ELECTRIC CHARGING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electric charging device for a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle, with a charging socket on the motor vehicle side and a charging plug on the charging station side, or vice versa, and with a locking element that can be moved by a motor drive for releasably locking the charging plug in the charging socket. An actuating element that can be manually actuated with the aid of a tool is provided for emergency release of the locking element. - The charging plug can in principle also be provided on the motor vehicle side and the charging socket on the charging station side.

[0002] Batteries in electric or hybrid vehicles must be regularly supplied with electrical energy. This is done using a charging infrastructure, which typically includes one or more charging stations. For charging with electrical energy, the charging plug of the charging station is generally connected to the vehicle's charging socket. However, the reverse is also possible. In this case, the charging station is equipped with the charging socket, while the charging plug is located on the vehicle's side.

[0003] The releasable locking of the charging plug relative to the charging socket is necessary, for example, to prevent health risks for users. This is because high voltage, which can reach several hundred volts, is generally used at this point. Furthermore, the locking mechanism ensures that only previously identified users can legally draw the energy provided by the charging station, thus preventing misuse. For this purpose, the operator is usually identified and authorized using an identification signal before such a charging process, as is generally described in WO 2010 / 149426 A1.

[0004] In the prior art, according to CN 2029695855 U, the adjustment of the locking element is typically achieved using an electric motor drive. The electric motor drive, in turn, consists of an electric motor and a downstream, often multi-stage gear. The multi-stage gear, in turn, operates on the locking element via a cam.

[0005] Furthermore, solutions are known in the prior art according to DE 10 2011 10 809 A1, in which a locking device is implemented that operates with a mechanical latch. The mechanical latch can be driven by an electric motor. In this way, the mechanical latch engages grooves on the charging plug, ensuring that the plug or charging connector is locked inside the charging socket with the help of the locking device.

[0006] Another locking device, particularly for a charging plug, is known from the generic document DE 10 2011 050 783 A1. In this case, too, an electromechanical drive is provided for the locking element, which can be used to switch between a locked and unlocked position of the locking element. Furthermore, an emergency release is already mentioned for emergency use. During the emergency release, the locking means is moved from a locked position to its unlocked position.

[0007] Such an emergency release is necessary, among other things, if the vehicle's electronics or the drive for the locking element or locking mechanism fails. As a result, the charging plug can no longer be removed from the vehicle. This makes it almost impossible to continue driving or even tow the vehicle.

[0008] In DE 10 2011 050 783 A1, the emergency release ultimately uses a traction mechanism, with the aid of which at least part of the locking element can be moved in an emergency. The traction mechanism can be a cable, a Bowden cable, a rod, or a lever that terminates in the vehicle interior, allowing the traction mechanism to be operated by a user in an emergency. In this respect, the traction mechanism, for example in conjunction with a lever, represents the previously mentioned tool and thus a manually actuated actuating element. Such a solution is structurally complex. In addition, in the described case, the emergency release can practically only be performed from the interior of the vehicle - and not from the outside. This is problematic if the vehicle can no longer be opened.

[0009] For this purpose, the further generic prior art according to DE 10 2013 222 509 A1 proposes a charging module for charging electrical storage media in electrically powered motor vehicles. This module features an emergency release device that can be manually actuated using an actuating element, with which the locking element can be moved into its unlocked position. Furthermore, a tool is addressed, with the aid of which a manual actuating force can be transferred to the actuating element of the emergency release device.

[0010] The known emergency release is generally accessible from the outside when the flap covering the charging socket is open. However, the actuating element is a pivoting lever connected to the locking element, which is attached to the outside of a housing that accommodates the drive and the locking element. In addition, a passage opening for the tool is provided, closed by a thin separating layer made of plastic film. The separating layer or passage opening temporarily closes an additional guide. The guide is directed towards the actuating element or the pivoting lever and serves for the defined translational movement of the tool. This again results in a relatively high design effort. In addition, the guide in the known teaching according to DE 10 2013 222 509 A1 must be adapted to the tool to be used as well as to the motor vehicle itself, which makes a universal emergency release difficult.The invention aims to remedy this situation. WO 2019 / 073854 A1 also discloses an electric charging device for a motor vehicle, in which an actuating element is provided for emergency release of a locking element intended for locking a charging plug in a charging socket. This actuating element is actuated by means of a tool during the emergency release.

