Curb loading device with multi-part curb body

Abstract

According to the invention, a curb loading device (10) is proposed, comprising a curb body (20) with a front wall (30), a receiving space (12) formed within the curb body (20), an electronics unit (60) arranged in the receiving space (12), and a separate closure cover (16) closing the receiving space (12) on top. According to the invention, the curb body (20) is designed in several parts and has a curb base body (22) with two transverse side walls (23, 24) made of a first material, and a separate front wall body (32) made of a second material, forming the front wall (30). Due to the multi-part design of the curb body (20), the front wall body (32) can be made significantly more stable than the curb base body (22). Nevertheless, the curb body (20) can be manufactured relatively inexpensively overall.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a curb loading device with a multi-part curb body.

[0002] A curbside charging device is a charging device integrated into a curb, kerbstone, or paving stone for charging the traction battery of a battery-powered vehicle (electric vehicle). Such curbside charging devices are installed at the side of the road, for example, at the edge of sidewalks or parking bays. Their power electronics are fully integrated into a curb, kerbstone, or paving stone as part of an electronic unit, or otherwise into the ground, for example, into a sidewalk or parking area. The curbside charging device can, for example, replace a conventional curb bordering the sidewalk, so that the curbside charging device blends in relatively unobtrusively with the cityscape and can be used in locations where space is limited.This means that the curbside charging device can also be installed in urban areas with relatively narrow sidewalks, for example, where conventional charging stations cannot be used due to their large space requirements.

[0003] The curb charging device typically comprises a curb body, preferably cast from concrete, within which a receiving space is formed in which an electronic unit is arranged, comprising the power electronics for converting and providing the electrical energy for charging the traction battery. Furthermore, the charging socket, into which the vehicle-mounted charging plug for wired charging of the traction battery can be inserted, can also be arranged entirely or partially within the receiving space. The receiving space is open at the top in the curb body and is closed by means of a cover placed on the curb body.

[0004] Such a curbside charging device is known, for example, from WO 2024 / 099532 A1.

[0005] The dimensions of the curb body correspond to the typical dimensions of a conventional curb. Due to the space required for the electronics unit, the front wall of the curb body facing the street is relatively thin and thus weak, meaning it cannot easily withstand a vehicle tire driving against or over the front wall. For this reason, a metal reinforcement structure was previously installed in the receiving space of the curb body to support and stabilize the front wall.

[0006] Furthermore, for example, DE 10 2020 205 561 A1 discloses a curb charging device with a multi-part curb body, in which a thin-walled cover is placed on a base supporting the electronic components. A similar curb charging device is also known from WO 2021 / 156 621 A2.

[0007] EP 1 753 917 B1 discloses a curbstone body made of plastic with a cavity and an internal reinforcement structure.

[0008] Against this background, the task is to create a curb loading device whose front wall can withstand the high loads of a vehicle driving against or over it.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a curb loading device having the features of claim 1.

[0010] The curb loading device according to the invention comprises a curb body with a front wall. In terms of its shape and dimensions, the curb body preferably corresponds to a conventional curb that is installed on the driveway-side edge of a sidewalk and separates the sidewalk from a driveway, for example, from a street or a parking bay. The curb body can also be designed, for example, as a curb or boundary stone of a parking area of ​​a parking lot. The front wall is the boundary wall of the curb body facing the driveway, for example, the street, and is generally the first to come into contact with a vehicle driving against the curb loading device.

[0011] The curb loading device further comprises a receiving space formed within the curb body. The receiving space is bounded on the driveway side by the front wall.

[0012] The curbside charging device has an electronics unit with power electronics arranged in the receiving space. The power electronics comprise all electrical and electronic components necessary for providing and converting the electrical energy provided from the local power grid in order to feed the electrical energy into a traction battery of a battery-powered vehicle and charge it. Preferably, the charging socket is also arranged entirely or partially in the receiving space. To charge the traction battery of the battery-powered vehicle, a charging plug connected to the vehicle can be inserted into the charging socket, whereby the vehicle's traction battery can be electrically connected to the power electronics of the curbside charging device, so that electrical energy can be transferred from the curbside charging device to the traction battery.

