Modular and scalable electrical charging terminal for an electric vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular and scalable electrical charging terminal for an electric vehicle, comprising a fixed chassis (30), a removable electrical energy distribution block (60) intended to be mounted on said fixed chassis (30), and means for removably mounting the removable distribution block (60) on said fixed chassis (30).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: MODULAR AND SCALABLE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a modular and scalable electric charging station for electric vehicles.

[0005] Technological background

[0006] The emergence of electric vehicles replacing thermal vehicles requires a rethink of energy supply infrastructures.

[0007] It is now common to charge an electric vehicle at an electric charging station. The number of available charging stations is constantly increasing, thus improving the coverage of territories and the flexibility of using an electric vehicle.

[0008] That said, the charging stations currently in service have several drawbacks, including a complete lack of modularity and scalability. In particular, in the event of a terminal malfunction, an evolution in the available technology or a legislative change, it is necessary to completely replace the charging station, which requires the mobilization of a large number of operators.

[0009] Another disadvantage is the inability to change the number of charging points at the station. If the area covered by the station sees an increase in the number of electric vehicles, it is necessary to install new stations, without being able to change the number of charging points at the station.

[0010] Another disadvantage that arises from the two aforementioned disadvantages is the discontinuity of service when maintenance, replacement of equipment, change in the number of charging points, etc. is required. In particular, it is necessary to interrupt the operation of the terminal, to mobilize operators for fairly long periods to ensure the repair and / or replacement of the charging terminal.

[0011] There is therefore a need for a charging station that solves at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks, particularly with regard to the evolution of the number of charging points. Indeed, it is common today for a community (such as a municipality or a village) to install an electric vehicle charging station with the expectation that this station will be used by a limited number of electric vehicles. As soon as the number of electric vehicles increases, this same community will have to install new stations, without being able to upgrade the previously installed station. In other words, there are no solutions that would allow this community to install a station for which it knows it could upgrade the number of charging points without any particular difficulties if the need arose.

[0012] Objectives of the invention

[0013] The invention aims to provide a modular and scalable charging station for an electric vehicle.

[0014] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, such a charging terminal which limits the interruption of service in the event of modification of the terminal.

[0015] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a charging station that an operator can upgrade while limiting the interruption of service to a maximum of 5 minutes.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, such a charging station which makes it possible to increase the number of charging points without requiring infrastructure work.

[0017] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a charging station which is easy to install, use, maintain and / or upgrade.

[0018] Statement of the invention

[0019] To this end, the invention relates to a modular and scalable electric charging station for an electric vehicle comprising electrical power and control equipment characterized in that it comprises:

[0020] - a fixed chassis comprising: o a base, o means for anchoring the base to the ground, o an external shell integral with said base which defines a receiving housing and an access opening to said receiving housing, o pins for connection to an electrical power distribution network, a removable electrical power distribution block shaped to said receiving housing of said fixed chassis so as to be able to be housed therein, said removable block further comprising: o a front panel configured to be able to close said opening, once the removable block is housed in said receiving housing of said fixed chassis, o a rigid frame carrying said front panel, o an electrical terminal block carried by said frame and configured to be able to be electrically connected to said connection pins of said chassis, o all of said electrical power and control equipment carried by said frame and electrically connected to said electrical terminal block,o at least one charging socket carried by said frame and extending into a through opening provided in said facade, each charging socket being electrically connected to said electrical power and control equipment and configured to be able to be connected to an electric vehicle to be recharged, means for removable mounting of the removable distribution block on said fixed chassis.,

[0021] The charging station according to the invention therefore has the particularity of being made up of three main elements: the chassis intended to be anchored to the ground and electrically connected to the electrical energy distribution network, the removable block carrying the electrical power and control equipment intended to be housed in the chassis, and the means for removable mounting of the block on the chassis.

[0022] The removable power distribution block houses all the electrical power and control equipment. In other words, all the equipment necessary for the distribution of electrical energy is housed in the removable block so that replacing one removable block with another makes it possible to modify the specifications of the charging station according to the invention.

[0023] In addition, the removable block includes a front panel that closes the chassis housing. When the removable block is removed, only the outer shell and the pins for connecting to the electrical distribution network remain, which are preferably arranged at the chassis anchorage.