[0011] Finally, DE 10 2017 123206 A1 discloses an electrical connection device, particularly for electric or hybrid vehicles, which has a basic design comprising a charging plug and a charging socket. The charging plug is releasably anchored in the charging socket by means of a movable locking element. Additionally, a drive is provided, which forces the locking element to perform adjustment movements relative to a guide. According to the invention, the locking element is accommodated on the housing side in a movable support of the drive as a component of the guide.

[0012] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a charging device for a motor vehicle in such a way that the design effort is reduced and the emergency release can be carried out flexibly and easily on site using various available tools.

[0013] To solve this technical problem, the invention of a generic electric charging device for a motor vehicle proposes that the actuating element is designed as a U-shaped lever which axially overlaps at least one gear wheel of the drive on both sides and which has an attachment area for the tool on its U-base, and that the drive has variable bearing points which are released by the actuating element for emergency release.

[0014] In contrast to the state of the art according to DE 10 2013 222 509 A1, the tool does not act directly on the locking element, but rather indirectly, so to speak. This is because, with the help of the actuating element, a drive bearing that is fixed during normal operation is released for emergency release of the locking element by loosening variable bearing points. This means that during normal operation, the drive is typically housed in a housing that accommodates the drive. The bearing points are fixed. In this way, radial forces exerted by the drive on the bearing in general or on the individual bearing points can be easily absorbed. This is usually done with the help of the housing that accommodates the drive, which provides the appropriate bearing points.

[0015] In addition to fixed and immutable bearing points, the invention also provides variable bearing points. These variable bearing points can be released for emergency release of the locking element using the actuating element. In contrast, the variable bearing points are fixed during normal operation and can therefore absorb radial forces acting on individual components of a usually provided transmission, the electric motor, or other drive components.

[0016] During the emergency release of the locking element, the manually actuated actuating element ensures that the variable bearing points that are fixed during normal operation are released. The fixed bearing points, in contrast, remain unchanged. Since the variable bearing points for the emergency release of the locking element are released and can therefore no longer absorb radial forces, the locking element, which was previously in its locked position, can be acted upon and moved into its unlocked position. This is possible, for example, automatically. According to an advantageous design, the drive automatically moves the locking element into its unlocked position when the bearing is released. This can be achieved, for example, by one or more springs, which actuate the drive or the locking element when the bearing is released.elastically load a drive component that has then become free, whereby the drive component automatically takes the locking element into its unlocked position in this case.

[0017] The actuating element is generally equipped with a return spring. The return spring ensures that the actuating element normally assumes its normal operating position, in which the drive bearings and the variable bearing points are secured. This prevents unintentional emergency release. Only in an emergency, when an emergency release is required, and usually when a tool is applied to the actuating element, can the actuating element be actuated against the force of the return spring, thus releasing the drive bearings, previously fixed during normal operation, for emergency release of the locking element.

[0018] The previously described housing, which houses the drive, is generally constructed in two parts: a lower shell and an upper shell. The actuating element is also housed in the housing in question, which houses the drive. The design is usually such that the drive and the actuating element are primarily housed together in the lower shell. In contrast, the upper shell primarily functions as a closure for the lower shell and ensures that the bearing points for the drive are secured.

[0019] The actuating element itself is a U-shaped lever according to the invention. This U-shaped lever is designed to axially engage at least one gear wheel of the drive on both sides. The gear wheel in question is usually the output-side gear wheel, which is equipped with a pin engaging in a recess in the locking element. The actuating element defines the two previously mentioned variable bearing points on either side of the centrally arranged gear wheel. As soon as the actuating element is manually actuated, the two variable bearing points are released, and the gear wheel can move from the position assumed during normal operation.Since the gear wheel engages with its output-side pin into the recess of the locking element, the locking element is simultaneously moved and carried along during this process, namely transferred from its "locked" position previously occupied during normal operation to the "unlocked" position for the purpose of emergency release.

[0020] To actuate the U-shaped lever or the actuating element, the invention provides an attachment area for the manually actuated tool at its U-shaped base. This attachment area can be designed flexibly and variably, allowing a wide variety of tools to be attached as needed. In principle, the tool in question can also be permanently connected to the U-shaped lever, for example, designed as a crank acting on the lever.