[0013] The receiving space is closed at the top by a separate cover. The terms "top", "upper", "bottom", "underneath" or similar generally refer to the horizontal installation position of the curb charging device. The cover is removable and allows access to the receiving space and the power electronics components located therein from above, for example for maintenance purposes. Thus, the receiving space is not limited at the top by the curb body itself. The cover is preferably made of metal. In addition, various components such as display devices, antennas, a heater, the charging socket, or a cover for the charging socket can be attached to the cover or integrated into it.

[0014] According to the invention, the curb body is constructed in multiple parts. The curb body comprises a curb base body with two transverse side walls. The side walls are arranged on the narrow sides of the curb loading device, for example, adjacent to a neighboring curb at the installation site, e.g., on a street. Furthermore, the side walls delimit the receiving space. Additionally, the curb base body can have an integrated rear wall that delimits the receiving space. Alternatively, the rear wall can also be constructed as a separate component. The curb base body is made of a first material. The first material can, for example, be a relatively inexpensive material that does not have particularly high tensile strength. For example, the curb base body can be made of conventional concrete or plastic.

[0015] In addition, the curb body has a separate front wall made of a second material, which forms the roadway-side front wall of the curb body. Compared to the curb base body, the front wall body can be made, for example, of a material with higher or particularly high strength, so that the front wall body can withstand the high mechanical loads caused by the impact of the tires of a heavy vehicle driving against or over the curb loading device. For example, the front wall body can be manufactured as a single-piece, solid cast metal component, which can be reinforced or formed by a weight-saving, heavy rib or honeycomb structure.

[0016] In addition, the curb base body can have an integrated front wall facing the street side, which delimits the receiving space, with the separate front wall body then being arranged in front of the front wall on the street side and shielding it. As a result, the front wall itself can be relatively weak, so that it only serves, for example, to seal the receiving space. By combining a front wall and a rear wall, both of which are integrated into the curb base body, the receiving space can be enclosed on all sides in the horizontal direction by the curb base body, for example, which is particularly advantageous with regard to sealing the receiving space. Nevertheless, the separate front wall body structurally reinforces the front wall towards the street side.

[0017] This allows the curbstone body to be designed modularly. For example, a single variant of the curbstone base body can be combined with differently designed variants of the front wall body to cost-effectively produce differently designed curbstone bodies, for example, for different countries. This can keep manufacturing costs low, for example.

[0018] As a further alternative, the front wall body can be manufactured as a multi-component component, for example in a sandwich construction, and have a casing and a core structure enclosed by the casing. The core structure stabilizes the casing and prevents its deformation. The casing is preferably made of a sheet metal, an extruded profile, or even a fiber composite material so that it can absorb tensile and compressive loads and has a certain degree of deformability. The core structure is preferably designed to absorb compressive loads and can, for example, be formed by a honeycomb structure or a rib structure. Alternatively, the core structure can also be formed by a filling material such as sand, foam, plastic, or concrete.

[0019] The multi-part design of the curbstone body allows the front wall body to be significantly more stable than the curbstone base body. Nevertheless, the curbstone body as a whole is relatively cost-effective to manufacture, as the curbstone base body can be made from relatively inexpensive concrete, for example. This also results in a certain degree of modularity, as the front wall body can be replaced if damage should occur without completely removing the curbstone base body. Furthermore, the curbstone base body can have various external formats, but the front wall body always remains identical.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the curb base body has a base on its underside. The base defines the receiving space at the bottom. Furthermore, the side walls are integrally connected to one another by the base, allowing the curb base body to be easily manufactured and installed as a monolithic component. Alternatively, the side walls can also be integrally connected to one another by a rear wall opposite the front wall on the sidewalk side. In this case, the curb base body can have no base and be open at the bottom.

