Two-wheel carrier for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-wheel carrier (1) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising - a support frame (3) that can be attached to the motor vehicle (2) and is designed to support at least one two-wheeler (4), - a bracket (5) which is attached to the support frame (3), - a retaining arm (6) which is attached to the bracket (5) and has a clamping device (60) which is designed to clamp a frame component (40) of the two-wheeler (4), as well as - an electric charging cable (7) with a charging plug that can be connected to an electrical connection interface formed in or on the motor vehicle (2), wherein the retaining arm (6) has an inductive or conductive charging interface which is electrically connected to the charging cable (7) and which is designed to inductively or conductively charge a rechargeable battery of the two-wheeler after the charging plug has been connected to the electrical connection interface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a two-wheel carrier for a motor vehicle.

[0002] Two-wheel carriers for motor vehicles, used to transport two-wheelers, especially bicycles, are known in the art in a wide variety of designs. Increasingly, electrically powered two-wheelers, such as e-bikes, pedelecs, or electric scooters, are also being transported using these carriers. These electrically powered two-wheelers comprise an electric motor that assists the two-wheeler's movement, as well as a rechargeable battery. The battery's state of charge affects the range achievable with the electrically powered two-wheeler. Therefore, it is generally desirable to be able to charge the battery of the electrically powered two-wheeler during transport. Currently, users often have to remove the battery for this purpose and connect it to a 12 V socket, particularly a cigarette lighter socket, or to a 230 V socket in the vehicle.This charging process is correspondingly cumbersome and inconvenient, as the battery has to be removed from the two-wheeler and then reinstalled after charging.

[0003] Technical solutions are already known from the state of the art that make it possible to charge the battery of an electrically powered two-wheeler during transport on a two-wheeler carrier.

[0004] DE 10 2017 121 568 A1 discloses a two-wheel carrier for a motor vehicle, wherein the two-wheel carrier is designed for charging a battery-electric bicycle during transport. The bicycle carrier includes a charger arranged on the two-wheel carrier, which is designed for connection to a 230 V socket on the motor vehicle.

[0005] The invention aims to further improve a two-wheel carrier for a motor vehicle.

[0006] The solution to this problem is a two-wheel carrier with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further developments of the invention.

[0007] A two-wheel carrier according to the invention comprises a support frame that can be attached to the motor vehicle and is designed to support at least one two-wheeler, a bracket that is attached to the support frame, a retaining arm that is attached to the bracket and has a clamping device designed to clamp a frame component of the two-wheeler, and an electrical charging cable with a charging plug that can be connected to an electrical connection interface provided in or on the motor vehicle, wherein the retaining arm has an inductive or conductive charging interface that is electrically connected to the charging cable and that is designed to inductively or conductively charge a rechargeable battery of the two-wheeler after the charging plug has been connected to the electrical connection interface of the motor vehicle.Because the support arm has an inductive or conductive charging interface, it is advantageously not necessary to have a charger, which is exposed to environmental influences, directly on the two-wheel carrier. Preferably, the charging interface can be integrated with the support arm.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the charging interface is integrated into the clamping device of the holding arm.

[0009] Preferably, the two-wheel carrier can have a concealed cable routing for the charging cable from the charging interface through the carrier to improve its visual appearance. Preferably, the entire cable routing of the charging cable up to the electrical connection interface of the vehicle is concealed.

[0010] For example, the vehicle's electrical connection point, into which the charging cable's plug is inserted, can be a socket, specifically a grounded socket. An inverter can, for instance, convert a 12 V DC (direct current) vehicle electrical system voltage into a 230 V AC voltage at 50 Hz, which is then applied to the grounded socket. Accordingly, the charging plug is then designed as a grounded plug.

[0011] In one embodiment, it is proposed that the charging plug of the charging cable can be connected to an electrical connection interface of an electrical on-board network of the motor vehicle with an on-board network voltage of 48 V.

[0012] In one embodiment, the charging cable's connector could be a USB-C connector. This enables DC charging by drawing power from a USB-C port, which could be located, for example, in the trunk of a vehicle. Currently, USB-C ports offer a maximum charging power of 100 watts (5 amps, 20 volts). In the future, USB-C ports with higher charging power will also be available, such as those with Extended Power Range (EPR). These allow for a charging power of 240 watts (5 amps, 48 ​​volts), making them compatible with vehicle electrical systems operating at 48 volts.

[0013] In one embodiment, the two-wheel carrier can be designed as a coupling carrier, which is configured to be attached to a trailer hitch of the motor vehicle. Such a coupling carrier is placed onto a ball head of the trailer hitch during assembly and secured to it by means of a clamping fastener.

[0014] In another embodiment, the two-wheel carrier is designed as a tailgate carrier, which is designed to be attached to a tailgate of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, it is proposed that the two-wheel carrier be designed as a roof rack, which is designed to be mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle.

[0016] Some motor vehicles, particularly battery-electric vehicles, are not designed to tow a trailer because the vertical load capacity at the rear is insufficient. Therefore, they cannot be equipped with a trailer hitch to which a two-wheel carrier can be attached. In one embodiment, the two-wheel carrier is designed to be attached to a proprietary, vehicle-specific mounting device for the two-wheel carrier, which is provided at the rear of the motor vehicle.

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the enclosed Fig. Figure 1, which shows a two-wheel carrier 1 for a motor vehicle 2 after assembly on the motor vehicle 2 in a schematically simplified form.