[0024] When inserting the removable block, an operator simply needs to connect the electrical terminal block of the removable block to the connection pins of the chassis to be able to put the charging station in a state to deliver an electric charging current.

[0025] The removable block also incorporates at least one charging socket carried by the frame. Each socket is electrically connected to the electrical power and control equipment of the removable block and configured to be able to be connected to an electric vehicle to be recharged. For example, this electrical socket can receive a charging cable, one free end of which can be plugged into the charging socket and the other free end can be plugged into the electric vehicle. This configuration is particularly suitable for terminals powered by alternating current. According to another variant, in particular for terminals powered by direct current, the charging socket of the terminal is integral with a charging cable, the free end of which can be plugged into the electric vehicle.

[0026] Whatever the embodiment, it is easy to modify the number of charging points of the terminal by replacing the removable block with another block comprising a different number of charging sockets. The particularity of the invention is therefore on the one hand to have split the chassis anchored to the ground and the power and distribution equipment and on the other hand to have grouped all the power and distribution equipment within a single block, removable in one piece.

[0027] This separation between the chassis anchored to the ground and the power and distribution equipment carried by the removable block allows the terminal to be modified quickly and easily in the event of regulatory changes, software updates, hardware upgrades, etc. To do this, simply replace the obsolete removable block with a new block meeting the new specifications to have an up-to-date terminal.

[0028] The removable block can be inserted into the chassis as a single piece and can be extracted from the block as a single piece. However, there is nothing to prevent the block itself from being formed from several elements assembled together before insertion into the chassis, for example by interlocking, clipping, screwing or any equivalent means.

[0029] The mechanical connection between the removable block and the chassis is achieved by removable mounting means, described later.

[0030] Advantageously and according to the invention, the terminal further comprises means for locking the removable block on said fixed chassis configured to be able, in a locked position, to prevent any extraction of said removable block from said chassis, and in an unlocked position, to allow the extraction of said removable block from said fixed chassis.

[0031] The charging station according to this advantageous variant makes it possible to prevent any extraction of the removable block from said chassis when the locking means are in the locked position. This makes it possible in particular to guarantee that only an authorized operator can extract the removable block from the chassis, for example by conditioning the transition of the locking means from the locked position to the unlocked position on a specific action by the operator and / or the use of a specific tool by the operator.

[0032] Advantageously and according to this variant, said locking means comprise mechanical locking means coupled to electronic locking means.

[0033] A charging station according to this variant allows, for example, the locking means to be switched from the locked position to the unlocked position in the event of a loss of voltage or remote control or reading of a badge from an authorized operator. In addition, this makes it possible to secure the charging station by conditioning the unlocking of the station on a double action on the mechanical means and on the electronic means.

[0034] The mechanical locking means are for example formed by a mechanical cam lock and universal key arranged at the rear of the chassis and whose cam can be moved by the action of the universal key to fit into a strike plate carried by the removable block.

[0035] Advantageously and according to the invention, said means for removable mounting of said removable block on said fixed chassis comprise a shaft mounted freely to pivot on said removable block and at least one fixing screw extending through a bore formed in said shaft perpendicular to the pivot shaft, said screw being engaged with said base of said fixed chassis, such that said removable block can pivot around said pivot shaft relative to said chassis, between an open position in which the removable block can be detached from said chassis by extraction of each fixing screw and a closed position in which the block is fully housed in said receiving housing of said chassis.

[0036] According to this advantageous variant, a pivot shaft is secured to said fixed chassis by at least one screw (preferably two screws) passing through the shaft and engaging with the base of the chassis. In addition, the shaft is mounted freely on said removable block so that the removable block can pivot relative to the shaft. This shaft being fixed relative to the base, the removable block can pivot relative to the chassis. In other words, the combination of the shaft pivoting freely relative to the removable block and the screws fixing the shaft to the base forms a removable hinge for pivoting the removable block on said chassis.

[0037] The time taken to extract the removable block therefore corresponds to the time taken to unscrew the screws and the time taken to separate the electrical cables that connect the terminal block of the removable block to the connection pins of the chassis. Thus, the extraction of the removable block can be done in less than 5 minutes of intervention.

