A device for housing a charging cable for an electric vehicle battery in the ground.

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for housing an electric vehicle battery charging cable (2) in the ground, said device comprising a trench (3) and an external surface (4) extending on either side of said trench, a housing (5) for said cable disposed in said trench and having an opening (6), a cover (7) for closing said opening actuable between an open position (A) and a closed position (B), said device further comprising an electric motor for actuating said cover and a means for controlling the activation of said motor when opening said cover, said cover having a substantially planar external face (8), said external face not protruding from said external surface when said cover is disposed in said closed position. Abstract figure: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for housing in a ground a charging cable of an electric vehicle battery

[0001] The invention relates to a device for housing in a ground a charging cable of an electric vehicle battery.

[0002] It is known to provide a housing device in the ground – for example, a sidewalk or garage – for a battery charging cable for an electric vehicle, said device comprising: • an area of ​​said ground comprising a trench, said area having on either side of said trench an external surface substantially inscribed in a plane, • a housing box for said cable, said box being placed in said trench, said box having an opening leading to said external surface, • a cover for said opening, said cover being operable between an open position and a closed position to conceal said opening.

[0003] The cable may, depending on the circumstances, originate from the vehicle or from the power terminal which is fixed to the ground. Containing the cable in a housing during battery charging prevents people moving on the ground from being hindered by said cable.

[0004] However, in known embodiments, the hood in the closed position can itself cause inconvenience to people moving on the ground, and in particular to people moving in wheelchairs.

[0005] In addition, the operation of the hood in opening and closing requires a manual manipulation by the vehicle user that is not very ergonomic.

[0006] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes a device for housing a battery charging cable for an electric vehicle in the ground, said device comprising: • an area of ​​said ground comprising a trench, said area having on either side of said trench an external surface substantially inscribed in a plane, • a housing box for said cable, said box being placed in said trench, said box having an opening leading to said external surface, • a cover for closing said opening, said cover being operable between an open position and a closed position for masking said opening, said device also includes: • an electric motor for actuating said hood in opening and closing, • a means for controlling the activation of said motor in opening said hood, said hood having a substantially planar external face, said external face not forming a projection in relation to said external surface when said hood is disposed in said closed position.

[0008] With the proposed arrangement, the hood in the closed position does not create any inconvenience for people moving on the ground since it does not protrude from the external surface.

[0009] In addition, the opening and closing of the hood is facilitated by the motorization of these operations.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the hood is mounted to slide between the open and closed positions, the hood then always remaining non-protruding with respect to the external surface.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, the device includes a toothed wheel driven in rotation by the motor, the hood being provided with a rack engaging with said toothed wheel so as to be able to be driven by said motor.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment, the box opens onto a housing space for the hood in the open position, said space extending on one side of the trench and under the external surface so as to conceal said hood placed in said open position.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment, the device further includes a receiving groove for an edge of the hood when said hood is disposed in the closed position, which makes it possible to form a support for said hood in the closed position, and also to contribute to the sealing of the box.

[0014] According to an alternative embodiment to sliding, the hood is mounted to rotate between the open and closed positions along an axis of rotation extending along an edge of the opening.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the control means is in the form of a remote control.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a timer activating the motor closing the hood after a time delay starting from when said hood is put in the open position, which ensures that the box is closed when the cable is not being handled for placement in said box.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the device further includes a sealing gasket mounted on at least a part of the periphery of the hood or opening, said gasket being shaped to ensure a seal between said hood in the closed position and said opening.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the caisson has a bottom wall provided with fluid drainage holes in the ground, which prevents accidental flooding. said container.

[0019] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on: [Fig.1] which is a schematic representation in truncated perspective of a device according to one embodiment, the hood being in the open (A) and closed (B) positions

[0020] A device 1 for housing a battery charging cable 2 for an electric vehicle in the ground is now described with reference to the figures, said device comprising: • an area of ​​said ground comprising a trench 3, said area having on either side of said trench an external surface 4 substantially inscribed in a plane, • a housing box 5 for said cable, said box being placed in said trench, said box having an opening 6 leading to said external surface, • a cover 7 - for example made of metal or plastic - for closing said opening, said cover being operable between an open position A and a closed position B for masking said opening, said device further comprising: • an electric motor, not shown, for opening and closing said hood, • a means of controlling, not shown, the activation of said motor when said hood is opened, said hood having an external face 8 substantially planar, said external face not forming a projection in relation to said external surface when said hood is disposed in said closed position.

