Charging socket, charging plug, plug connection and method for charging an electrically operated motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging socket (16) for an electrically operated motor vehicle, into which a charging plug (12) can be inserted to form a plug connection (10) for charging an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, wherein at least one adjusting element (28) for the charging plug (12) is arranged on the charging socket (16), by means of which the charging plug (12) can be at least partially adjusted relative to the charging socket (16). The invention is characterized in that the at least one adjusting element (28) is designed as a telescopic arm. The invention further relates to a charging plug (12), a plug connection (10) and a method for charging the electrically operated motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a charging socket, a charging plug and a plug connection of an electrically operable motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claims 1, 6 and 7.Conductive and inductive charging are two methods used for wireless power transfer. In connection with highly automated charging robots, which operate similarly to industrial robots, both conductive and inductive charging systems could be used in the underground or in the underground area of an at least partially autonomous motor vehicle.In conductive charging in the underbody area, it is provided that the charging robots plug a charging plug directly into a socket let into the underbody area in order to enable the energy transmission. This method is particularly efficient because the current is transmitted directly, but requires precise alignment of the charging plug.DE 10 2016 222 853 B4 discloses a coupling device for producing and disconnecting an energy-transmitting plug connection, having a plug that can be displaced along a plug-in direction for plugging into a corresponding plug receptacle, and having a drive device that is operatively connected to the plug for the displacement thereof, wherein the plug can be arranged in a tilted position relative to the plug-in direction in a decoupled state of the coupling device. In addition, the coupling device has a deflection device which is configured to deflect the plug from its rest position into a plug-in position aligned in the plug-in direction. The deflecting device has a deflecting ramp on which the plug runs during its displacement from the rest position into the plug-in position, it being possible for the plug to be deflected from its rest position in the plug-in direction. The coupling device also has a guide device which is designed to guide the plug during its displacement in the plug-in direction.DE 10 2021 126 797 B3 discloses a charging device for electric vehicles, which includes a plug-in auxiliary device. This device consists of rigid coupling elements, which are displaced transversely to the insertion direction with the aid of an actuator in order to produce a form-fit connection and to reduce the insertion force of the charging plug.DE 10 2010 042 632 A1 discloses an electrical plug-in connection for electric vehicles which is equipped with at least one movable gripping arm. These gripping arms automatically connect a plug to a jack to make a mechanical and electrical connection. A sensor detects the corresponding connector and activates the gripping arms to establish and secure the connection.It is the object of the invention to provide a charging socket, a charging plug, a plug connection and a method of the type mentioned at the beginning, by means of which contacting of a charging interface for the electrically operable motor vehicle can be carried out particularly quickly and efficiently.This object is achieved according to the invention by a charging socket, a charging plug and a plug connection having the features of patent claims 1, 6 and 7. In addition, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.A first aspect of the invention relates to a charging socket for an electrically operable motor vehicle, into which a charging plug can be inserted to charge an energy store of the motor vehicle, forming a plug connection. The plug connection thus makes it possible to charge the energy store, wherein the charging socket can be arranged both on a side region or in an underbody region of the motor vehicle.According to the invention, it is provided that at least one adjusting element for adjusting the charging plug relative to the charging socket is arranged on the charging socket, by means of which adjusting element the charging plug can be at least partially pulled towards the charging socket and / or can be at least partially moved away from the charging socket. Accordingly, the charging socket according to the invention describes a function by means of the adjusting element, by means of which a mechanical support is provided, which can pull the charging plug towards the socket and / or move it away. This can be achieved by a large number of technical approaches, for example by electromagnetic or mechanical systems on the respective adjusting elements. The at least one adjusting element can be provided here, for example, as a gripping mechanism which engages around the plug, for example on the outer circumference, or engages only on allocated regions and pulls it toward the socket, and accordingly the movement away and thus any adjustment relative to the charging socket can also be made possible. It is thus likewise possible for the adjusting element not only to pull the charging plug toward the socket, but also to move the charging plug away from the position socket. Accordingly, the adjusting element would be configured not only for pulling, but also for displacing or moving away the charging plug. In particular, the adjustment element is intended to provide a possibility of bringing the charging socket and the charging plug together, wherein the adjustment element enables, for example, a linear movement of the charging plug. Furthermore, a curved movement can also be carried out, for example, along a curved guide provided. The adjusting element moves the charging plug substantially perpendicular to a contact surface of the charging plug with the position socket, wherein oblique linear movements are also possible in order to enable the plug connection of charging socket and charging plug. Furthermore, the charging socket can also have a multiplicity of different further components, for example a stop element on which the charging plug can be placed, such that the adjusting element moves or pulls the charging plug along the stop element towards the charging socket or else moves it away again. For example, such a stop element can also be configured to be foldable, as a result of which the stop