[0021] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the two side walls each form a support surface on which the closure lid rests. Each side wall, particularly preferably also the front and / or rear wall, preferably has a step on which an edge section of the closure lid rests such that the closure lid is flush with the upper surface of the curb body. With a circumferential step, reliable sealing is simplified. In addition, fastening means for the closure lid can be incorporated into the side walls. For example, metal threaded inserts can be integrated into the side walls so that the closure lid can be easily fastened from above with screws.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the curb base body has a front wall section that forms part of the front wall of the curb body and on which the front wall body rests. The front wall section extends between the two side walls of the curb base body and is formed integrally with them. The front wall section forms a step that is significantly lower in height relative to the vertical than the side walls or, if present, the support surfaces for the closure lid. The thickness of the front wall section corresponds to the thickness of the front wall body at the support surface with which the front wall body rests on the front wall section.

[0023] Preferably, a sealing element is arranged between the curb base body and the front wall body. The sealing element seals the gap between the curb base body and the front wall body, preventing water from penetrating the receiving space from the outside through the gap.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the front wall body is connected to the curb base body by means of connecting elements. Suitable connecting elements include, for example, adhesives or other material-locking connections such as welds. Alternatively, force-locking or form-locking connecting elements can be provided. For example, the front wall body could be attached to the curb base body by means of screws. Furthermore, a form-locking connection could be created, for example, using teeth, reinforcing bars, or tongue and groove joints.

[0025] An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Herein: Fig. 1 a curb loading device according to the invention with a multi-part curb body in a perspective partial sectional view, Fig. 2 the curb body of the curb loading device of the Fig. 1 in a first front perspective view, Fig. 3 the curb body of the curb loading device of the Fig. 1 in a second rear and cross-sectional perspective view, and Fig. 4 a schematic diagram of a street with the curb loading device of the Fig. 1 in a top view.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a curb charging device 10 according to the invention for the cable-based charging of a traction battery of a battery-electric vehicle 100. Here, the Fig. 1-3 shows the orientation of the curb loading device 10 in the installation position. The curb loading device 10 has a curb body 20 with a front wall 30 directed towards a street 110, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0027] As the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 3, the curbstone body 20 is formed in several parts and comprises a curbstone base body 22 with two transverse side walls 23, 24. The curbstone base body 22 also has a base 26 that integrally connects the two transverse side walls 23, 24, with the side walls 23, 24 extending vertically upward from the base 26. The curbstone base body 22 is preferably made of concrete, alternatively of plastic.

[0028] The curbstone body 20 also has a front wall 30 which is formed from a separate front wall body 32 which is connected to the curbstone base body 22 by means of several connecting elements 50 designed as screws 52, as shown in Fig. 1. The screws 52 extend horizontally from the rear of the curb body 20 through the side walls 23, 24 into the front wall body 32, which has recessed threaded inserts (not shown) into which the screws 52 are screwed. Alternatively or additionally, screws may be provided that extend from the underside through the curb base body 22 into the front wall body 32 and are screwed into corresponding threaded inserts in the front wall body 32.

[0029] The front wall body 32 is made of sandwich construction, as in Fig. 3. The front wall body 32 has a casing 34 and a core structure 36. The casing 34 is made of a sheet metal material and encloses the core structure 36 made of a high-strength foam, which completely fills the space formed inside the casing 34. In this way, a high-strength front wall body 32 is created, the casing 34 of which can absorb tensile forces on the inside of the curb body 20 and compressive forces on the outside, so that the front wall body 32 can withstand external mechanical stress, for example from a tire of a heavy vehicle driving against or over the curb loading device 10.

