Roof charging device for an electric vehicle

Abstract

A roof-mounted charging device (10) for an electric vehicle (24), comprising: - a support frame (16) comprising a weight (17); - Electrodes (18A1, 18B1) which are attached to the support frame (16) by means of insulators (44); - a cable (14) for vertical arrangement by gravity, for suspending the support frame (16) and for releasing the cable (14) to lower the electrodes (18A1, 18B1) onto electrodes (18A2, 18B2) arranged on a roof (28) of the electric vehicle (24); and - a rigid stabilizing structure (36B) to stabilize the support frame (16), while the suspension on the cable (14) is maintained by its vertical arrangement.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The invention relates to the field of devices for charging electric vehicles. BACKGROUND

[0002] Fig. Figure 1 is a frontal view of a state-of-the-art roof loading device and a vehicle positioned below it.

[0003] Conventional top-down roof-mounted charging devices for electric vehicles 24 have the disadvantage of using motorized rigid structures that are asymmetrical and therefore move downwards along a lateral path. This reduces the tolerance given to the vehicle for parking under the mechanism or requires vehicles of different heights to park in different positions relative to the theoretical center of the device. Furthermore, because their structure is rigid, they require complex means to ensure that the force applied to the vehicle's receiver 25 remains within specified limits for different vehicle heights.

[0004] There has been a long-standing need to provide a solution for the aforementioned and other state-of-the-art problems. SUMMARY

[0005] A roof-mounted loading device, comprising: - a supporting frame that also serves as a fixed weight; - Electrodes that are attached to the support frame by means of insulators; - a cable for suspending the support frame; and - a rigid, symmetrical stabilizing structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Embodiments, features and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: Fig. Figure 1 is a frontal view of a state-of-the-art roof loading device and a vehicle positioned below it. Fig. Figure 2 is a frontal view of a roof-mounted loading device and a vehicle positioned underneath it in the first step. Fig. 3 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 in the second step. Fig. 4 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 in the third step. Fig. 5 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 according to a further embodiment. Fig. 6 is the frontal view from Fig. 5 during extension, showing a potential deformation of the mechanism under uneven lateral forces (such as crosswinds). Fig. 7 is the frontal view from Fig. 5 according to a further embodiment. Fig. 8 represents the balancing mechanism Fig. 7 dar. Fig. 9 is the frontal view from Fig. 7 in charging mode.

[0007] The drawings are not necessarily to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are intended to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some known features are not described in detail.

[0009] The reference numerals were used to indicate elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. They are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting. The foregoing embodiments of the invention have also been described and illustrated in connection with their systems and methods, which are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting.

[0010] Fig. Figure 2 is a frontal view of a roof-mounted loading device and a vehicle positioned underneath it in the first step.

[0011] In the first step, an electric vehicle 24 is arranged under a roof charging device 10, which is attached to the ceiling 29.

[0012] The roof-mounted charging device 10 comprises a mechanism 36A, which includes electrodes 18A1 and 18B1; a support frame 16, which also functions as a weight 17 and is attached to the electrodes 18A1 and 18B1 by means of insulators; a retaining element 20 for holding the support frame 16; a cable 14 for suspending the retaining element 20; a winch 12, mounted on the ceiling, for winding and releasing the cable 14; and a motor 22 for rotating the winch 12 to release the cable 14. A receiver 25, consisting of a support frame, insulators, and electrodes, is located on the roof of the vehicle and couples with the electrodes of the charging device during the charging process.

[0013] Fig. 3 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 in the second step.

[0014] In the second step, the winch 12 releases the cable 14 (27). The support frame 16 is heavier on one side to tilt it in order to position the electrode 18B1 lower than the electrode 18A1 in order to achieve a predetermined coupling sequence between the electrodes of the device and the receiver of the vehicle.

[0015] Fig. 4 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 in the third step.

