Motor vehicle with a deployable charging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) comprising a traction battery associated with an electric traction machine, a body including a roof (3) and a deployable charging device (10). The deployable charging device is housed in the body along a lateral edge of the roof and comprises a rotating arm (14) mounted to rotate about a vertical axis with the body between a stowed position and a deployed position. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a deployable charging device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of mains charging of a motor vehicle equipped with a powertrain comprising at least one electric machine.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a deployable charging device for connecting the end of a charging cable to a charging station or an electrical outlet. Prior art

[0003] Currently, to recharge a motor vehicle equipped with an electric traction machine and a battery, a charging cable is required. This cable is separate. Consequently, it is cumbersome to handle and store, either in the trunk or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, during use, the charging cable drags on the ground around the motor vehicle, generally in dirt, puddles, and other hazards. In addition, it forms an extra obstacle for people near the motor vehicle.

[0004] This is all the more critical when the motor vehicle is a commercial vehicle. Indeed, in the case of a tradesperson, it can also prove practical and safe not to have to step over a charging cable during multiple trips back and forth between their motor vehicle and the work site, especially since this charging cable, once plugged in, can also serve as a power supply for nearby portable power tools.

[0005] In document DE102013219435, a charging cable device integrated into a motor vehicle body is proposed in the form of a vehicle spoiler enclosing a charging cable. This spoiler includes a foldable cable support, allowing the cable to be kept out of contact with the vehicle body. However, this device protrudes from the body and does not ensure that the entire charging cable is kept off the ground, as a portion continues to drag on the ground.

[0006] In document GB2503229, a retractable charging cable device is described, which operates under the vehicle body through an opening provided for this purpose in the roof of the motor vehicle. The device includes a support mast that can then be stored in a pillar of the motor vehicle. At the upper end of the support mast, the device includes a horizontally extending arm element. and placed in a storage position within a roof rail. Description of the invention

[0007] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing in particular a solution allowing the charging cable to be kept away from the ground while keeping the area around the vehicle clear, while remaining practical, hygienic and simple.

[0008] To this end, it is proposed, according to a first aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle comprising a traction battery associated with an electric traction machine, a body comprising a roof and a deployable charging device, where the deployable charging device is housed in the body along a lateral edge of the roof and comprises a rotating arm mounted movable to rotation about a vertical axis with the body between a stowed position and a deployed position.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the deployable load device comprises a fixing arm mounted flush with the bodywork, the rotating arm being mounted movable for rotation on the fixing arm.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the bodywork includes a longitudinal housing arranged to receive the deployable load device, in particular the rotating arm in the storage position.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the deployable charging device includes a charging cable, a portion of the charging cable running within the rotating arm.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the charging cable has a spiral portion between a free end of the charging cable and a free end of the rotating arm.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the bodywork includes a receptacle for storing the spiral part of the charging cable.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the receptacle includes an access hatch.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the receptacle is positioned at eye level.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the vehicle is a utility motor vehicle. brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.1]: a side view of a motor vehicle according to the invention connected to a charging station; • [Fig.2]: a partial top view of the motor vehicle from [Fig.1]; • [Fig. 3]: a side view a) and top view b) of a joint in the arm of charging of the vehicle of the [Fig.l]; • [Fig. 4]: A partial cross-sectional view along IV-IV of the motor vehicle [Fig.l] ; • [Fig.5]: a partial cross-sectional view along VV of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1].

[0018] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED description of a method of implementation

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. As is known per se, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises a powertrain including an electric motor coupled to a traction battery. The motor vehicle 1 according to the invention is thus either a purely electric motor vehicle or a hybrid motor vehicle. In the hybrid version, the powertrain also includes an internal combustion engine. Here, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention illustrated and used as a basis for the following description is a utility vehicle of the van or panel van type.

[0020] The motor vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises a body having a roof 3 in its upper part. At a lateral edge of the roof 3, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention further comprises a deployable load-bearing device 10. The deployable load-bearing device 10 extends longitudinally along a portion of the lateral edge of the roof 3 from a rear end of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention to a front end of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. The deployable load-bearing device is thus housed within the body of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. For this purpose, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the body comprises, along the portion of the lateral edge of the roof 3 considered, a longitudinal housing 31.

[0021] Again, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the deployable load device 10 comprises a rotating arm 14 mounted so as to be movable for rotation about a vertical axis X relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position. To this end, the deployable load device 10 comprises a pivot joint 11 with axis X. Here, the pivot joint 11 allows the rotating arm 14 to be connected about the vertical axis X to a mounting arm 13 of the deployable load device 10. In the stowed position, the rotating arm 14 is substantially in line with the mounting arm 13. The mounting arm 13 allows the deployable load device 10 to be fixed to the body using fastening means 133 known per se (see [Fig. 4]). In one embodiment, the pivot joint 11 allows the rotating arm 10 to be linked directly to the bodywork or at least with a reinforcement of the latter.

