ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING CABLE SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging cable support device for electric or hybrid motor vehicles whose body (A) is equipped with a charging socket, characterized in that it comprises at least one retractable flap mounted on the vehicle body pivotally about a substantially horizontal axis (X) and whose inner face (10), in the outwardly deployed position, defines a housing for cable sections (B). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING CHARGING CABLES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to means for recharging traction batteries fitted to vehicles with electric or hybrid motors and is concerned, in particular, with a device for supporting electric cables intended for recharging.

[0002] The recharging of the traction batteries of electrically powered vehicles is carried out from power supply terminals located in urban areas at the edge of the road or in service stations or even in car parks.

[0003] This operation requires the use of a cable, which is generally available to the user of the vehicle, which is connected at one end to a socket fitted to the vehicle and at a second end to the terminal.

[0004] However, it turns out that the cable length is often too long or at least greater than the distance between the vehicle and the terminal used, so that the excess length is inconvenient and also ends up resting on the ground, which poses safety and cleanliness problems.

[0005] Indeed, the user of the vehicle does not always have the choice of the area where the terminals are located, in particular in the event of an emergency, and consequently, he may be required to carry out the recharging operations in an area whose sanitary condition is not satisfactory, or even in an area covered with waste of all kinds. In these conditions, sections of the cable will be dirty and / or polluted during the recharging period. Consequently, at the end of the operations, the user will have to clean the cable before handling it and storing it in the vehicle or, failing that, he will have to face hygiene risks.

[0006] There are already electric vehicles that have a retractable flap on which the manufacturer's logo is placed and which allows access to a hatch in which there is a charging socket. However, such a flap is neither suitable nor intended to support a section of cable.

[0007] Furthermore, patent application DE102022003685Al describes an element of grille, featuring the electric vehicle manufacturer's brand logo, which can be pivoted to allow access to a hatch where a charging socket is mounted. This element is associated with a locking member which secures the opening of the hatch and the assembly is enclosed in a housing. However, here again, this grille element has the sole function of closing the charging hatch to protect it and its structure is neither designed nor even adapted to support the charging cable.

[0008] In this context, a technical solution was therefore sought to enable to resolve the problems posed by current or known means of managing the charging cable by proposing a device designed to support the cable and which also allows the vehicle brand to be identified from the outside.

[0009] This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a device for supporting a charging cable for motor vehicles with electric or hybrid motors, the bodywork of which is equipped with a charging socket, characterized in that it comprises at least one retractable flap mounted on the bodywork of the vehicle in a pivoting manner around a substantially horizontal axis and the internal face of which delimits, in the outwardly deployed position, a housing for sections of cable.

[0010] According to an advantageous characteristic of the support device of the invention, the shutter is provided with a return spring coupled to the pivot axis.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the device of the invention, the shutter extends, in the retracted position, flush with the bodywork.

[0012] According to a specific variant embodiment of the invention, the support device comprises a member for locking the shutter in the retracted position.

[0013] Preferably, at least one of the longitudinal edges of the flap carries a rib ensuring transverse retention of the cable.

[0014] According to another variant embodiment of the device of the invention, the pivot axis of the shutter is merged with its median axis.

[0015] In this case, the flap is mounted in the opening of a cavity provided in the bodywork and intended to receive one of its middle parts when it pivots outwards.

[0016] According to still other characteristics of the invention, the support device comprises a shoulder against which an edge of the shutter comes into abutment at the end of pivoting outwards.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer face of the shutter bears a logo of the vehicle manufacturer's brand.

[0018] Another object of the invention is an electrically powered motor vehicle provided with a device for supporting a charging cable as defined above.

[0019] Thanks to the invention, the management of the vehicle's charging is significantly improved due to the fact that the sections of cable forming the excess length are supported and stored on the flap once pivoted outwards. Thus, no section of the cable is likely to be in contact with the ground, which preserves its integrity and cleanliness, whatever the position of the vehicle relative to the charging station.