[0016] In the third step, the winch 12 further releases the cable 14 to couple the electrode 18A1 of the roof loading device 10 with the electrode 18A2, which is attached to a horizontal roof 28 of the vehicle 24; and to couple the electrode 18B1 of the roof loading device 10 with the electrode 18B2, which is attached to the roof 28 of the vehicle 24.

[0017] Electrode 18A2 is only connected to electrode 18B2 after electrode 18A1 is connected to electrode 18B1, following a charging sequence requirement. This is achieved by the weight difference along the support frame 16, thus without the need for motorized control.

[0018] The angle of the arrangement of the electrodes 18A1 and 18B1 allows for a perfectly ordered connection, due to the free rotation of the support frame 16 in relation to the cable 14.

[0019] It should be noted that this arrangement ensures a straight downward movement of the support frame 16 if no lateral disturbance occurs.

[0020] The magnitude of the pressure exerted by the device on the receiver 25 of the vehicle is a direct function of the weight of the support frame 16 and the electrodes attached to it – solely due to gravity. Furthermore, this arrangement generates the same pressure at any vehicle height, without requiring any adjustment.

[0021] Fig. 5 is the frontal view from Fig. 2 according to a further embodiment.

[0022] The roof loading device 10 includes, in addition to the mechanism 36A, Fig. 2 a mechanism 36B, which is a rigid stabilizing structure.

[0023] The rigid stabilizing structure 36B must stabilize the support frame 16, while the vertical arrangement of the cable 14 consists of Fig. 4 will be retained.

[0024] The mechanism 36B can form a scissor mechanism comprising lower arms 30A1 and 30B1, which are pivotally connected 32A to the plate holding element 20; an upper arm 30A2, which is pivotally connected to the lower arm 30B1 by means of a joint 32B; an upper arm 30B2, which is pivotally connected to the lower arm 30B1 by means of a joint 32C; and a plate 34, which is pivotally connected to the upper arm 30A2 by means of a joint 30A3 and to the upper arm 30B2 by means of a joint 30B3.

[0025] Thus, the scissor mechanism can be considered to comprise an articulated arm 48A, which includes a lower arm 30A1 and an upper arm 30A2; and an articulated arm 48B, which includes a lower arm 30B1 and an upper arm 30B2.

[0026] In contrast to conventional scissor mechanisms, the force exerted on the scissor mechanism 36B is the weight of the support frame 16, which is exerted on the cable 14.

[0027] Fig. 6 is the frontal view from Fig. 5 during extension, showing a potential deformation of the mechanism under uneven lateral forces (such as crosswinds).

[0028] However, the opening angle of arms 30A2 and 30A1 could still be larger than the opening angle of arms 30B2 and 30B1 and thus, despite its advantageous symmetrical structure, cause an asymmetrical positioning of the support frame 16 if uneven moments or forces are exerted on the arms (for example, joint 30B3 has less friction than joint 30A3, or in strong crosswinds), which would cause the cable 14 to shift, as shown in Fig. 6 shown, could be deflected from its natural vertical position achieved by gravity.

[0029] Fig. 7 is the frontal view from Fig. 5 according to a further embodiment.

[0030] The solution for the in Fig. The problem shown in Figure 6 is to add a balancing mechanism 36C to the mechanisms 36A and 36B to ensure that the opening of the arm 30A2 by means of the joint 30A3 is equal to and in the opposite direction to the opening of the arm 30B2 by means of the joint 30B3.

[0031] Fig. 8 represents the balancing mechanism Fig. 7 dar.

[0032] Fig. 9 is the frontal view from Fig. 7 in charging mode.

[0033] The compensating mechanism 36C can comprise a pulley 30A4 for the joint 30A3, a pulley 30B4 for the joint 30B3, and a belt 38 or other motion transmission element stretched over the pulleys 30A4 and 30B4 to cause the rotation 40A of the pulley 30A4 to be equal to the rotation 40B of the pulley 30B4. This causes the angle 42B on the left side between the arms 30B2 and 30B1 to be equal to the angle 42A on the right side between the arms 30A2 and 30A1.

