Figure 5A now shows the Fig. 1A to Fig. 4A in a fifth operating position, in which the receptacle 80 of the charging plug 35 is located more directly next to the spring pin 100 after its manual movement has continued in the direction symbolized by the arrow I. As can be seen from the Fig. 5B, which is the subject of Fig. As can be seen from a simplified side view of Figure 5A, the spring pin 100 moves into the receptacle 80 due to the previously described preload of the cylinder spring 140, as symbolized by arrow II. The receptacle 80 and the part of the spring pin 100 received therein are positively and non-positively connected to one another after the movement is completed, as indicated by arrow II.

[0032] As soon as the spring pin 100 is received in the receptacle 80 of the charging plug 35, the arm 95 is moved further upwards according to the representation chosen in these figures in order to Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B shown sixth operating position. As can be seen from the Fig. 6B, which is the subject of Fig. 6A in a simplified side view, the spring pin 100 is moved from the gate section 115 into the gate section 120. Due to the already described design of the gate section 120, the spring pin 100 rests with its second spring pin section 135 essentially in a form-fitting manner and, in comparison to the other operating positions, in a force-fitting manner in the receptacle 80 under a pretension of the cylinder spring 140 which is greatest in this sixth operating position. Fig. 4A to Fig.5B, the linear actuator 90 thus induced the movement of the charging plug 35 into the receiving space 40, thus not manually, as symbolized by arrow III. The spring pin 100 is thus an automatic or automated means for moving the charging plug 35 and locking it in the charging socket 5.

[0033] It should be noted that by assuming the previously shown operating positions in reverse order, it is possible to remove the charging plug 35 from the charging socket 5. List of reference symbols: 1 passenger car 5 Charging socket 10 charging socket bodies 15 electrical contact 20 electrical contact 25 Contact 30 Outer skin 35 charging plugs 40 recording room 45 lids 50 seal 55 Hinge 60 slot 65 pen 70 backdrop 75 slot 80 recording 85 pages 90 linear actuator 95 Arm 100 spring pins 105 backdrop 110 Scenery section 115 Scenery section 120 scenery section 125 first spring pin section 130 spring pin axle 135 second spring pin section 140 cylinder spring L longitudinal direction I manual insertion direction II Direction of movement of the spring pin 100 III machine insertion direction 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 2 492 134 A2

[0002]

Claims

[1] Electric charging socket (5) which is designed to be mounted in a passenger car (1), comprising - a charging socket body (10) into which at least one contact (15, 20, 25) extends and which is designed to at least temporarily accommodate a charging plug (35) in a receiving space (40), - a lid (45) which is arranged to selectively open or close the charging socket body (10), - a locking means () which is arranged to selectively block or release a movement of the charging plug (35) located in the charging socket body (10), - a drive means (90) which is operatively connected to the cover (45) in order to open or close the cover (45) and which is operatively connected to the locking means () in order to lock or release the charging plug (35), characterized bythat the drive means (90) is arranged to move the charging plug (35) into and / or out of the charging socket body (10). [2] Electrical charging socket (5) according to claim 1, characterized by that a spring pin (100) is located on the drive means (90) and is designed to be received in a corresponding receptacle (80) of the charging plug (35) when the latter is at least partially located in the charging socket body (10). [3] Electrical charging socket (5) according to claim 2, characterized byin that the spring pin (100) has a spring pin axis (130) around which a first spring pin section (125) extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring pin axis (130) and a second spring pin section (135) movably mounted relative to the first spring pin section are positioned, which in turn are pretensioned by means of a cylindrical spring (140) extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring pin axis (130), wherein the first spring pin section (125) is located on the end remote from the receiving space (40) of the charging socket (5) and the second spring pin section (135) is located on the side of the spring pin (100) adjacent to the receiving space (40) of the charging socket (5). [4] Electrical charging socket (5) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the spring pin (100) is guided in a link (105) which extends in a longitudinal direction (L) of the charging socket (5). [5] Electrical charging socket (5) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized bythat the link (105) has a first link section (110) in which the spring pin (100) does not extend into the receiving space (40), a second link section (115) in which the spring pin (100) extends partially into the receiving space (40) and a third link section (120) in which the spring pin (40) extends into the receptacle (80) of the charging plug (35). [6] Electrical charging socket (5) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the gate (100) is located in a wall of the charging socket (5). [7] Electrical charging socket (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover (45) is mounted on a spring-loaded hinge (55) against which a pin (65) movably mounted in an elongated hole (60) bears, the pin (65) being operatively connected to the drive means (90). [8] Electrical charging socket (5) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized bythat the elongated hole (60) is located in the wall and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the charging socket (5). [9] Electrical charging socket (5) according to one of claims 3 to 6 and claim 8, characterized by that the drive means (90) is designed as a linear actuator which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the charging socket (5). [10] Electrical charging socket (5) according to one of claims 3 to 8 and claim 9, characterized by that the spring pin axis (130) projects orthogonally from an arm (95) of the linear actuator (90). [11] Charging plug (35), characterized by that it is arranged to be received in a charging socket (5) according to one of the preceding claims. [12] Passenger cars (1), characterized by at least one charging socket (5) according to one of the preceding claims.

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