WINDING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CABLE FOR CHARGING A VEHICLE BATTERY

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a winding device (1) for an electrical cable (3) for charging a vehicle battery, the winding device (1) being intended to be fixed to the vehicle, the electrical cable (3) having a first end intended to be electrically connected to the battery and a second end intended to be electrically connected to a household electrical outlet or a charging station, the winding device (1) comprising a housing (2) containing the electrical cable (3), the winding device (1) being notable in that the housing (2) has at least two rollers, the electrical cable (3) being flat and forming a track around the at least two rollers (4a, 4b), and in that it comprises a drive device (5) for rotating at least one of said at least two rollers to wind the electrical cable (3) around the at least two rollers. Figure 1

Description

Description Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR WINDING AN ELECTRIC CABLE FOR RECHARGING A BATTERY VEHICLE

[0001] = One aspect of the invention relates to a device for winding a cable electric vehicle battery recharge, especially an automobile, electric or hybrid

[0002] = Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular an automobile, electric or hybrid equipped with a device for winding an electric cable for the recharging a battery in the vehicle.

[0003] — These aspects of the invention find particularly interesting applications, but not exclusive, in the field of electric or hybrid vehicles comprising a power electrical network, for example 48V, 400V or 800V.

[0004] — Usually, the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle is recharged electri- strictly by connecting it to a terminal outside the vehicle by means of an electric cable. Such an electric cable allows the vehicle to be connected to a charging station located on the public highway or in a private facility. After charging, the user must disconnect the cable from the vehicle side and from the charging station, roll it up and then store it in the trunk of your vehicle. These solutions have a number of disadvantages. First, the number of mani- pulsations is very important during the life of the vehicle. Then, the handling of a cable can potentially be messy for the user. In addition, storing a cable requires a location in the trunk, which reduces the available volume in the trunk. In this case, the trunk must be opened systematically- tically to recover the cable which, if the trunk has been filled with objects, is not necessarily easily accessible. In conclusion, handling the cable is very restrictive. To avoid having to constantly handle the cable, devices winding exist.