element can only be folded about an axis when used and the charging socket thus provides a guide surface for the charging plug, for example a curved or shell-shaped guide surface, on which the charging plug can be oriented. The stop element can also have the aforementioned curved guide, along which the charging plug can be guided.The adjusting element thus enables a rapid and reliable connection and disconnection of the plug connection, whereby the charging process is provided more efficiently. In particular when using robots or robot arms, the charging socket can be particularly advantageous since the robot can be supported by the adjusting element when docking the charging plug. Furthermore, the adjustment element can also be integrated into an automated charging system in order to automatically connect or remove the charging plug, as a result of which it is also possible to use further application cases with an efficient and faster charging possibility.Furthermore, it is also provided according to the invention that the adjusting element is adjustable between a stowage position and a stop position. This means that the adjusting element can be arranged in the stowage position within the housing of the charging socket and thus does not require any space and cannot also be broken away by impacts. Alternatively, the adjustment element can also be stored or removed in another way. In the stop position, it is provided that the adjusting element moves or carries out or extends longitudinally relative to the charging socket and is thus moved in particular toward the charging plug in order to subsequently move the latter toward the charging socket. By adjusting from the stop position back into the stowage position, it is possible to guide the charging plug towards the charging socket, whereby the adjusting element is used as a plug-in aid. Furthermore, it is thus possible, during the adjustment to the stop position, also to move the charging plug away from the charging socket and thus to disconnect the plug connection.In order to achieve the object of the invention, it is provided that the adjusting element is designed as a telescopic arm. The design of the adjusting element as a telescopic arm makes it possible here that the adjusting element does not have to be guided into the housing or into a space corresponding and provided for it, but rather that the adjusting element extends and extends in the elongate direction of extent in particular towards the charging plug and shortens it accordingly again. In particular, a lot of space is thereby saved, wherein the lengthening and shortening of the adjusting element, which is configured as a telescopic arm, for providing the adjustment between the stowage position and the stop position is likewise made possible.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one locking element is arranged on the adjusting element. In order to now fasten the adjusting element to the charging plug or in order to provide the pulling force, the locking element is arranged on the adjusting element. This locking element can be designed differently, wherein it is mainly used to establish a connection between adjusting element and charging plug, by means of which connection the charging plug can be moved away from the charging socket or from the charging socket. The locking element can be mechanically connected to the charging plug; alternatively, a magnetic component can also be arranged; the use of releasable adhesive materials would likewise be possible.In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the locking element is configured hook-shaped with the hook region perpendicular to the elongate direction of extent of the adjusting element, wherein in particular the hook region is also directed towards the charging plug in the stop position. In this case, it is provided that the locking element is now designed as a hook, as a result of which the charging plug can be moved more easily towards the charging socket. Thus, a hook for pulling and a hook for moving the charging plug away are possible. By virtue of a hook shape on both sides, it is likewise possible to move the charging plug away from the charging socket again, wherein a wide configuration of the locking element is likewise possible. For example, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of locking elements on an adjusting element, by means of which the adjusting element can lock the charging plug multiple times at predetermined locations.In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the locking element is adjustable between a locking position, in which the locking element is inserted and locked in corresponding receptacles on the charging plug, and a release position, in which the locking element is detachable from the receptacle. Accordingly, the charging plug has receptacles provided for this purpose, which are designed to correspond to the configuration of the locking elements. Thus, the geometry of the receptacles corresponds to the geometry of the locking elements and thus enables the drawing or moving away of the charging plug from the charging socket. In particular, however, it is provided here that the locking elements are not statically designed, but that they can also be fixedly or non-fixedly designed, for example, by means of a motor drive or by means of a spring element, as a result of which the charging plug can be guided to the position socket when the adjusting elements are used and the locking elements can be released again when not used and the adjusting element can thus be released from the charging plug. In particular, the release of the locking elements can also be effected at least partially autonomously.In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of locking elements can be locked around the outer circumference of the charging plug, thereby making it possible to fasten the charging plug to a plurality of receptacles and to use it on the charging socket. It is also possible here to provide, by means of the plurality of adjusting elements, a higher tensile force or compressive force, by means of which the charging plug can be moved back or forth.A second aspect of the invention relates to a charging plug for charging an electrically operable motor vehicle, wherein, for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle, the charging plug can be inserted into a charging socket of the motor vehicle according to the preceding aspect, forming a plug connection. In this case, it is provided that at least one receptacle is arranged, in which a locking element can be locked on at least one adjusting element of a charging socket.A third aspect of the invention relates to a plug connection for an electrically operable motor vehicle having a charging socket according