[0038] According to this advantageous variant, said shaft further comprises circlips arranged at each end of the shaft to block the translations of the removable block along the pivot shaft.

[0039] Advantageously and according to the invention, the terminal further comprises at least one retaining cable - preferably two cables - extending between the external shell and said rigid frame and configured to keep the removable block suspended when said removable block is pivoted around the pivot shaft and tilted into the open position.

[0040] According to this variant, the removable block is held in suspension when it is pivoted into the open position. Thus, an operator can proceed with the operations of unscrewing the screws of the hinge, while holding the block by the retaining cables. Once unscrewing is completed, the operator can separate the retaining cable from the removable block and extract the block. These cables may for example each comprise an end provided with an eyelet configured to engage in a lug carried by the external shell and / or the removable block.

[0041] Advantageously and according to the invention, said electrical power and control equipment carried by said rigid frame of said removable block comprises at least one electronic control card for said terminal, called the main card, an electronic card for a man-machine interface carried by said front panel, at least one circuit breaker, at least one transformer, at least one differential switch and at least one electronic meter.

[0042] Advantageously and according to the invention, the terminal further comprises a data terminal block carried by said facade and configured to be able to be connected to a computer network, for example via a terminal block secured to said fixed chassis. According to this advantageous variant, the terminal can be connected to a computer network of the Internet network type so as to receive control instructions or software updates and to transmit operating information (consumption, recharging, etc.).

[0043] Advantageously and according to the invention, at least one charging socket - preferably each charging socket - is provided with a protective flap pivotally mounted on said front.

[0044] The charging station according to this variant protects the charging sockets from the weather and avoids direct exposure of the charging sockets.

[0045] Advantageously and according to the invention, the terminal further comprises a handle for carrying said removable block mounted on said rigid frame and extending into said receiving housing, once the removable block is mounted on said chassis.

[0046] This handle makes it easier for an operator to carry the removable unit. This carrying handle is, for example, formed directly from a portion of the charging station's frame configured so that an operator can pass their hand through it.

[0047] The invention also relates to a charging station characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

[0048] List of figures

[0049] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which:

[0050] [Fig. 1] is a schematic view of a charging station according to the invention to which an electric vehicle is connected.

[0051] [Fig. 2] is a schematic perspective view of a charging station according to an embodiment of the invention which has a single charging point, [Fig. 3] is a schematic perspective view of a charging station according to an embodiment of the invention which has three charging points,

[0052] [Fig. 4] is a schematic view of a charging station according to one embodiment of the invention on which the removable block is tilted into the open position for its extraction,

[0053] [Fig. 5] is a schematic rear perspective view of a removable block of a charging station according to an embodiment of the invention in which the electrical equipment is not shown,

[0054] [Fig. 6] is a schematic front perspective view of the removable block of Figure 5,

[0055] [Fig. 7] is a schematic front view of the removable block of Figures 5 and 6,

[0056] [Fig. 8] is a schematic side view of the removable block of Figures 5, 6 and 7 in which the electrical equipment is also shown,

[0057] [Fig. 9] is a schematic sectional view of the means for removable mounting of the removable block on the chassis of a charging station according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0058] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0059] In the figures, scales and proportions are not strictly observed for the purposes of illustration and clarity. Throughout the detailed description which follows with reference to the figures, unless otherwise indicated, each element of the charging station is described as it is arranged when the charging station is anchored to the ground. This configuration is notably shown in figures 1, 2 and 3. In addition, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all the figures.

[0060] In Figure 1, we can see an electric vehicle 10 connected to a charging terminal 20 via an electric cable 12.

[0061] The charging station 20 is described in more detail in connection with Figures 2 to 9.

[0062] This charging station mainly comprises a chassis 30 and a removable block 60 as shown in FIG. 4. The fixed chassis 30 comprises a base 32, anchoring studs 34 of the base to the ground, formed for example by a concrete base 36.

[0063] The chassis also comprises an external shell 38, which is for example formed from sheet metal, and which forms a receiving housing 40 for the removable block 60. This external shell 38 is secured to the base 32, for example by means of a plate screwed onto the base. The receiving housing 40 is accessible via an opening 42 intended to be closed by the front of the removable block described later.