[0021] The actuating element or the U-shaped lever is generally designed as a pivot lever. Consequently, the actuating element or the pivot lever can be pivoted relative to its mounting in the housing. The actuating element or the pivot lever assumes at least two positions: a functional position corresponding to normal operation and a functional position corresponding to emergency release. In fact, the design is further such that for emergency release of the locking element, the pivot lever indirectly acts on the locking element via a driver element on the drive. This means that in the course of the previously mentioned further application of force to the actuating element, the actuating element or the pivot lever can interact with the driver element on the drive.

[0022] This drive element is usually located on the gear wheel released during the emergency release. Following the emergency release, the pivot lever can now act upon the drive element on the said gear wheel as it continues its pivoting movement. Since the gear wheel engages with its output pin in the recess of the locking element, the locking element is simultaneously acted upon, specifically, moving it from its previously occupied "locked" position to the "unlocked" position.

[0023] The embodiment according to the invention provides an electrical charging device for a motor vehicle in which, for emergency release, not the entire transmission needs to be reset, but only the locking element. As a result, a significantly lower force needs to be applied for emergency release than when resetting the entire transmission. Furthermore, the electrical charging device for a motor vehicle is provided with a particularly simple design. This is because, essentially, only the actuating element or the pivoting lever provided in this context is used to implement the emergency release. Further measures are unnecessary. Furthermore, this pivoting lever can be actuated with practically any conceivable tool or directly manually, so that the emergency release can be carried out flexibly and easily on site without great effort.In this context, any damage to the housing, which is practically unavoidable within the scope of the generic teaching of DE 10 2013 222 509 A1, is also avoided. This leads to further cost reduction, since an inspection is generally not required after an emergency release.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings: Fig. 1A, 1B the charging device according to the invention in an overview, Fig. 2 a side view of the object according to the Fig. 1 with the locking element and Figures 3A to 3C the locking element in different functional positions, each reduced to the essential components, whereby the Figur 3A to the "unlocked" position, the Fig. 3B to the "locked" position and finally the Fig. 3C corresponds to the situation "emergency unlocked".

[0025] The figures show an electrical charging device for a battery which is only Fig. 2 The motor vehicle 1 indicated in FIG. In the exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle 1 is an electric or hybrid vehicle. For this purpose, the electric charging device is equipped with a charging socket 2 on the vehicle side and a charging plug 3 on the charging station side. The procedure can also be reversed. In this case, the charging plug 3 is located on the vehicle side, whereas the charging socket 2 is provided on the charging station side, although this is not shown.

[0026] The basic structure also includes a particularly in the Figuren 1A , 1BA motor drive 5, 6 can be seen, which is equipped with an electric motor 5 and a gear 6 or an output-side gear wheel 6, which will be examined in more detail below. With the help of the motor drive 5, 6, a locking element 4 can be moved to releasably lock the charging plug 3 in the charging socket 2.

[0027] In this context, the Fig. 3A the "unlocked" state of the charging plug 3 relative to the charging socket 2 with the locking element 4 retracted or retracted accordingly. Fig. 3B the "locked" situation is shown, in which the locking element 4 engages in a recess in the charging plug 3 in order to properly lock the charging plug 3 plugged into the charging socket 2 relative to the charging socket 2.

[0028] According to the invention and of particular importance is now a Fig. 3C Emergency release of the locking element 4 shown. For this purpose, a particularly in the Figuren 1A and 3A bis 3C The actuating element 7 can be actuated directly manually or with the aid of a Fig. 1A indicated tool 8. The actuating element 7 is a pivot lever 7, which is caused, for example, by the tool 8 and in the Fig. 1A can perform the swivel movements indicated in the counterclockwise direction, as can be seen when comparing the Figuren 3B and 3C become clear and are indicated by corresponding arrows. In order to realize and implement the described pivoting movement of the actuating element or pivot lever 7 in the counterclockwise direction in the example shown, a tool 8 designed as a crank engages the actuating element 7 and ensures Fig. 1A The indicated counterclockwise rotation also produces the desired pivoting movement of the pivot lever 7 in a counterclockwise direction. In alternative embodiments, the tool 8 can be designed as another component for generating a pivoting movement of the pivot lever 7, for example, as a cable pull, instead of as a crank.