[0018] In this embodiment, the two-wheel carrier 1 is designed as a coupling carrier, which is configured to be attached to a trailer hitch of the motor vehicle 2 (not explicitly shown here). The two-wheel carrier 1 has a support frame 3, which is attached to a ball head of the trailer hitch of the motor vehicle 2 during assembly and secured to it, in particular by means of a clamping fastener. Alternatively, the support frame 3 can also be attached to and secured to a proprietary, vehicle-specific mounting device of the motor vehicle 2 for the two-wheel carrier 1, which is provided in the rear area. The support frame 3 is designed to support at least one two-wheeler 4. In this case, the two-wheeler 4 is electrically driven and comprises an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. The electrically driven two-wheeler 4 can, in particular, be an e-bike or a pedelec.It is also conceivable, for example, that the electrically powered two-wheeler 4 is an electric scooter.

[0019] The two-wheel carrier 1 further comprises a bracket 5, which is attached to the support frame 3, and a retaining arm 6, which is attached to the bracket 5 and has a clamping device 60. The clamping device 60 is designed to engage a frame component 40 of the two-wheeler 4 and to clamp this frame component 40 in place.

[0020] Furthermore, the two-wheel carrier 1 has a charging cable 7 with a charging plug (not explicitly shown here) that can be connected to an electrical connection interface installed in or on the motor vehicle 2. The charging cable 7 was Fig. Figure 1 is shown in a highly schematic form. To improve the visual appearance of the two-wheel carrier 1, a concealed cable routing for the charging cable 7 is preferably provided, running from a charging interface through the two-wheel carrier 1 to the electrical connection interface of the motor vehicle. This concealed cable routing was shown in Figure 1. Fig. 1 deliberately not shown.

[0021] The support arm 6 has an inductive or conductive charging interface that is electrically connected to the charging cable 7 and is designed to inductively or conductively charge the rechargeable battery of the electrically powered two-wheeler 4 after the charging plug is connected to the vehicle's electrical connection interface. This allows for convenient charging of the rechargeable battery of the electrically powered two-wheeler 4 during transport, without the need to remove the battery from the two-wheeler 4 before charging begins and reinstall it after charging is complete. Preferably, the inductive or conductive charging interface is integrally formed with the support arm 6. In the embodiment shown here, the charging interface is integrated into the clamping device 60 of the support arm 6.

[0022] For example, the vehicle's electrical connection interface into which the charging plug of charging cable 7 is inserted can be a socket, in particular a grounded socket. An inverter can, for example, convert a 12 V vehicle electrical system voltage (DC) into an AC voltage of 230 V and 50 Hz, which is then applied to the grounded socket. Accordingly, the charging plug of charging cable 7 is then designed as a grounded plug.

[0023] For example, the charging plug of the charging cable 7 is also possible to be a USB-C plug. This allows DC charging by drawing power from a USB-C interface, which could be located, for example, in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0024] It can also be provided that the charging plug of the charging cable 7 can be connected to an electrical connection interface of the vehicle 2's electrical system with a system voltage of 48 V, thus enabling DC charging of the two-wheeler 4's battery at a voltage of 48 V. This voltage allows for particularly fast battery charging.

[0025] Currently, USB-C ports allow a maximum charging power of 100 watts (current: 5 A, voltage: 20 V). In the future, USB-C ports with higher charging power will also be available, such as USB-C ports with so-called "Extended Power Range" (EPR). These allow a charging power of 240 watts (current: 5 amps, voltage: 48 V), so they can also be used in vehicle electrical systems with a voltage of 48 V.

[0026] In this embodiment, the two-wheel carrier 1 is designed as a coupling carrier, which is configured to be attached to the trailer hitch of the motor vehicle 2. However, the concept described above for charging a rechargeable battery of an electrically powered two-wheeler 4 can also be applied to two-wheel carriers 1 that are designed as tailgate carriers or roof racks. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2017 121 568 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Two-wheel carrier (1) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising - a support frame (3) that can be attached to the motor vehicle (2) and is designed to support at least one two-wheeler (4), - a bracket (5) which is attached to the support frame (3), - a retaining arm (6) which is attached to the bracket (5) and has a clamping device (60) which is designed to clamp a frame component (40) of the two-wheeler (4), as well as - an electric charging cable (7) with a charging plug that can be connected to an electrical connection interface formed in or on the motor vehicle (2), wherein the retaining arm (6) has an inductive or conductive charging interface which is electrically connected to the charging cable (7) and which is designed to inductively or conductively charge a rechargeable battery of the two-wheeler after the charging plug has been connected to the electrical connection interface. [2] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the charging interface is integrally formed with the holding arm (6). [3] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the charging interface is integrated into the clamping device (60) of the holding arm (6). [4] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a concealed cable routing of the charging cable (7) from the charging interface through the two-wheel carrier (1). [5] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the charging plug of the charging cable (7) can be connected to an electrical connection interface of an electrical on-board network of the motor vehicle (2) with an on-board network voltage of 48 V. [6] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the charging plug of the charging cable (7) is designed as a USB-C plug. [7] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that the two-wheel carrier (1) is designed as a coupling carrier, which is designed to be attached to a trailer coupling of the motor vehicle (2). [8] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the two-wheel carrier (1) is designed as a tailgate carrier, which is designed to be attached to a tailgate of the motor vehicle (2). [9] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the two-wheel carrier (1) is designed as a roof carrier which is designed to be mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle (2). [10] Two-wheel carrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the two-wheel carrier (1) is designed to be attached to a proprietary, vehicle-specific mounting device for the two-wheel carrier (1) which is provided in the rear area of ​​the motor vehicle (2).

Images