[0064] Finally, the chassis 30 includes pins for connection to an electrical energy distribution network (not visible in the figures).

[0065] The removable block 60 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a front 62 intended to close the opening 42 of the receiving housing 40 of the chassis, once the block is housed in the chassis.

[0066] This removable block 60 further comprises a rigid frame 64 which supports the facade 62 and electrical power and control equipment.

[0067] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the rigid frame 64 of the removable block and the front panel 62, without the electrical power and control equipment. Also noted in these two figures are the openings 68 provided in the front panel 62 intended to allow the charging sockets 84 to pass through, intended to receive charging cables 12 for an electric vehicle 10. Also noted in these figures is an opening 69 intended to receive a human-machine interface module 50 configured to control the charging station. This human-machine interface module 50 can be of any known type. It comprises an interface which interacts with an electronic card, itself connected to the various electrical power and control equipment to ensure the charging of the electric vehicle connected to the charging station via the charging cable.

[0068] Figure 8 illustrates the block provided with the electrical power and control equipment.

[0069] These electrical power and control equipment include, for example, a contactor 70, a meter 72, a circuit breaker 74, a transformer 76, a differential switch 78 and a differential circuit breaker 80. Of course, other electrical power and control equipment may be provided depending on the intended electrical characteristics of the charging station. Those skilled in the art will easily be able to determine the type of electrical power and control equipment necessary to constitute an electric charging station. The heart of the invention does not lie in the choice of electrical power and control equipment, but in the technical means for easily housing and extracting the removable block from the chassis so as to form a scalable and modular charging station.

[0070] The rigid frame 64 which supports the electrical equipment may for example include a DIN rail to facilitate the mounting of the equipment.

[0071] The rigid frame 64 also carries an electrical terminal block 82 intended to connect the removable block to the chassis connectors.

[0072] Finally, the removable block includes 84 electrical charging sockets. The number of charging sockets depends on the number of charging points targeted. Each of the sockets is electrically connected to the electrical power and control equipment and configured to be able to be connected to an electric vehicle to be recharged, for example via a charging cable.

[0073] A charging station according to the invention further comprises means for removable mounting of the removable block 60 on the fixed chassis 30.

[0074] According to the embodiment of the figures, these removable mounting means are formed of a shaft 90 which has two through threads and a screw-nut system 92 housed in the threads to engage with the ground, so as to be able to fix the shaft 90 relative to the ground and to the chassis.

[0075] This shaft 90 is further mounted freely on the removable block 60 so that the removable block can pivot around the shaft 90, when the latter is fixed to the ground by the screw-nut systems 92.

[0076] This pivot shaft 90 is visible in particular in figures 7 and 9.

[0077] Thus, the mounting of the removable block 60 on the chassis 30 consists of inserting the screws 92 into the threads of the shaft 90 and engaging the screws on the ground, then pivoting the removable block 60 around the shaft so that it is housed in the receiving housing 40. Prior to pivoting the removable block, an operator electrically connects the terminal block of the removable block to the connection pins of the chassis.

[0078] The charging station according to this embodiment thus allows the removable block to be quickly and simply mounted on the chassis and housed in the receiving housing, by a simple pivoting movement of the block around the pivot shaft. This operation can be carried out by a single operator in less than 5 minutes.

[0079] According to other embodiments not shown in the figures, other removable mounting means may be provided in place of the pivot shaft, such as for example means for clipping the removable block into the external shell of the chassis, or means for screwing the removable block onto the external shell.

[0080] As shown in Figure 4, the charging terminal according to this embodiment further comprises a holding cable 66 which extends between the outer shell 38 of the chassis 60 and the rigid frame 64 of the removable block 60. This holding cable 66 is for example a metal cable intended to keep the removable block 60 suspended when the latter is in the open position (as shown in Figure 4). According to another variant, the terminal may comprise two cables each extending between the outer shell and the removable block to balance the suspension of the block on either side of the removable block.

[0081] In order to secure the housing of the block in the chassis, the terminal advantageously comprises means for locking the removable block on the fixed chassis.