[0034] The pulleys and cables or belts can be replaced by sprockets and chains or by toothed belt pulleys and toothed belts. The principle is the same.

[0035] Thus, in one aspect the invention relates to a roof charging device 10 for an electric vehicle 24, comprising: - a support frame 16 comprising a weight 17; - Electrodes 18A1, 18B1, which are attached to the support frame 16 by means of insulators; - a cable 14 for suspending the support frame 16 and for releasing the cable 14 to place the electrodes 18A1, 18B1 on a roof 28 of the electric vehicle 24; and - a rigid stabilizing structure 36B for stabilizing the support frame 16 before setting down.

[0036] The rigid stabilizing structure 36B can form a scissor mechanism comprising two articulated arms 48A, 48B, each comprising an upper arm 30A2, 30B2 and a lower arm 30A1, 30A2.

[0037] The scissor mechanism can include a balancing mechanism 36C for uniformly counter-rotating 42A, 42B of the two articulated arms 48A, 48B before lowering.

[0038] The balancing mechanism 36C can include a motion transmission element 38 for uniformly counter-rotating 42A, 42B of the two upper arms 30A2, 30B2 of the scissor mechanism before lowering.

[0039] The weight of the support frame 16 can be non-symmetrical in order to tilt it before setting it down.

[0040] The following reference symbols (reference symbol list) were mentioned in the figures and the description herein: 10 Roof loading device according to an embodiment of the invention 12 winds 14 cables 16 support frames 17 Weight 18A1, 18B1, 18A2, 18B2 Electrodes 20 plate holding element 22 engine 24 vehicles 25 recipients of the vehicle 26 wheels of the vehicle 27. Releasing the cable 28 Roof of the vehicle 29 ceiling 30A1, 30B1, 30A2, 30B2 arms 30A3, 30B3 joints 30A4, 30B4 pulleys or other motion transmission elements 32A, 32B, 32C joints 34 plates 36A, 36B, 36C mechanisms 38 Band or other motion transmission element 40A, 40B rotation 42A, 42B Angle 44 electrical insulator 48A, 48B Articulated arms

[0041] The foregoing description and the representations of the embodiments of the invention have been set out for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention in any way to the above description.

[0042] Each term defined above and used in the claims should be interpreted in accordance with that definition.

[0043] The reference numerals in the claims are not part of the claims, but rather serve to facilitate their reading.

[0044] These reference numerals should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any way.

Claims

[1] A roof-mounted charging device (10) for an electric vehicle (24), comprising: - a support frame (16) comprising a weight (17); - Electrodes (18A1, 18B1) which are attached to the support frame (16) by means of insulators (44); - a cable (14) for vertical arrangement by gravity, for suspending the support frame (16) and for releasing the cable (14) to lower the electrodes (18A1, 18B1) onto electrodes (18A2, 18B2) arranged on a roof (28) of the electric vehicle (24); and - a rigid stabilizing structure (36B) to stabilize the support frame (16), while the suspension on the cable (14) is maintained by its vertical arrangement. [2] The roof loading device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rigid stabilizing structure (36B) is symmetrical. [3] The roof loading device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rigid stabilizing structure (36B) comprises a scissor mechanism comprising two articulated arms (48A, 48B), each of which comprises an upper arm (30A2, 30B2) and a lower arm (30A1, 30A2). [4] The roof loading device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the scissor mechanism comprises a compensating mechanism (36C) for uniform rotation (42A, 42B) of the two articulated arms (48A, 48B) before lowering. [5] The roof loading device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the compensating mechanism (36C) comprises a motion transmission element (38) for uniformly counter-rotating (42A, 42B) the two upper arms (30A2, 30B2) of the scissor mechanism before lowering. [6] The roof loading device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the support frame (16) is not symmetrical in order to tilt the support frame (16) before setting it down.

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