[0030] A receiving space 12 is formed in the curbstone body 20, which is delimited by the base 26, the two side walls 23, 24 and the front wall 30. The rear of the receiving space 12 is closed by a separate rear wall body 18, for example made of metal, which can be glued or screwed to the curbstone base body 22. The rear wall body 18 is in Fig. 1 is provided with a cutout so that the interior of the curb loading device 10 can be seen. The upper side of the receiving space 12 is also limited and closed by a cover 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The closure lid 16 may have a circumferential seal that protects the receiving space 12 from water penetrating from above, for example, from rainwater.

[0031] The closure cover 16 rests on the transverse sides on a step-like support surface 25 formed by the two side walls 23, 24 and is screwed by means of screws 75 which extend through the closure cover 16 and into threaded inserts (not shown) which are respectively embedded in the side walls 23, 24.

[0032] An electronics unit 60 with power electronics (not shown) and an electronics housing 62 is arranged in the receiving space 12, wherein the power electronics is arranged in the encapsulated electronics housing 62, which is fastened to the top of the closure cover 16 in a sealed manner.

[0033] The curb base body 22 further comprises a front wall section 28 which is Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The front wall section 28 extends horizontally between the two side walls 23, 24 and is formed integrally therewith. Furthermore, the front wall section 28 extends vertically upward from the bottom 26 of the curb base body 22 and forms a step 29 on which the front wall body 32 rests.

[0034] A circumferential sealing element 40 is arranged between the curb base body 22 and the front wall body 32, which seals the gap between the front wall body 32 and the curb base body 22.

[0035] Fig. Figure 4 shows a sidewalk 120 which is bordered on one side by curbs 105 in the direction of a street 110, as well as the curb charging device 10 according to the invention. The curb charging device 10 replaces one of the conventional curbs 105 in an area with parking spaces and is thus arranged between two conventional curbs 105. However, several curb charging devices 10 can also be arranged directly adjacent to one another. The curb charging device 10 is connected underground to the local power grid by means of a power line 80 which extends underground into the curb body 20 and is connected there to the electronics unit 60 via a plug connection 84, as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0036] The curbside charging device 10 also has a charging socket 90, which is arranged in the receiving space 12 and fastened to the closure cover 16. The charging socket 90 is located behind a pivoting charging socket cover 92, which is also fastened to the closure cover 16. To gain access to the charging socket 90, the charging socket cover 92 is opened so that a charging plug 96 can be inserted into the charging socket 90. The charging plug 96 is electrically connected to the vehicle 100, in particular to the traction battery of the vehicle 100, via a line 98, so that by inserting the charging plug 96 into the charging socket, the traction battery of the vehicle 100 is connected to the electronics unit 60 of the curbside charging device 10 and can be charged.

Claims

[1] Curb loading device (10) with a curb body (20) with a front wall (30), a receiving space (12) formed within the curb body (20), an electronic unit (60) arranged in the receiving space (12), and a separate closure cover (16) closing the receiving space (12) on the top side, characterized by , that the curbstone body (20) is constructed in several parts and a curbstone base body (22) made of a first material with two transverse side walls (23, 24) and a separate front wall body (32) forming the front wall (30) made of a second material, wherein the second material differs from the first material. [2] Curb loading device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the curb base body (22) has a bottom (26) on the underside, by which the receiving space (12) is limited downwards and by which the side walls (23, 24) are integrally connected to one another. [3] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side walls (23, 24) each form a support surface (25) on which the closure lid (16) rests. [4] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the curb base body (22) has a front wall section (28) which forms part of the front wall (30) and on which the front wall body (32) rests. [5] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a sealing element (40) is arranged between the curb base body (22) and the front wall body (32). [6] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall body (32) is formed in a sandwich construction with a casing (34) and a core structure (36). [7] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall body has or is formed by a rib or honeycomb structure. [8] Curb loading device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall body (22) is connected to the curb base body (22) by means of connecting elements (50). [9] Curb loading device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the connecting elements (50) are formed by screws (52).

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