[0082] These means are for example formed by an electromagnetic locking finger 86 configured to engage with the external shell 38. In addition to this electromagnetic locking, the locking means may comprise a mechanical lock with cam and universal key arranged at the rear of the chassis (not visible in the figures) and the cam of which can be moved by the action of the universal key to be housed in a strike plate carried by the removable block.

[0083] The charging station according to the invention allows its specifications to be quickly modified, such as for example its number of charging points. For example, to change the charging station from one charging point to three charging points, it is sufficient to remove the removable block with one charging point from its chassis and insert a removable block with three charging points. These removable blocks can be designed in the workshop and exchanged as needed without requiring any intervention on the chassis of the station. The removable block thus forms a ready-to-use device (or "plug & play" for its more common English name). As an example, Figure 2 illustrates the station with a single charging point and Figure 3 illustrates the station with three charging points.

[0084] The removable block 60 is preferably made in such a way that its weight does not exceed 15 kg so that it can be extracted from the chassis and carried by a single operator. To achieve this, the rigid frame and the front are preferably made of 3 mm thick sheet metal. Obviously, nothing prevents the use of other types of materials to form the removable block depending on local needs and constraints.

[0085] In the figures, the removable block is shown as a single-piece device. However, according to other embodiments, the removable block may be formed from several separate elements which may be secured to each other (for example by interlocking) before insertion into the receiving housing of the chassis.

Claims

CLAIMS Modular and scalable electric charging station (20) for electric vehicle (10) comprising electrical power and control equipment (70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84) characterized in that it comprises: - a fixed chassis (30) comprising: o a base (32), o anchoring means (34) of the base to the ground, o an external shell (38) integral with said base which defines a receiving housing (40) and an opening (42) for access to said receiving housing, o pins for connection to an electrical energy distribution network, a removable block (60) for distributing electrical energy shaped to said receiving housing (40) of said fixed chassis so as to be able to be housed therein, said removable block (60) further comprising: o a front panel (62) configured to be able to close said opening, once the removable block is housed in said receiving housing of said fixed chassis, o a rigid frame (64) carrying said front panel (62), o an electrical terminal block (82) carried by said frame (64) and configured to be able to be electrically connected to said connection pins of said chassis, o all of said electrical equipment (70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80,84) power and control equipment carried by said frame and electrically connected to said electrical terminal block (82), o at least one charging socket (84) carried by said frame (64) and extending into a through opening (66) provided in said facade (62), each charging socket being electrically connected to said electrical power and control equipment and configured to be able to be connected to an electric vehicle to be recharged, - removable mounting means (90, 92) of the removable distribution block (60) on said fixed chassis (30). Charging station according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises locking means (86) of the removable block on said fixed chassis (30) configured to be able, in a locked position, to prevent any extraction of said removable block (60) from said chassis (30), and in an unlocked position, to allow the extraction of said removable block from said fixed chassis. Charging station according to claim 2, characterized in that said locking means (86) comprise mechanical locking means coupled to electronic locking means.Charging station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means for removable mounting of said removable block (60) on said fixed frame (30) comprise a shaft (90) mounted freely to pivot on said removable block (60) and at least one fixing screw (92) extending through a bore formed in said shaft perpendicular to the pivot shaft, said screw being engaged with said base of said fixed frame, such that said removable block (60) can pivot around said pivot shaft (90) relative to said frame, between an open position in which the removable block can be detached from said frame by extraction of each fixing screw and a closed position in which the block is fully housed in said receiving housing of said frame.Charging station according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises at least one holding cable (66) - preferably two cables - extending between the outer shell (38) and said rigid frame (64) and configured to hold the removable block (60) in suspension when said removable block is pivoted around the pivot shaft and tilted into the open position. Charging station according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said electrical power and control equipment (70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84) carried by said rigid frame (64) of said removable block (60) comprises at least one electronic card for controlling said station, called the main card, an electronic card of a human-machine interface. carried by said facade, at least one circuit breaker, at least one transformer, at least one differential switch and at least one electronic meter. Charging station according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a data terminal block carried by said facade and configured to be able to be connected to a computer network. Charging station according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one charging socket (84) - preferably each charging socket - is provided with a protective flap pivotally mounted on said facade. Charging station according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a handle for carrying said removable block (60) mounted on said rigid frame and extending into said receiving housing, once the removable block is mounted on said chassis.

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