Charging cradle for an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging recess (10) for an electrically powered vehicle (60), comprising a charging socket (20) into which a charging plug connected or connectable to an external charging device can be inserted, a charging recess cover (12), and a pin element (30) which is arranged on a surface (14) of the charging recess (10) and is displaceable in its longitudinal axis (32) transversely to the surface (14). The pin element (30) is configured to cause the charging recess cover (12) to open and / or close mechanically when the charging plug is unplugged and to detect an open and / or closed state of the charging recess cover (12), and to terminate a charging process when the charging plug is plugged in.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loading trough for an electrically powered vehicle.

[0002] To interrupt the charging process of an electric vehicle or to unlock the charging cable after charging, there are various solutions depending on the vehicle type and manufacturer. The most convenient solution is likely the placement of a so-called charging interruption switch near the charging socket. The customer can press the switch when needed, and a sensor detects their request. However, such a charging interruption switch in the charging recess incurs additional costs and is therefore often omitted.

[0003] A more cost-effective but less convenient solution is a so-called soft button in the vehicle, for example on the head unit. The disadvantage here is that the customer first has to get into the vehicle and then get out again to unplug the charging cable.

[0004] A cost-effective option with moderate comfort is a soft button in a mobile phone's vehicle app. However, this requires the mobile phone to be available, the app to be open, and network coverage to be present.

[0005] DE 10 2021 131 133 B4 describes, for example, a loading trough with a locking detection device that detects the locked state of a locking device and generates an optical and / or acoustic signal correlated with the current state of the locking device. The locking detection device, which generates the optical signal correlated with the state of the locking device using a light source, is located in the loading trough. Furthermore, a loading button is located in the loading trough; pressing this button terminates a loading process and activates the locking device to switch from the locked to the unlocked state. The loading button also includes the light source.

[0006] Existing concepts for ending the charging process are either cumbersome to use or require additional hardware, which incurs additional costs.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of creating an improved loading trough for an electrically powered vehicle.

[0008] The aforementioned problem is solved using the features of an independent claim.

[0009] Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the further claims, the description and the drawing.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, a charging cradle for an electrically powered vehicle is proposed, comprising a charging socket into which a charging plug connected or connectable to an external charging device can be inserted, a charging cradle cover, and a pin element arranged on a surface of the charging cradle and displaceable in its longitudinal axis transverse to the surface. The pin element is configured to cause the charging cradle cover to open and / or close mechanically when the charging plug is unplugged and to detect an open and / or closed state of the charging cradle cover, and to terminate a charging process when the charging plug is plugged in.

[0011] In the proposed charging cradle for an electric vehicle, the pin element already present in the cradle for opening / closing the charging cradle cover is additionally used as a switch to interrupt the charging process. This eliminates the need for a separate switching element to trigger a charging interruption. The pin element can then be used, depending on the situation, either for mechanically opening / closing the charging cradle cover and detecting its position, or, if a charging plug is inserted, for interrupting the charging process or unlocking the charging plug.

[0012] The pin element is actually used to detect the position of the cargo area cover. If the cargo area cover is pressed, for example when closed, this is detected and a small motor releases a spring force. This then causes the cargo area cover to spring open. Additionally, the position of the pin element is used to detect an open cargo area cover and, for example, to display this information on a vehicle display.

[0013] If the vehicle is parked with the charging tray cover open, a switch linked to the pin element is closed. If even minimal pressure is applied to the pin element with a finger, the switch opens and a change in state can be detected. This change in state can serve as a substitute signal for the charging interruption switch.

[0014] The use of the charging tray cover's sensors as a replacement for the charging interruption switch is only possible due to the non-overlapping use cases. The charging tray cover's sensors are not needed when a charging cable is plugged in; the information that the charging cable is plugged in is present in all vehicles; the charging tray cover cannot be closed with a charging cable plugged in; and the charging interruption switch is only needed when a charging cable is plugged in.

[0015] This makes it advantageous to eliminate the need for a charging cut-off switch.

