MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A SYSTEM FOR RETAINING AND RELEASING A CHARGING CABLE END, AND METHODS BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a body (V) having a housing (L), - at least one coupling device (D) in the housing (L), configured to be attached to a cable end (E) via a first coupling ridge (C1), said coupling device (D) comprising a corresponding second coupling ridge (C2). According to the invention, said coupling device (E) assumes a holding position where the coupling ridges cooperate and attach the end (E), and a release position where the second coupling ridge is moved away and the end can be removed from the housing. The motor vehicle further comprises a holding and releasing mechanism (R1, G, P) for moving the coupling device (D) to the holding and release positions. The invention further relates to a system and methods for manufacturing and loading such a vehicle. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A SYSTEM FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING A TIP OF CHARGING CABLE AND METHODS BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of systems and devices for holding and releasing the ends of motor vehicle charging cables. The invention relates more particularly to a motor vehicle equipped with such a system.

[0002] In the field of electric vehicle charging cables, there are several charging gun tip solutions, in various shapes.

[0003] Some tips are free-standing, which means there is a risk of losing the tip in use. Other tips have a cable attaching the tip to the gun. This requires additional steps in manufacturing the gun to install the cable.

[0004] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a solution for limiting the risks of loss of the tip without implementing specific steps for attaching a cable to the gun.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising: - a body having a housing, comprising an access hole to the housing; - at least one coupling device disposed in the housing, configured to be attached to a cable end piece comprising at least a first coupling relief, and configured to be inserted into the hole and into the housing; said coupling device comprising at least one second coupling relief configured to cooperate with said first coupling relief to keep the cable end piece fixed to said coupling device, characterized in that said coupling device is configured to be moved between a holding position in which the second coupling relief cooperates with the first coupling relief when the cable end is inserted into the housing so that the cable end is held in the housing; and a release position in which the second coupling relief is moved away from the first coupling relief when the cable end is inserted into the housing, so that the cable end is not held in the housing, and in that the motor vehicle further comprises a holding and releasing mechanism configured to drive said coupling device towards the holding position or the releasing position, and to lock said coupling device in the holding position or the release position.

[0006] Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to fix the tip in the coupling device during use of the gun, and to avoid losing the tip.

[0007] Furthermore, this allows for more gripping space for gripping the tip E in the release position.

[0008] According to one variant, the motor vehicle comprises a spiral cable attached to the housing and to the cable end piece.

[0009] This allows for a tether cable that takes up little space for a given cable length.

[0010] According to a variant, the holding and releasing mechanism comprises a first return means arranged between the housing and said coupling device, the first return means driving said coupling device towards the release position.

[0011] This allows for simplified movement towards the release position.

[0012] According to one variant, the first return means comprises a cylindrical spring.

[0013] This allows moving to the release position by the propulsion of such a spring.

[0014] According to a variant, the holding and release mechanism comprises at least one pin secured to said coupling device, and at least one groove for the passage of said pin, said groove comprising a holding structure equipped with a second return means, the holding structure being configured to hold said pin at a part of said groove in a first position, said coupling device is in the holding position, and to allow said pin to pass to a second position corresponding to said coupling device in the release position if a force threshold is applied by said pin to the holding structure and the second return means.

[0015] This makes it possible to have a means of locking in the holding position which can be easily disengaged.

[0016] According to a variant, said pin has a circular section.

[0017] This allows the pin to rest on the holding structure, due to the forced movement of the pin towards the second position.

[0018] According to a variant, the second return means comprises a cylindrical spring.

[0019] This makes it possible to maintain the holding structure by the propulsion of such a spring.

[0020] The invention also relates to a system for attaching a cable end piece of a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising said coupling device, and the holding and release mechanism.

[0021] The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising the steps of placing the housing and the access orifice to the housing; said coupling device in the housing; and the holding and releasing mechanism.

[0022] Another subject of the invention relates to a method of charging a motor vehicle according to the invention, by means of a charging cable equipped with a tip, characterized in that it comprises a step of placing the tip in the housing of said motor vehicle.

[0023] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a side view of a housing equipped with a hanging system equipped with a cable end piece E where the coupling device is in the holding position; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a side view similar to the previous one, where the coupling device is in an intermediate position between the holding position and the release position; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates details of operation of the holding and releasing mechanism in the intermediate position of [Fig.2]; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a side view similar to those of figures 1 and 2, where the coupling device is in the release position.

[0024] The invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a system for holding and releasing an end piece E of a charging cable of a motor vehicle. The principle is to be able to manage the holding in a charging hatch of a charging end piece associated with a spiral cable S.

[0025] The motor vehicle comprises a body V having a housing L. The body V comprises an orifice O for access to the housing L.