[0029] The drive 5, 6 now has different and especially in the Fig. 1B indicated bearing points 9a, 9b. In fact, fixed bearing points 9a and variable bearing points 9b are realized. Fig. 1B It can be seen that the variable bearing points 9b are provided on both sides of the gear wheel 6. In contrast, the electric motor 5 and another intermediate gear wheel are equipped with fixed bearing points 9a.

[0030] In the area of ​​the variable bearing points 9b, the actuating element 7 ensures their definition. In contrast, the fixed bearing points 9a are adjusted by the respective drive components, i.e., the electric motor 5 and the intermediate gear wheel, being fixed by means of an upper shell 10b. In fact, the drive 5, 6 is mounted entirely in a housing 10a, 10b. The housing 10a, 10b is constructed in two parts, comprising a lower shell 10a and an upper shell 10b. The drive 5, 6 is primarily mounted in the lower shell 10a, whereas the actuating element 7 is primarily mounted in the upper shell 10b.

[0031] According to the invention, the design is such that the actuating element 7 releases a bearing of the drive 5, 6 for the emergency release of the locking element 4. In concrete terms, this means that in normal operation all drive components of the drive 5, 6 are fixed and consequently the corresponding bearing points 9a, 9b can all absorb radial forces of the drive components of the drive 5, 6. For this purpose, the fixed bearing points 9a are defined by the interplay of bearing recesses in the lower shell 10a with corresponding bearing recesses in the upper shell 10b. For the variable bearing points 9b, these are again defined by bearing shells in the lower shell 10a, however in combination with the actuating element or pivot lever 7. Since the actuating element orIf the pivot lever 7 can be pivoted in the example using the tool 8, such an initiated process for the emergency release of the locking element 4 results in the variable bearing points 9b being released. This results in the bearing of the drive 5, 6 for the emergency release of the locking element 4 being released.

[0032] When the bearing is released, the locking element 4 can now automatically move into its unlocked position. This is because the released bearing of the drive 5, 6 corresponds specifically and in the exemplary embodiment to the fact that the output-side gear wheel 6 is no longer axially fixed in the area of ​​its variable bearing points 9b and is therefore practically "lifted" relative to the lower shell 10a, as is the case with the transition from the Fig. 3B ("locked") to Fig. 3C ("emergency release"). Since the output-side gear wheel 6 is equipped with a particularly Fig. 3C illustrated pin 11 engages in a recess 12 of the locking element 4, during this process of "lifting" the output-side gear wheel 6, the locking element 4 is also lifted and taken along.

[0033] As a result, the locking element 4 moves from the Fig. 3B to Fig. 3C from its previously occupied "locked" position to the "emergency unlocked" or "unlocked" position. This can happen automatically, as mentioned, when, after the drive 5, 6 bearings are released by the actuating element 7, the gear wheel 6 in question is "lifted," for example, with spring support, thereby taking the locking element 4, which is in its locked position, with it and transferring it to the "unlocked" position.

[0034] Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment and according to the preferred variant, however, the procedure is such that the drive 5, 6, when the mounting of the locking element 4 is released, is transferred into its unlocked position by a further application of the actuating element 7. This means that, firstly, the pivoting movement of the actuating element or pivot lever 7 in the counterclockwise direction, caused by the tool 8, ensures that the variable bearing points 9b are opened and consequently the output-side gear wheel 6 is removed or "lifted" from the bearing points 9b and thus the lower shell 10a. The further application of the actuating element 7 in the counterclockwise direction now results in the actuating element 7 being actuated with a Fig. 3C can interact with the driver element 13 on the drive 5, 6 and specifically on the output-side gear wheel 6. As a result, the actuating element or the pivoting lever 7 for emergency release of the locking element 4 indirectly acts on the locking element 4 via the said driver element 13 on the drive 5, 6 or on the output-side gear wheel 6.