[0016] The new function for canceling the charging process via the pin element can be implemented without additional costs and without requiring additional installation space.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging cradle, the charging process can be terminated with the charging plug inserted by pressing the pin element along its longitudinal axis. Advantageously, it can be recognized that the charging process is to be terminated by pressing the pin element, thus opening a switch.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging cradle, the pin element can have at least two positions: it can be in the first position when the charging plug is unplugged and the charging cradle cover is closed, and in the second position when the charging cradle cover is open. The charging process can be terminated with the charging plug plug inserted by pressing the pin element along its longitudinal axis in the second position. Thus, the termination of the charging process can advantageously only be detected and effected in the second position.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging tray, the pin element can be mechanically coupled to at least one electrical switch by means of which the open and / or closed state of the charging tray cover can be detected. The at least one electrical switch can be closed when the charging tray cover is open, whereby pressing the pin element along its longitudinal axis causes the at least one electrical switch to open, thereby terminating the charging process. For example, if the vehicle is stationary with the charging tray cover open, the switch coupled to the pin element is closed. If only minimal pressure is now applied to the pin element with a finger, the switch opens and a change of state can be detected. This change of state can serve as a substitute signal for the charging termination switch.

[0020] According to an advantageous design of the loading trough, the pin element can protrude slightly above the surface of the loading trough. This prevents accidental operation of the pin element.

[0021] According to an advantageous design of the loading recess, the head of the pin element can have a smooth surface. This makes the pin element easy to operate.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the charging cradle can further include a visual indicator to provide visual feedback on the interruption of the charging process. For example, the customer can receive direct feedback on whether pressing the pin element was successful via an existing, adjacent LED.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging recess, the pin element can have a feedback device to provide haptic feedback of the charging process being aborted. Optionally, an additional haptic function can also be arranged in the pin element.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the loading trough, the pin element can have a visual indication of its additional function. In particular, the pin element can be colored and / or a printed symbol can be present on or immediately adjacent to the pin element. This effectively communicates to the customer the additional function of the pin element.

[0025] Further advantages become apparent from the following drawing description. These show: Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a loading trough for an electrically powered vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention with the loading trough cover open; and Fig. 2 a loading trough according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0026] In the figures, identical or similar components are numbered with the same reference symbols.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a loading trough 10 for an electrically operated vehicle 60 according to an embodiment of the invention with the loading trough cover open. The vehicle 60 is only recognizable as the edge of a body of the vehicle 60.

[0028] The charging recess 10 has a charging socket 20 into which a charging plug connected to, or connectable to, an external charging device can be inserted. The charging recess 10 also has a charging recess cover 12 and a pin element 30, which is arranged on a surface 14 of the charging recess 10 and can be pressed along its longitudinal axis 32 transversely to the surface 14.

[0029] With the charging plug disconnected, the pin element 30 mechanically opens and / or closes the charging tray cover 12 and detects whether the charging tray cover 12 is open or closed. With the charging plug connected, the pin element 30 can also be used to terminate the charging process.

[0030] The charging process can be terminated with the charging plug inserted by pressing the pin element 30 in its longitudinal axis 32.

[0031] The pin element 30 has at least two positions and is in the first, depressed, position when the charging plug is unplugged and the charging cradle cover 12 is closed. When the charging cradle cover 12 is open, the pin element 30 is in the second, extended, position. The charging process can be terminated with the charging plug plug in by pressing the pin element 30 in the second position along its longitudinal axis 32, for example, by gently pushing the pin element 30 in along its longitudinal axis 32.

[0032] The pin element 30 can, for example, be mechanically coupled to an electrical switch (not shown) by means of which the open and / or closed state of the loading trough cover 12 can be detected.

[0033] The electrical switch may be closed, for example, when the charging chute cover 12 is open. Pressing the pin element 30 along its longitudinal axis 32 can cause the electrical switch to open, thereby terminating the charging process.

[0034] It is advantageous if the pin element 30 only slightly protrudes above the surface 14 of the loading recess 10 and protrudes as little as possible from the surface 14. This ensures that the pin element 30 is in a protected position and safe from accidental misuse.

[0035] A head 34 of the pen element 30 can provide a smooth surface to be comfortably operated with the finger.

[0036] An existing optical indicator 40 can also be used to provide visual feedback when the charging process is interrupted. This optical indicator 40 could, for example, be an LED. When the charging process is interrupted via the pin element 30, the indicator could, for instance, first flash when the interruption is detected and then change color once the charging process is complete.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the pen element 30 can also have a feedback device 36 for haptic feedback of the aborting of the charging process.

[0038] Is Fig. Figure 2 shows a loading trough 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0039] The pen element 30 has a visual indication of its additional function. In particular, the pen element 30 may be colored and / or have a printed symbol 38 on the pen element 30 or, as shown, immediately adjacent to it. Reference symbol list 10 loading troughs 12 Loading trough cover 14 Surface 20 charging sockets 30 pin elements 32 Longitudinal axis 34 heads 36 Feedback facility 38 Symbol 40 optical display 60 vehicles

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