[0022] The deployable charging device 10 further comprises a charging cable 12, a portion of which runs within the rotating arm 14, along the latter from an end carrying the pivot joint 11 to a free end of the rotating arm 14 from which the charging cable 12 emerges. At a free end, the cable The charging cable 12 includes a connector. This connector allows the charging cable 12 to be connected to a charging station 2 located near the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. For added convenience, the charging cable 12 includes a spiral section 121 situated between the free end of said charging cable 12 (i.e., the connector) and the free end of the rotating arm 14. In the stored position, the spiral section 121 is stored in a receptacle 15 provided for this purpose in the body of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. The receptacle 15 is located vertically above the free end of the rotating arm 14 in the stored position. The receptacle 15 includes an access hatch. The spiral section 121 of the charging cable 12 provides additional clearance between the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention and the charging station 2.

[0023] It should be noted that in figures 1 to 3, the storage position is shown in solid lines while the deployed positions are shown in mixed and light lines for the rotating arm 14 and the spiral part 121 of the charging cable 12.

[0024] Figure 2 illustrates the operation of the deployable charging device 10. The rotating arm 14 is oriented in its deployed position (dashed lines) towards the charging station 2 (several positions of which, relative to the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention, are illustrated in dashed lines opposite one side of said motor vehicle 1 according to the invention). A missing distance between the free end of the rotating arm 14 is covered by the spiral portion 121 of the spare cable 12.

[0025] With regard to [Fig. 3], in order to allow maximum rotation of the rotating arm 10 relative to the mounting arm 13, the rotating arm 10 has, at its end including the pivot joint 11, a zigzag-shaped contact surface 141 in top view ([Fig. 3] b). Complementary to this contact surface 141, the mounting arm 13 has, at its end including the pivot joint 11, a bearing surface 131. The contact surface 141 comes into contact with the bearing surface 131 when the rotating arm 14 is fully extended (dashed lines). This makes it possible to reach a charging station 2 which would be positioned on the left at the front end of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention.

[0026] Now, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, we will briefly describe an assembly of the deployable load device 10 on the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. For this purpose, the body of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention includes, along the portion of the lateral edge of the roof 3 considered, a longitudinal housing 31. This longitudinal housing 31 has a concave cross-section and receives the mounting arm 13 on one part of it. The latter is fixed to it using fastening means 133 known per se: bolting, crimping, or welding. In cross-section, the mounting arm 13 has a shape that allows it to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the body of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. The same applies to the arm rotating 10 when in storage position, housed within the longitudinal housing 31. This allows for better integration of the deployable charging device 10 into the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention.

[0027] Inside the body of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention, a covering 4 is optionally provided to conceal the deformation due to the presence of the longitudinal housing 31.

[0028] With such a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention equipped with the deployable charging device, a user can grasp the charging cable connector 12 in the receptacle 5 and pull on the free end of the charging cable 12 to connect it to the charging station 2. The rotating arm 10 then extends to the correct deployed position, oriented substantially towards the charging station 2. Thus, the charging cable 12 does not drag on the ground, and a safe passageway is maintained around the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. In the specific case of a commercial vehicle, the tradesperson is not hindered by the charging cable 12 when accessing a cargo area in the passenger compartment of the commercial vehicle, while simultaneously charging the battery and, if necessary, powering power tools.

[0029] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030] It is emphasized that all features, as they are apparent to a person skilled in the art from this description, the drawings and the accompanying claims, even if specifically described only in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances render such combinations impossible or devoid of sense.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a traction battery associated with an electric traction machine, a body comprising a roof (3) and a deployable charging device (10), characterized in that the deployable charging device is housed in the body along a lateral edge of the roof and comprises a rotary arm (14) mounted to rotate about a vertical axis with the body between a storage position and a deployed position.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the deployable load device comprises a fixing arm (13) mounted flush with the bodywork, the rotary arm being mounted rotatably on the fixing arm.

3. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the bodywork comprises a longitudinal housing (31) arranged so as to receive the deployable loading device, in particular the rotating arm in the storage position.

4. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the deployable charging device comprises a charging cable (12), a part of the charging cable running within the rotating arm.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the charging cable comprises a spiral portion (121) between a free end of the charging cable and a free end of the rotating arm.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the bodywork comprises a receptacle (15) for storing the spiral part of the charging cable.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the receptacle comprises an access hatch.

8. Vehicle according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the receptacle is positioned at human height.

9. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the vehicle is a utility motor vehicle.

Images