Motor vehicle having a traction battery charge cable integrated into the body

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid or electric motor vehicle equipped with an integrated cable for charging a traction battery, which cable is permanently connected to the vehicle at one end and has a connector on the other end, this cable being able to come out of the vehicle in order to connect the connector to an outlet of an electrical supply network, the body of the vehicle comprising, on one side, a vertically elongate housing (10) containing the charging cable which, at least in the upper part of the housing, forms an upper curve forming a half-turn which is supported in the upper position by an elastic return system.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLE WITH TRACTION BATTERY CHARGING CABLE INTEGRATED INTO THE BODYWORK

[0003] 1. The present invention claims priority from French application No. 2208386 filed on 08 / 19 / 2022, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] 2. The present invention relates to an electric or rechargeable hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a traction battery charging cable integrated into a housing in the bodywork.

[0005] 3. Certain hybrid or electric vehicles equipped with a traction battery that can be recharged on an electricity distribution network, have a cable in the vehicle comprising one end permanently connected to a charging system integrated in this vehicle, and at the other end a connector which, when parked, allows the cable to be removed to connect this connector to a network socket.

[0006] 4. A known type of vehicle equipped with an integrated charging cable, presented in particular by document FR-A1-3103416, comprises a cable housed in a volume arranged at the top of a rear wing, having an opening hatch formed in the opening of the rear door, in front of this wing.

[0007] 5. This type of housing accommodates the folded charging cable without any special arrangement for its storage, the operator must then push it back into the housing with a cable forming a stack of some kind. The operation is delicate, slow and not very ergonomic. It takes a little time, which can be annoying especially if it is carried out frequently.

[0008] 6. Another known type of vehicle equipped with a charging cable, presented in particular by document DE-A1 -4212207, comprises a spirally wound cable arranged in an elongated housing formed in the body of the vehicle. An external hatch closing the housing provides access to the connector located at the end of the cable.

[0009] 7. The cable spiral has elasticity allowing it to tighten axially on itself. In this way, an operator opens the hatch, then grasps the connector by pulling on the spiral in order to lengthen it by pulling along its axis, which allows the cable to be removed to reach a network socket. The cable spiral applies a permanent axial tension which prevents a length of cable from being left trailing on the ground between the vehicle and the socket.

[0010] 8. Additionally, when the operator unplugs the connector, the spiral automatically retracts, retracting the entire cable into the vehicle housing.

[0011] 9. However, the spiral stretched by elastic deformation keeps a general spiral shape which causes a loss of useful length to reach the socket. A complete straightening of the spiral giving a substantially straight cable, to obtain the maximum length, is done with a high tensile force which is not very ergonomic.

[0012] 10. The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0013] 11. To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle equipped with an integrated cable for recharging a traction battery, permanently connected on one side to the vehicle, and having on the other side a connector, this cable being able to exit the vehicle to connect the connector to a socket of an electrical supply network, this vehicle being remarkable in that its bodywork comprises on one side a vertically elongated housing, containing the recharging cable forming at least in the upper part of the housing a curve which is supported in the high position by an elastic return system.

[0014] 12. An advantage of this vehicle is that by pulling on the connector to plug it into a socket, the cable exits in an orderly manner, with the loop exiting outwards enabled by the elongation of the elastic return system, which makes it possible to obtain a substantially straight cable in the case of a complete exit. The entire length of the cable is then used with a low tensile force regulated by the elasticity of the return system, which makes it possible to optimize the use of this cable to reach sockets far from the vehicle.

[0015] 13. In addition, after disconnecting the connector from the socket, there is an automatic return of the elastic system which raises the upper part of the loop, storing the cable completely in the housing of the body. This quickly and ergonomically achieves optimized storage of the cable in a minimum volume, with controlled folding and curvatures which do not put any particular stress on this cable.

[0016] 14. The hybrid or electric vehicle according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0017] 15. Advantageously, the cable coming from the battery enters the housing approximately halfway up the height of this housing.

[0018] 16. Furthermore, advantageously the cable after entering the housing begins by descending to first present a lower curve forming a half-turn before rising towards the upper curve.

[0019] 17. In particular, the cable may comprise several upper curves each supported by an elastic return system.

[0020] 18. Advantageously, the vertical housing extends over the entire height of the vehicle body.

[0021] 19. According to one embodiment, the vertical housing is arranged just behind the front doors of the vehicle.

[0022] 20. According to another embodiment, the vertical housing is arranged just in front of a rear hatch of the vehicle.

[0023] 21. Advantageously, the vertical housing includes a closing hatch.

[0024] 22. In this case, advantageously the closing hatch includes a locking lock controlled by a key or from inside the vehicle.

[0025] 23. Advantageously, the vehicle comprises a battery charger having a recharging power of at least 22 kW. 24. The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description below given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0026] 25. [Fig. 1] is a view of a utility vehicle according to the invention;

[0027] 26. [Fig. 2] is a cross-sectional view of the housing of this vehicle with the cable retracted;

[0028] 27. [Fig. 3] is a cross-sectional view of the housing with the cable extended; and

[0029] 28. [Fig. 4] is a view of another utility vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] 29. Throughout the document, following the transverse direction of the vehicle, the inner side is turned towards its longitudinal axis and the outer side in the opposite direction. The forward direction of the vehicle following the direction of travel is indicated by the AV arrow, its right and left sides are presented looking in the forward direction.