to the first aspect, wherein it is provided that at least one adjusting element for the charging plug is arranged on the charging socket, by means of which adjusting element the charging plug is at least partially adjustable relative to the charging socket.A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for charging an electric motor vehicle, in which a charging plug is inserted into a charging socket according to the first aspect. In this case, it is provided that at least one adjusting element for the charging plug is arranged on the charging socket, by means of which adjusting element the charging plug is at least adjusted relative to the charging socket.It is also possible for a stop element for the charging plug to be arranged on the charging socket, which stop element has a shell-shaped geometry, wherein the stop element has a stop surface on which the charging plug can be stopped and / or along which the charging plug can be inserted and / or plugged into the charging socket. The stop surface is suitable in particular for depositing a region of a cylindrical geometry, namely that of a partial region of a housing of the charging plug. The shell-shaped geometry encloses the cylindrical geometry in regions and thus offers additional stability, wherein corresponding geometries of the stop element to the enclosing partial region of the housing of the charging plug are also possible. One possible dish-shaped geometry is a hemispherical depression or recess embedded in a larger deposition surface. The cylindrical geometry can then be easily placed in the depression and rests stably on the concave surface of the stop element, which is designed, for example, as a tray. The possibility provided by the concave shaped dish-shaped stop element offers the advantage of keeping the charging plug, which is at least partially cylindrical, in a position vertical to a contact surface of the plug connection. In both cases, the cup-shaped geometry provides a secure and stable base for the charging plug as it is being deposited. It is also an effective possibility to save space, since the dish-shaped geometry can store the half-cylinder in a compact and orderly manner. Thus, when the charging plug is inserted into the charging socket, it is guided along the stop surface of the stop member to ensure that it is properly aligned and no lateral force is applied to the charging plug.Additionally, tolerances may be taken into account by shaping the stop member to allow some movement of the charging plug in various directions to accommodate variations in the positioning of the charging plug. For example, the stop member may have some flexibility or clearance to ensure that the charging plug is still properly aligned even if it is not perfectly positioned. A linear movement along the stop element provided by the stop element in the stop position thus offers an effective possibility of enabling simple and user-friendly insertion of the charging plug into the charging socket, while at the same time tolerances are taken into account in order to produce a reliable connection.It is also possible for the stop element to be at least partially flexible and / or elastic, whereby flexibility of the stop element is provided. Due to the partially flexible or elastic design of the stop element, this can provide certain tolerance ranges in the positioning of the charging plug, whereby errors in the positioning can be compensated. This allows a better alignment between the stop element and the charging plug to be achieved. A flexible or elastic design of the stop element can thus also contribute to the fact that, in the event of the charging plug slipping slightly, the alignment can nevertheless be tracked further by the elasticity or flexibility of the stop element without having to start again from the front of the insertion process.In addition, it is possible for at least one guide element for the charging plug to be arranged on the charging socket, which guide element is designed by means of its alignment geometry to at least partially align the charging plug during insertion of the charging plug into the charging socket. The guide element can have, for example, a recess, a guide groove or another suitable geometry, which brings the charging plug into the correct position and prevents an accidental tilting or bending of the charging plug. For example, the guide element can be elongated and designed to be inserted into a corresponding insertion opening for the guide element of the charging plug. By using an elongated guide member which can be inserted into the insertion opening of the charging plug, a precise alignment of the charging plug is facilitated, which leads to a smooth insertion operation and prevents damage to the charging socket and the charging plug.It is likewise possible for the stop element and / or the guide element to be formed integrally with a housing of the charging socket. In this case, it is provided to integrate the stop element and / or the guide element into the housing of the charging socket, in particular already during production. This integration offers several advantages. Firstly, the production and assembly of the charging socket can be facilitated, since fewer components are required and therefore also less assembly effort is produced. On the other hand, the stability of the charging socket can be improved, since the stop element and / or the guide element are connected to the housing by the integral formation and thus form a fixed unit. Furthermore, the integration of the stop element and / or the guide element into the housing of the charging socket can also contribute to improved safety, since the probability is reduced that these elements are detached or displaced during the use of the charging socket. This may be especially important in applications in which high currents or voltages are transmitted.Further features of the invention are evident from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figure can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone.The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a plug connection for charging an electrically operable motor vehicle having a charging socket according to the invention with a plurality of adjusting elements.FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a plug connection 10 for charging an electrically driven motor vehicle or an electrically operable motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle. This plug connection 10 comprises a charging socket 16 and a charging plug 12, which together form the charging interface. The charging socket 16 is designed to charge the energy store of the electrically driven motor vehicle. In this case, the charging plug 12 can be inserted into the position socket 