Plug arrangement with a support, for an electric vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug arrangement for fastening to or integration in an electric vehicle, wherein the plug arrangement has a carrier (1) which is connected to the electric vehicle, in particular the chassis (2) thereof, in at least one first chassis connection point (8), wherein a plug unit (3) is arranged on the carrier (1), and wherein the plug arrangement has a housing (4) which has a movable housing cover (5), wherein the plug unit (3) or the carrier (1) has at least one support element (6) which can adopt a retracted and an extended state, wherein in the extended state said support element (6) supports the plug unit (3) and / or the carrier (1) with respect to the chassis (2), in particular in the event that a force (F) is introduced from the outside into the plug unit (3).

Description

[0001] Plug assembly with a support, for an electric vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a plug arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of proposing a plug arrangement which is relatively robust and / or cost-effective.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the plug arrangement according to claim 1.

[0005] The invention is particularly based on the idea of ​​proposing a plug arrangement, wherein the plug arrangement is provided for attachment to or for integration into an electric vehicle, wherein the plug arrangement has a carrier which is connected to the electric vehicle, in particular its chassis, particularly preferably on the underbody or in the underbody region of the chassis of the electric vehicle, in at least one first chassis connection point, wherein a plug unit is arranged on the carrier, and wherein the plug arrangement has a housing which has a movable housing cover ora housing cover segment, wherein the plug unit or the carrier has at least one support element which can assume a retracted and an extended state, wherein this support element in the extended state supports the plug unit and / or the carrier relative to the chassis, in particular in the event that a force is introduced into the plug unit from the outside.

[0006] The chassis is primarily understood to be the body of the electric vehicle.

[0007] An electric vehicle is preferably understood to mean a vehicle and vice versa.

[0008] The housing cover is preferably moved by an electric motor of the plug assembly. The plug assembly is expediently designed as a charging socket or is referred to as such.

[0009] The housing cover preferably extends the at least one support element during the opening of the housing cover, whereby the plug unit is exposed.

[0010] It is preferred that the housing cover retracts the at least one support element during the closing of the housing cover, whereby the plug unit is encapsulated and / or tightly housed.

[0011] Particularly preferably, the housing cover takes along the at least one support element when opening and / or closing and moves this up when opening and retracts this when closing the housing cover.

[0012] It is preferred that the at least one support element is designed as a rounded finger and / or rounded pin, which is in particular fastened to a torsion spring and can be moved and / or rotated by means of this torsion spring into a retracted state in which the torsion spring is tensioned and into an extended state in which the torsion spring is relaxed and the support element is supported against the chassis.

[0013] The plug unit or the carrier preferably has four support elements, which are each arranged in particular at a corner of the plug unit.

[0014] It is preferred that the housing cover is substantially cup-shaped and is designed and arranged such that it surrounds the plug unit, in particular at a distance, from three sides in a continuously sealing manner when the housing cover is in the closed state.

[0015] It is expedient for the support to have a first beam which projects from the chassis, in particular substantially perpendicularly, and for the support to have a second beam connected to the first beam which projects substantially perpendicularly therefrom and / or for this second beam to be aligned substantially parallel to the chassis surface to which the first beam is fastened.

[0016] It is preferred that the plug unit comprises an electrical plug or an electrical socket for electrical contact, wherein the plug unit is fastened to the second beam on the side facing away from the chassis.

[0017] The support is preferably substantially T-shaped and the second beam is the longer beam of the T-shaped support.

[0018] The plug arrangement is expediently designed such that when the housing cover is closed, the plug unit is sealed and in particular hermetically enclosed or encapsulated.

[0019] It is preferred that the connector arrangement is configured such that the angle of the unfolded or extended support elements is selected or configured such that the support elements cannot fold back in, even under very high force applied by the connector unit, which is subjected to a force from a connected off-board unit or charging unit. If the movable housing cover or the movable cover closes again, the support elements are rotated back to their original position, with the rotation taking place with respect to the respective torsion springs, and in the process, their associated torsion spring is pretensioned, in particular again.

[0020] The support, in particular with regard to the first and second beams, is expediently formed in one piece.

[0021] The connector assembly is preferably designed such that the support elements, or at least one support element, is / are extended when the housing cover is opened, whereby they extend automatically due to the mechanical preload provided by the torsion springs. The support is expediently part of the housing and, in particular, forms a housing wall with its first beam.

[0022] The invention also relates to the use of the plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims for contacting an electrical energy storage device in an electric vehicle by a charging robot.

[0023] They show in schematic representation

[0024] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary connector arrangement in a top view and a side view,

[0025] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary plug arrangement with regard to an acting force, Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a plug unit,

[0026] Fig. 4, 5 each show examples of support elements, as well as

[0027] Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of a plug arrangement.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary plug assembly in a top view and a side view. The plug assembly includes a housing 4 and a movable housing cover 5 driven by an electric motor (not shown), which opens along the arrow shown and releases the plug unit 3. This top view is shown, for example, from below, looking at the underbody or the corresponding chassis of the electric vehicle.