[0005] — Document US-B1-6854575 describes a winding device for a cable electrical system of a vehicle. This winding device takes the form of a box intended to be fixed on the support of a license plate. This box includes in particular a circular reel around which a cable is wound electric. Such a winding device is nevertheless bulky.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device for winding an electric cable for recharging a battery of a space-saving electric or hybrid vehicle. In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a device for winding an electric cable for recharging a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle, the winding device being intended to be fixed to the vehicle, the electric cable comprising a first end intended to be electrically connected to the battery and a second end intended to be electrically connected to a domestic electrical outlet or a charging station, the winding device comprising a housing housing the electric cable. The winding device is remarkable in that the housing further comprises at least two rollers, the electric cable being flat and forming a track around the at least two rollers, and in that it comprises a device for driving at least one of the at least two rollers in rotation to wind the electric cable around the at least two rollers. The arrangement of the flat electric cable winding in a caterpillar shape, rather than a circle, allows for considerable space saving. This caterpillar-shaped winding is made possible by the flattened shape of the electric cable and the presence of the two rollers. In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the winding device according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electric cable comprises at the second end an adapter arranged to receive, by fitting, an electric charging socket intended to be connected to a domestic electric socket or a charging station. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electric cable comprises a first marking device reflecting a minimal deployment of the electric cable relative to the housing. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electric cable comprises a second marking device reflecting maximum deployment of the electric cable relative to the housing. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, a track for driving the electric cable is arranged between the at least two rollers and the electric cable. Another non-limiting aspect of the invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a winding device according to any one of the aforementioned aspects, the winding device being arranged between a rear shock absorption bar and a body of the vehicle, the first end being electrically connected to the battery of the vehicle. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle comprises a device actuating the device for driving at least one of the two rollers in rotation. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, a mode 2 or mode 3 type electrical charging socket is fitted into the adapter. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the mode 2 type electrical charging socket incorporates a current intensity limiter. According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle comprises a hatch for access to the electric cable adapter. The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.2] schematically represents an example of an embodiment of a flat electric cable which comprises a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.3] schematically represents another example of embodiment of a flat electric cable which comprises a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.4] shows two marking devices included in an electric cable equipping a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a track for rotating an electric cable of a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.6] shows an adapter that one end of an electric cable of a winding device comprises according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.7] illustrates a vehicle equipped with a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. [Fig.8] shows a particular positioning of a winding device according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing in different figures has a single reference. [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a device 1 for winding an electric cable for recharging a battery in accordance with a non-limiting implementation of the invention. In this non-limiting embodiment, the winding device 1 is intended to be fixed to a vehicle and comprises: A box 2, An electric cable 3 housed in the box 2, Two rollers 4a, 4b, the electric cable 3 being flat and forming a caterpillar around the two pebbles 4a, 4b, and A device 5 for driving the roller 4a in rotation. In this embodiment, the electric cable 3, the two rollers 4a, 4b, and the rotation drive device 5 of the roller 4a are housed in the housing 2. In an embodiment not illustrated, the rotation drive device 5 of the roller 4a can be housed partly outside the housing 2. The rotation drive device 5 can be formed by an electric motor and thus makes it possible, when the electric cable 3 is deployed outside the housing 2 through an orifice 6 provided in the housing 2, to wind the electric cable 3 around the at least two rollers 4a, 4b so as to form a track. By flat electric cable 3 is meant the fact that the conductive wires 7 located inside the electric cable 3 are placed side by side in the same plane (Cf. [Fig.2]) or on two planes (Cf. [Fig.3]). This flattened shape of the electric cable 3 makes it possible to wind the electric cable 3 on itself in order to reduce the space required for its storage. As illustrated in [Fig.4], the electrical cable 3 comprises a first end 3a intended to be electrically connected to a battery 8 of the vehicle, for example via an on-board charger 9 arranged to charge the battery 8 of the vehicle. Such an on-board charger 9 is commonly referred to by those skilled in the art by the acronym OBC for “On Board Charger” in English. The electrical cable 3 further comprises a second end 3b intended to be electrically connected to a domestic electrical outlet or a charging station, In this exemplary embodiment, the electric cable 3 comprises a first marking device 10 reflecting a minimal deployment of the electric cable 3 relative to the housing 2. In a non-limiting manner, this first marking device 10 may be formed by a notch or a green mark. When the driver wishes to recharge his battery 8 and connect the electric cable 3 to a charging station, this first marking device 10 indicates to the driver to deploy the electric cable 3 outside the box 2 at least up to this first marking device 10. This minimal deployment makes it possible to avoid overheating of the electric cable 3 during recharging. Furthermore, the electric cable 3 comprises a second marking device 11 reflecting a maximum deployment of the electric cable 3 relative to the housing 2. In a non-limiting manner, this second marking device 11 may be formed by a notch or a red mark. When this second marking device 11 is visible, it indicates to the user not to pull on the electric cable 3 so as not to damage it and to leave a sufficient length of cable in the housing 2 to allow the electric cable 3 to be wound around the two rollers 4a, 4b by means of the device 5 for driving the roller 4a in rotation. As illustrated in [Fig.5], in order to facilitate the winding of the electric cable 3 around the two rollers 4a, 4b, the winding device 1 may comprise a track 12 for driving the electric cable 3 in rotation. More particularly, the track 12 is arranged between the two rollers 4a, 4b and the electric cable 3. As illustrated, this track 12 may for example include teeth 13 allowing the electric cable 3 to be hooked. In a non-limiting implementation illustrated in [Fig.6], the electric cable 3 has at its second end 3b an adapter 14 arranged to receive, by fitting, an electric charging socket 15, 16 intended to be connected to a domestic electrical socket or a charging terminal. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a mode 2 type 15 or mode 3 type 16 electrical charging socket is fitted into the adapter 14. In mode 3, the charging power is usually limited to 22 kW. In mode 2, the charging power is usually limited to 11 kW. In the case of a mode 2 type 15 charging socket, it can incorporate a current intensity limiter 17. Thus, thanks to the adapter 14, only one type of electric cable 3 is necessary, it is sufficient to fit the electric charging socket 15, 16 corresponding to the desired charging mode 2 or 3. In a non-limiting embodiment, the electric cable 3 can accept a power of between 3 and 22kW and have a length of between 5 and 8m. The two charging sockets 15, 16 can be stored in different places in the vehicle, for example in the glove compartment or in a trunk trim. [Fig.7] illustrates a vehicle 18 according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention. The vehicle 18 comprises a winding device 1 in accordance with that described above. The winding device 1 is arranged at the rear of the vehicle 18. More particularly, as illustrated in [Fig. 8], the winding device 1 is arranged between a rear shock-absorbing bar 19 and a body 20 of the vehicle 18. The rear bar 19 is formed by a shock-absorbing beam usually hidden behind the rear bumper of the vehicle 18. This rear bar 19 usually has the function of absorbing rear impacts by deforming. Thus, the body 20 of the vehicle 18 does not undergo any deformation. Being arranged between this rear bar 19 and the body 20 of the vehicle 18, more particularly the rear panel of the vehicle 18, the winding device 1 occupies a space which is not part of the passenger compartment, nor even of the trunk. The space offered by the passenger compartment and the trunk are thus preserved. The first end 3a of the electric cable 3 is electrically connected to the battery 8. The route of the electric cable 3 between the winding device 1 and the OBC charger can be ensured by means of a chute which runs in different positions depending on the vehicle design. The vehicle 18 further comprises a hatch 21 for access to the adapter 14 of the electric cable 3. This hatch 21 can be arranged at the rear of the vehicle 18 or on the side of the vehicle 18. It can also be arranged in the body 20 of the vehicle 18 or in the rear bumper. The vehicle 18 further comprises an actuation device 22 for the rotational drive device 5 of the roller 4a. According to a non-limiting embodiment, the actuation device 22 is formed by a button accessible through the hatch 21. In an embodiment not illustrated, the actuation device 22 is formed by a touch button accessible via the central console of the vehicle 18. In another embodiment not illustrated, the actuation device 22 can be integrated on a digital medium (smartphone application, voice control, etc.) By pressing the actuating device 22, the rotation drive device 5 rotates the roller 4a and winds the electric cable 3 around the two rollers 4a, 4B. The various aspects of the invention mentioned above have numerous advantages. Among these, we can cite: Preserve the space offered by the vehicle's passenger compartment and trunk, Be easily accessible even when the passenger compartment and / or trunk are loaded, Avoid forgetting the electric cable, Avoid soiling the user, the passenger compartment and / or the trunk with the cable electric, Only one electric cable is needed to carry out mode 2 and mode 3 charging. 3.