16 in order to produce the plug connection 10. At least one adjusting element 28, in particular a plurality of adjusting elements 28, is arranged on the charging socket 16, which adjusting elements are designed as respective telescopic arms and which in turn have respective locking elements 30. By means of these adjusting elements 28, it is possible to at least partially draw the charging plug 12 to the charging socket 16 or draw it toward it or move it away from it. In this case, it is provided that an adjustment from a stowage position into a stop position of the respective adjusting elements is possible, wherein in the stowage position the adjusting elements 28 are arranged in the housing of the charging socket 16 and in the stop position are moved out therein. In addition, the adjusting elements comprise the respective, in particular hook-shaped, locking elements 30, which are designed to move the charging plug 12 toward the charging socket 16. These locking elements can be adjusted between a locking position, in which the locking elements are inserted into corresponding receptacles 32 on the charging plug 12 and are locked accordingly, and a release position, in which the locking elements can already be released from the corresponding receptacles 32. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange a plurality of locking elements 30 on an adjusting element 28.In addition, FIG. 1 shows that a plurality of adjusting elements 28 of the respective locking elements 30 can be introduced into respective receptacles 32, wherein the respective receptacles 32 are arranged on the outer circumference of the charging plug 12 in order to increase a stability of the tightening by the adjusting elements 28 and thus a stability of the plug connection 10. In addition to the pulling or moving away function through the respective adjusting elements toward the charging socket 16 or away from the charging socket 16, it is possible to also arrange respective stop elements or further guide elements on the charging socket, as a result of which the charging plug 12 can be stopped at these guide elements or stop elements and can be guided at these toward the charging socket 16. Accordingly, it is possible to enable a linear movement of the charging plug 12 towards or away from the charging socket by means of the adjusting elements 28, wherein the linear movement is enabled in particular perpendicularly to a surface between the charging socket 16 and the charging plug 12, wherein oblique linear movements are also enabled.Finally, it is also possible to form the locking elements 30 with respective spring elements, which are not shown in FIG. 1, whereby a mechanical spring-supported locking of the locking elements 30 in the respective receptacles 32 is also made possible.It is also possible for a stop element 18 for the charging plug 12 to be arranged on the charging socket 16, which stop element is designed, for example, in the form of a shell, wherein the stop element 18 has a stop surface on which the charging plug 12 can be stopped and / or along which the charging plug 12 can be inserted and / or plugged into the charging socket 16. This is intended to provide assistance for the positioning of the charging plug 12 in order to create a plug connection 10 which is as efficient and quick as possible, but which is also reliable. Alternatively, further guide elements 22 can be arranged on the charging socket 16 in order to provide an improved and more efficient plug-in aid.In other words, the invention describes a redesign of the charging socket 16 for fully automated charging with a telescopically configured adjusting element 28 for adjusting the charging plug 12 relative to the charging socket 16.List of reference characters10 Plug connection 12 Charger plug 16 Charging socket 18 Stop element 22 Guide element 28 Adjusting element 30 Locking element 32 Receptacle

Claims

Charging socket (16) for an electrically operable motor vehicle, into which a charging plug (12) can be inserted to charge an energy store of the motor vehicle, forming a plug connection (10), wherein at least one adjusting element (28) for the charging plug (12) is arranged on the charging socket (16), by means of which adjusting element the charging plug (12) is at least partially adjustable relative to the charging socket (16), and wherein the adjusting element (28) is adjustable between a stowage position and a stop position, characterized in that the at least one adjusting element (28) is designed as a telescopic arm.Charging socket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one locking element (30) is arranged on the adjusting element (28).Charging socket (16) according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking element (30) is formed hook-shaped with the hook region perpendicular to the elongate direction of extent of the adjusting element (28).Charging socket (16) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the locking element (30) is adjustable between a locking position, in which the locking element (30) is inserted and locked in corresponding receptacles (32) on the charging plug (12), and a release position, in which the locking element (30) is detachable from the receptacle (32).Charging socket (16) according to Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a multiplicity of locking elements (30) can be locked on the outer circumference on the charging plug (12).Charging plug (12) for charging an electrically operable motor vehicle, wherein, for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle, the charging plug (12) can be inserted into a charging socket (16) of the motor vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 5, forming a plug connection (10), characterized in that at least one receptacle (32) is arranged, into which a locking element (30) can be locked on at least one adjusting element (28) of a charging socket (16).Plug connection (10) for an electrically operable motor vehicle, having a charging socket (16) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 and a charging plug (12), characterized in that at least one adjusting element (28) for the charging plug (12) is arranged on the charging socket (16), by means of which adjusting element the charging plug (12) can be at least partially adjusted relative to the charging socket (16).Method for charging an electrically operable motor vehicle, in which a charging plug (12) is inserted into a charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one adjusting element (28) for the charging plug (12) is arranged on the charging socket (16), by means of which adjusting element the charging plug (12) is at least partially adjusted relative to the charging socket (16).

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