[0029] Fig. 2 shows an example of the plug arrangement from Fig. 1, wherein a force F is introduced into or acts on the plug unit, for example by a connection process with a loading robot, wherein the resulting torque is illustrated by the curved arrow, which acts around the chassis connection point 8 as a pivot point.

[0030] Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary plug unit 3, comprising a plug 9 and a support element 6 in / at each corner of the plug unit 3, i.e. a total of four, which are each designed as a finger and / or rounded pin and are rotatably mounted or suspended or fastened by means of a torsion spring.

[0031] In Fig. 4, one of the support elements 6 is illustrated as an example, rotatably mounted or suspended or fastened by means of a torsion spring 7 at the corner of the plug unit 3.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a plug unit 3 with two support elements 6 on one side of the plug unit 3. The support elements 6 are each fastened by means of torsion springs 7. The curved arrow illustrates the rotational transition between the retracted and extended state. The side parts of the housing cover 5 are illustrated. When the housing cover 5 is closed, the housing cover 5 retracts the two support elements 6 shown. When the housing cover 5 is opened, they are extended automatically by means of the mechanical preload provided by the torsion springs 7.

[0033] When the housing cover 5 is closed, the support elements 6 are retracted, whereby the torsion springs 7 are pre-tensioned or were advanced when the housing cover 5 was closed.

[0034] Fig. 6 shows a particularly schematic embodiment of the connector assembly for attachment to an electric vehicle. The connector assembly comprises a carrier 1, which is attached to the chassis 2 on the underbody of the electric vehicle at the first chassis connection point 8.

[0035] A plug unit 3 is fastened to the carrier 1, the carrier 1 having a first beam 11 which projects substantially perpendicularly from the chassis 2 and the carrier 1 having a second beam 12 which is integrally connected to the first beam 11 and projects perpendicularly from the first beam 11 and wherein this second beam 12 is aligned substantially parallel to the chassis surface 1 to which the first beam 11 is fastened.

[0036] The plug arrangement also has, for example, a housing which has a movable housing cover 5 which, for example, is of cup-shaped design and encloses the plug unit in at least three directions and, when the housing cover 5 is closed, encloses it in a hermetically sealed manner. The plug unit has, for example, four support elements 6, two of which are shown schematically in Fig. 6 and which can each assume a retracted and an extended state. In the extended state, as shown, the support elements 6 support the plug unit 3 against the chassis 2. If a force is introduced into the plug unit 3 from the outside in the direction of the first beam 11, with the orientation towards the chassis, the support elements 6 support the plug unit 3 and thus also the second beam 12 on the chassis 2 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner.

[0037] Reference symbol

[0038] 1 carrier

[0039] 2 Chassis, or surface of the chassis

[0040] 3 plug unit

[0041] 4 housings

[0042] 5 Housing cover

[0043] 6 Support element

[0044] 7 Torsion spring

[0045] 8 Chassis connection point

[0046] 9 plugs

[0047] 11 first beam of the support

[0048] 12 second beam of the support

[0049] F Force applied from outside to the plug unit

Claims

Patent claims 1. A plug arrangement for attachment to or integration into an electric vehicle, wherein the plug arrangement comprises a carrier (1) which is connected to the electric vehicle, in particular its chassis (2), at at least one first chassis connection point (8), wherein a plug unit (3) is arranged on the carrier (1), and wherein the plug arrangement comprises a housing (4) which has a movable housing cover (5), characterized in that the plug unit (3) or the carrier (1) comprises at least one support element (6) which can assume a retracted and an extended state, wherein this support element (6) in the extended state supports the plug unit (3) and / or the carrier (1) relative to the chassis (2), in particular in the event that a force (F) is introduced into the plug unit (3) from the outside.

2. Plug arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing cover (5) extends the at least one support element (6) in the course of opening the housing cover (5), whereby the plug unit (3) is exposed.

3. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing cover (5) retracts the at least one support element (6) in the course of closing the housing cover (5), whereby the plug unit (3) is encapsulated and / or tightly housed.

4. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one support element (6) is designed as a rounded finger and / or rounded pin, which is in particular fastened to a torsion spring (7) and by means of this torsion spring (7) can be moved and / or rotated into a retracted state in which the torsion spring is tensioned and into an extended state in which the torsion spring is relaxed and the support element (6) is supported against the chassis (2).

5. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug unit (3) or the carrier (1) has four support elements (6).

6. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing cover (5) is substantially cup-shaped and is designed and arranged such that it surrounds the plug unit (3), in particular at a distance, from three sides in a continuously sealing manner, when the housing cover (5) is in the closed state.

7. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (1) has a first beam (11) which projects from the chassis (2), in particular substantially perpendicularly, and in that the carrier has a second beam (12) connected to the first beam, which projects substantially perpendicularly to the first beam and / or in that this second beam (12) is aligned substantially parallel to the chassis surface (2) to which the first beam (11) is fastened.

8. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug unit (3) has an electrical plug or an electrical socket for electrical contact, wherein the plug unit (3) is fastened to the second beam (12) on the side facing away from the chassis (2).

9. Plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (1) is substantially T-shaped and the second bar (12) is the longer bar of the T-shaped carrier.

10. Use of the plug arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims for contacting an electrical energy storage device in an electric vehicle by a charging robot.