[0035] Based on a comparative analysis of the Figuren 1A and 3A bis 3C It becomes clear that the actuating element 7 is designed as at least one gear wheel 6, specifically the output-side gear wheel 6 of the drive 5, 6, a U-shaped lever or pivot lever 7 that extends axially on both sides. The U-shaped lever 7 designed in this way is equipped at its U-base with an attachment area for the previously discussed tool 8. The tool 8 can be coupled to the attachment area and consequently to the U-shaped pivot lever 7 in order to pivot the pivot lever 7 in the Fig. 1A indicated counterclockwise so that the emergency release of the locking element 4 can be initiated.

[0036] Based on the Figuren 3A and 3B Finally, it can be seen that the driving element 13 provided on the drive 5, 6 or specifically implemented on the output-side gear wheel 6 cannot interact with the actuating element or pivot lever 7 during normal operation. Fig. 3A In the functional position "unlocked" shown, a locking process ensures the transition to the position "locked" in the Fig. 3 B that the driving element 13 in question is moved from a previously occupied position to approximately "5 o'clock" after the Fig. 3A to a position at approximately "2 o'clock" in the Fig. 3B is pivoted, in the illustrated embodiment by approximately 90°. There is no interaction with the actuating element or pivot lever 7.

[0037] Only when the actuating element 7 is in the "locked" position in the Fig. 3B When the actuator is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction indicated there, the feet on the respective U-leg, which ultimately define the variable bearing points 9b, approach the driving element 13. Now, the output-side gear wheel 6 and thus the bearing of the drive 5, 6 are free for emergency release. The further loading of the actuating element or pivot lever 7 now results in the U-leg of the pivot lever 7 moving against the driving element 13 of the output-side gear wheel 6. As a result, the gear wheel 6 is increasingly raised relative to the lower shell 10a. The same applies to the locking element 4, because the output-side gear wheel 6 engages with its pin 11 in the recess 12 on the locking element 4, so that during the described lifting process of the output-side gear wheel 6, the locking element 4 is simultaneously taken along and thereby moved from the previously assumed position "locked" into the position "emergency unlocked" or "unlocked" after the Fig. 3C passes over.

[0038] The actuating element or the pivot lever 7 is equipped with a return spring (not shown). This return spring ensures that, without the actuating element 7 being subjected to the tool 8, the actuating element 7 continuously maintains its normal operating position. Figuren 3A and 3B The loading of the actuating element 7 during the emergency release therefore corresponds to the fact that the actuating element 7 must be loaded against the force of the return spring in question. This ensures that, during normal operation, all drive components of the drive 5, 6 are properly secured and the associated bearing points 9a, 9b can absorb radial forces. Bezugszeichen

[0039] 1Motor vehicle 2Charging socket 3Charging plug 4Locking element 5, 6Drive, 6Gear wheel 7Actuating element 8Tool 9a, 9bBearing points 9aFixed bearing points 9bVariable bearing points 10a, 10bHousing 10aLower shell 10bUpper shell

Claims

1. Electric charging device for a motor vehicle (1), in particular an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising a charging socket (2) on the motor vehicle side and a charging plug (3) on the charging station side, or vice versa, and comprising a locking element (4) that can be moved by a motor by means of a drive (5, 6) for releasably locking the charging plug (3) in the charging socket (2), an operating element (7) that can be manually actuated with the aid of a tool (8) being provided for emergency unlocking of the locking element (4), the actuating element (7) releasing a bearing of the drive (5, 6) for emergency unlocking of the locking element (4), characterized in that the operating element (7) is designed as a U-shaped lever which axially overlaps at least one gear wheel (6) of the drive (5, 6) on both sides and which has an attachment region for the tool (8) on its U-base, and in that the drive (5, 6) has variable bearing points (9b) which are released by the operating element (7) for emergency unlocking.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive (5, 6), when the bearing is released, the locking element (4) is transferred into its unlocked position by a further application of the operating element (7).

3. Device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the operating element (7) has a return spring which ensures that the operating element (7) continuously assumes its normal position for normal operation without the application of the tool (8).

4. Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the operating element (7) is mounted in a housing (10a, 10b) accommodating the drive (5, 6).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the housing (10a, 10b) is constructed in two parts so as to have a lower shell (10a) and an upper shell (10b).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive (5, 6) and the operating element (7) are primarily mounted in the upper shell (10b).