[0021] According to various embodiments, the box 5 can be metallic, plastic or even concrete-based.

[0022] According to the embodiment shown, the hood 7 is mounted to slide between the open position A and the closed position B.

[0023] According to the embodiment shown, the device 1 includes a toothed wheel 9 driven in rotation by the motor, the hood 7 being provided with a rack 10 engaging with said toothed wheel so as to be able to be driven by said motor.

[0024] According to the embodiment shown, the box 5 opens onto a space 11 for housing the hood 7 in the open position A, said space extending on one side of the trench 3 and under the external surface 4 so as to conceal said hood placed in said open position.

[0025] According to the embodiment shown, the device 1 further includes a groove 12 for receiving an edge of the hood 7 when said hood is arranged in the closed position B.

[0026] With such an arrangement, the external face 8 is set back a little from the external surface 4, said setback being for example less than 20 mm, so as to keep said external face substantially at the same level as said external surface so as not to hinder people walking on the ground.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the hood 7 is mounted to rotate between the open position A and the closed position B along an axis of rotation extending along an edge of the opening 6.

[0028] According to an embodiment not shown, the control means is in the form of a remote control.

[0029] According to an embodiment not shown, the device 1 further includes a timer, not shown, activating the motor to close the hood 7 after a delay - for example less than 2 minutes - starting from the opening of said hood A.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the device 1 can be manually operated as a palliative measure to close the cover 7 in the event of a timer failure.

[0031] It can also be provided that the device 1 is equipped with an obstacle detection system for closing which operates a reopening of the hood 7 in the event of detection of such an obstacle.

[0032] According to an embodiment not shown, the device 1 further includes a sealing gasket - in particular made of rubber - mounted on at least part of the periphery of the hood 7 or the opening 6, said gasket being shaped so as to ensure a seal between said hood in closed position B and said opening.

[0033] According to the embodiment shown, the box 5 has a bottom wall 13 provided with orifices 14 for draining fluids into the ground.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for housing in a ground a cable (2) for recharging an electrically powered vehicle battery, said device comprising: • an area of ​​said ground comprising a trench (3), said area having on either side of said trench an external surface (4) substantially inscribed in a plane, • a box (5) for housing said cable, said box being arranged in said trench, said box having an opening (6) opening at said external surface, • a cover (7) for closing said opening, said cover being operable between an open position (A) and a closed position (B) for masking said opening, said device being characterized in that it further comprises: • an electric motor for actuating said cover in opening and closing, • a means for controlling the activation of said motor when opening said cover,and in that said cover has a substantially planar external face (8), said external face not forming a projection relative to said external surface when said cover is arranged in said closed position.,

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (7) is slidably mounted between the open (A) and closed (B) positions.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a toothed wheel (9) actuated in rotation by the motor, the cover (7) being provided with a rack (10) meshing with said toothed wheel so as to be able to be actuated by said motor.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the box (5) opens onto a space (11) for housing the cover (7) in the open position (A), said space extending on one side of the trench (3) and under the external surface (4) so ​​as to mask said cover placed in said open position.

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a groove (12) for receiving a edge of the hood (7) when said hood is arranged in the closed position (B).

6. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (7) is mounted in rotation between the open (A) and closed (B) positions along an axis of rotation extending along an edge of the opening (6).

7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control means is in the form of a remote control.

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a timer activating the motor to close the hood (7) at the end of a time delay starting when said hood is placed in the open position (A).

9. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a seal mounted on at least part of the periphery of the cover (7) or of the opening (6), said seal being shaped so as to ensure a seal between said cover in the closed position (B) and said opening.

10. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the box (5) has a bottom wall (13) provided with orifices (14) for discharging fluids into the ground.

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