[0031] 30. Figures 1 and 2 show a utility vehicle of the electric or hybrid van type which can be recharged on an electricity distribution network, comprising on the right side successively a front door 2, a sliding side door 4 and a rear wing 6 which goes to the tailgate of the rear trunk.

[0032] 31. The bodywork comprises a vertically elongated housing 10 covering substantially the entire height of the vehicle, which can be located in the front position 10A between the front door 2 and the sliding door 4, or in the rear position 10B, just after the rear wing 6 and in front of the trunk hatch.

[0033] 32. The housing 10 is closed by a hatch 12 covering it completely over its height, having hinges for opening on the side, which is presented in the open position for the rear housing 10B. Each hatch 12 has a locking lock which keeps it in the closed position, which can, for security purposes, as for a fuel flap, include a closure with an external key or with a system controlled from inside the vehicle.

[0034] 33. The vertically elongated housing 10 has a shallow depth allowing it to receive a cable for recharging the vehicle's traction battery 22 by connecting a connector 20 arranged at the end of this cable to the socket of the electricity distribution network. The other end of the cable 22 is connected to a battery charge control device 18 remaining permanently in the vehicle.

[0035] 34. The cable 22 has several curves forming loops which remain in a vertical plane arranged in the transverse direction of the vehicle, with a distribution of this cable starting from the bottom of the housing 10 to go towards the outside of the vehicle in order to facilitate its exit.

[0036] 35. The cable 22 has, starting from its entry into the vertical housing 10 arranged at the bottom of this space and substantially at mid-height, after a descent to the bottom of the housing, a first lower curve 24 forming a half-turn which makes it rise to the top of the housing, then a second upper curve 26 forming a half-turn which makes it descend, produced by an upper fixing point 28 maintaining this second curve at height.

[0037] 36. An elastic system comprising a spring 30 fixed on one side at the top of the housing 10, comprises on the other side the upper fixing point 28 so as to always keep the second upper curve 26 at a height in this housing.

[0038] 37. In addition, the cable 22 may have other curves, with the upper curves held in the high position by other elastic systems 30 arranged in parallel with the first, allowing more bends to be made to obtain a greater length of cable 22 with an exit and storage always in order.

[0039] 38. In particular, the battery charger integrated into the vehicle may have a maximum capacity of 22 kW, which requires a specific cable 22, and a special secure charging socket that does not correspond to the alternating current sockets usually available in private homes and delivering a power not exceeding 11 kW. This type of cable 22 with its socket 20 for high power is thus stored securely in the vehicle thanks to the housing 10, which is closed and always remains clean.

[0040] 39. Figure 3 shows an operator who, after opening the hatch 12, pulls on the connector 20 to connect it to a socket in an electricity distribution network. This results in the cable 22 being pulled out of the housing 10, with traction on the upper fixing point 28 causing the spring 30 to stretch, which allows the different parts of the cable to approach a substantially horizontal position.

[0041] 40. After connecting the connector 20 to the socket, the traction of the spring 30 keeps the cable slightly bent according to its deployment length and the distance from the socket, which prevents it from dragging on the ground. The operation of connecting the connector 20 is very quick, after having grasped it approximately halfway up the vehicle, without having to perform any other maneuver after opening the hatch 12, which represents a quick and ergonomic operation.

[0042] 41. In addition, the vertical housing 10 dedicated to receiving the cable, being well closed, remains constantly clean, which ensures the best conditions for the maintenance and preservation of the cable 22 with its connector 20.

[0043] 42. Figure 4 shows an electric or hybrid utility vehicle of the pick-up type, comprising a cabin for two passengers with front doors 2, and just behind a dump body receiving the rear wings 6 on each side.

[0044] 43. A space between the front door 2 and the rear wing 6, forming the rear of the cabin, receives on the right side the vertical housing 10 equipped with a hatch 12 shown open in this diagram.

[0045] 44. The cable 22 arranged in the same way in the vertical housing 10, with the upper traction spring 30, also allows a simple and rapid exit of this cable to recharge a traction battery of the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Hybrid or electric motor vehicle equipped with an integrated cable (22) for recharging a traction battery, permanently connected on one side to the vehicle, and having on the other side a connector (20), this cable (22) being able to exit the vehicle to connect the connector (20) to a socket of an electrical supply network, characterized in that its bodywork comprises on one side a vertically elongated housing (10), containing the recharging cable (22) making at least in the upper part of the housing (10) an upper curve forming a half-turn (26) which is supported in the high position by an elastic return system (30).

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the cable (22) coming from the battery enters the housing (10) substantially halfway up this housing.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the cable (22) after entering the housing (10) begins by descending to first present a lower curve forming a half-turn (24) before rising towards the upper curve (26).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable comprises several upper curves (26) each supported by an elastic return system (30).

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical housing (10) extends over the entire height of the body of the vehicle.

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical housing (10) is arranged just behind the front doors of the vehicle (2).

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the vertical housing (10) is arranged just in front of a rear tailgate of the vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical housing (10) comprises a closing hatch (12).

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the closing hatch (12) comprises a locking latch controlled by a key or from inside the vehicle.

10. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a battery charger having a recharging power at least equal to 22 kW.

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