Claims

Claims

1. Winding device (1) for an electric cable (3) for recharging a battery (8) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (18), the device winding (1) being intended to be fixed to said vehicle (18), said electric cable (3) comprising a first end (3a) intended to be electrically connected to said battery (8) and a second end (3b) intended to be electrically connected to a socket domestic electrical device or a charging station, said device winding (1) comprising a housing (2) housing said cable electric (3), said winding device (1) being characterized in that said housing (2) further comprises at least two rollers (4a, 4b), said electric cable (3) being flat and forming a caterpillar around said less than two rollers (4a, 4b), and in that it comprises a device drive (5) in rotation of at least one of said at least two rollers (4a, 4b) for winding said electric cable (3) around said minus two pebbles (4a, 4b).

2. Winding device (1) according to the preceding claim, ca- characterized in that the electric cable (3) comprises at the second end (3b) an adapter (14) arranged to receive, by em- box, an electrical charging socket (15, 16) intended to be plugged into a domestic electrical outlet or charging station.

3. Winding device (1) according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the electric cable (3) comprises a first marking device (10) reflecting minimal deployment said electric cable (3) relative to the housing (2).

4. Winding device (1) according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the electric cable (3) comprises a second marking device (11) reflecting maximum deployment said electric cable (3) relative to the housing (2).

5. Winding device (1) according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that a track (12) for driving the electric cable (3) is arranged between the at least two rollers (4a, 4b) and said electric cable (3).

6. Electric or hybrid vehicle (18) characterized in that it comprises a winding device (1) according to any one of the claims previous, said winding device (1) being arranged between a rear shock absorption bar (19) and a body (20) of said vehicle (18), the first end (3a) being electrically connected to the battery (8) of said vehicle (18).

7. Vehicle (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an actuating device (22) for the drive device (5) in rotation of at least one of the two rollers (4a).

8. Vehicle (18) according to any one of claims 6 or 7 and according to claim 2, characterized in that an electrical charging socket (15, 16) of mode 2 type or mode 3 type is nested in the adapter (14).

9. Vehicle (18) according to the preceding claim characterized in that the mode 2 type electrical charging socket (15) incorporates a limiter current intensity (17).

10. Vehicle (18) according to any one of claims 6 to 9 and according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a hatch (21) access to the adapter (14) of the electric cable (3).