[0020] Furthermore, the invention can produce the retractable shutter by advantageously using the identification elements of the manufacturer's brand or vehicle model, such as plates with logos, which are generally present on several locations of the bodywork.

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

[0022] [Fig-1] is a schematic view in vertical section of the principle of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the cable support device according to the invention.

[0024] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in the description and in the figures.

[0025] Naturally, the embodiment of the device of the invention illustrated schematically by the figures presented above and described below, is given only as a non-limiting example. It is explicitly provided within the scope of the invention that different modes can be proposed and combined with each other to propose others.

[0026] Generally speaking, the invention relates to the charging / recharging of traction batteries equipping electrically powered motor vehicles and whose bodywork is provided, for this purpose, with a charging socket. More specifically, the invention proposes a device suitable and intended to provide support and management of the charging cable used by the user of an electric vehicle which is stationary in a parking area equipped with an electric charging terminal.

[0027] As illustrated by [Fig.l], the device of the invention comprises, in its most general aspect, at least one retractable flap 1 mounted on the bodywork A of the vehicle in a pivoting manner around a substantially horizontal axis X.

[0028] The internal face 10 of this pivoting flap delimits, in the deployed position of the flap 1 towards the outside (in dotted lines in [Fig.l]), a housing for sections or loops B of the electric cable ([Fig.2]) intended to ensure the connection of the vehicle charging socket to a terminal (not shown). The external face 11 of the flap can display, for its part, information such as a logo (for example, the figurative mark of the manufacturer or the vehicle model). The advantage of the device of the invention is then to use the numerous locations of the bodywork A where logos are generally found to install a retractable support flap, which offers great flexibility for the management of the charging cable.

[0029] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 2], the flap 1 is provided with a return spring 2 coupled to the pivot axis X. This pivot axis of the flap is here coincident with the median axis of the flap 1. Thanks to this spring, the flap 1 can automatically return to its retracted position in which it extends substantially flush with the bodywork A.

[0030] Preferably, the shutter can be held stably in this latter position by means of a locking member 3 produced, for example, in the form of a finger which engages in an orifice 13 provided here on one of the longitudinal edges ex- interiors of section 1.

[0031] Preferably, at least one of the edges of the flap 1 and, in the embodiment of [Fig.2], the outer longitudinal edge 1a carries a rib 12 ensuring the transverse retention of the cable on the internal face 10 of the flap in the deployed position.

[0032] In this case, the flap 1 is mounted in the opening of a cavity A1 provided in the bodywork A of the vehicle which is intended to receive one of the middle parts of the flap 1 when it pivots outwards. In this variant, the cavity A1 has a shoulder A2 against which the edge 1b of the flap comes into abutment at the end of pivoting outwards.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for supporting a charging cable for motor vehicles with electric or hybrid motors, the bodywork (A) of which is equipped with a charging socket, characterized in that it comprises at least one retractable flap (1) mounted on the bodywork of the vehicle in a pivoting manner around a substantially horizontal axis (X) and the internal face (10) of which delimits, in the outwardly deployed position, a housing for sections (B) of cable.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said flap (1) is provided with a return spring (2) coupled to the pivot axis (X).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flap (1) extends, in the retracted position, flush with the bodywork (A).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a member (3) for locking the shutter (1) in the retracted position.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the longitudinal edges (la) of the flap (1) carries a rib (12) ensuring the transverse retention of the cable.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivot axis (X) of the shutter (1) coincides with its median axis.

7. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said flap (1) is mounted in the opening of a cavity (Al) provided in the bodywork (A) and intended to receive one of the middle parts of the flap (1) when it pivots outwards.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a shoulder (A2) against which an outer edge (1b) of the flap (1) comes into abutment at the end of pivoting outwards.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer face (11) of the flap (1) bears a logo of the manufacturer's brand or vehicle model.

10. Electrically powered motor vehicle provided with a device for supporting a charging cable according to one of the preceding claims.

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