[0026] The housing has a reference in space comprising a longitudinal axis X along a rolling direction of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, defining an external direction and an internal direction of the housing L; and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y.

[0027] The motor vehicle further comprises at least one coupling device D arranged in the housing L. Two coupling devices D can be used as in the figures, or a different number of coupling devices.

[0028] Said coupling device C is configured to be attached to a tip E of a charging cable. Such a tip comprises at least one first coupling relief CL. In addition, it is configured to be inserted into the orifice O and into the housing L.

[0029] Said coupling device D comprises at least one second coupling relief C2 configured to cooperate with said first coupling relief C1 to keep the cable end piece E fixed to said coupling device D.

[0030] According to the invention, said coupling device E can be moved between a position holding position illustrated in [Fig.l]; and a release position illustrated in [Fig.4]. Movement between these positions can be done for example by rotation of the coupling device D around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis X.

[0031] In the holding position, the second coupling relief C2 cooperates with the first coupling relief C1 when the cable end piece E is inserted into the housing L so that the cable end piece E is held in the housing L.

[0032] In the release position, the second coupling relief C2 is moved away from the first coupling relief C1 when the cable end piece E is inserted into the housing L, so that the cable end piece E is not held in the housing L. The end piece E can then be freely removed from the housing L.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the invention, the motor vehicle further comprises a holding and releasing mechanism which comprises a first return means RI which may be a cylindrical spring, at least one pin P which may be of round section, and at least one groove G housing said pin P.

[0034] The first return means RI is arranged between the housing L and said coupling device D. It drives said coupling device D externally with reference to the Y axis, towards the release position.

[0035] In particular, said pin P is integral with said coupling device D, and said groove G comprises a holding structure M equipped with a second return means R2 which may be a cylindrical spring.

[0036] The holding structure M is configured to hold said pin P at a portion of said groove G in a first position illustrated at the top left in [Fig. 3]. For this purpose, the second return means R2 drives the holding structure M towards the inside of the groove G. In this first position, said coupling device D is in the holding position illustrated in [Fig. 1].

[0037] Furthermore, the holding structure M is configured to allow said pin P to pass to a second position illustrated at the bottom right in [Fig. 3], corresponding to said coupling device D in the release position. This is implemented if a force threshold is applied by said pin P to the holding structure M and the second return means R2.

[0038] In use, when the user puts the tip E back into its housing L, it comes to bear on the bottom of the mechanism which allows it to block the tip E and keep it in position. We can talk about the push-pull effect (or "push pull" in English). This is illustrated in detail by [Fig.2].

[0039] Thus, the holding and releasing mechanism is configured to drive said coupling device D towards the holding position or the releasing position, and to lock said coupling device D in the holding position or the releasing position.

[0040] Preferably, the motor vehicle further comprises a spiral cable S attached to the housing L and to the cable end piece E.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle comprising: - a body (V) having a housing (L), comprising an orifice (0) for access to the housing (L); - at least one coupling device (D) arranged in the housing (L), configured to be attached to a cable end piece (E) comprising at least one first coupling relief (Cl), and configured to be inserted into the orifice (0) and into the housing (L); said coupling device (D) comprising at least one second coupling relief (C2) configured to cooperate with said first coupling relief (Cl) to hold the cable end piece (E) fixed to said coupling device (D), characterized in that said coupling device (E) is configured to be moved between a holding position in which the second coupling relief (C2) cooperates with the first coupling relief (Cl) when the cable end piece (E) is inserted into the housing (L) so that the cable end piece (E) is held in the housing (L);and a release position in which the second coupling relief (C2) is moved away from the first coupling relief (Cl) when the cable end piece (E) is inserted into the housing (L), so that the cable end piece (E) is not held in the housing (L), and in that the motor vehicle further comprises a holding and releasing mechanism (RI, G, P) configured to drive said coupling device (D) towards the holding position or the release position, and to block said coupling device (D) in the holding position or the release position.;

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a spiral cable (S) attached to the housing and to the cable end piece (E).

3. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the holding and releasing mechanism (RI, G, P) comprises a first return means (RI) arranged between the housing (L) and said coupling device (D), the first return means (RI) driving said coupling device (D) towards the release position.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the first return means (RI) comprises a cylindrical spring.

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holding and releasing mechanism (RI, G, P) comprises at least one pin (P) secured to said coupling device (D), and at least one groove (G) for the passage of said pin (P), said groove (G) comprising a holding structure (M) equipped with a second return means (R2), the holding structure (M) being configured to hold said pin (P) at a part of said groove (G) in a first position corresponding to said coupling device (D) in the holding position, and to allow said pin (P) to pass to a second position corresponding to said coupling device (D) in the release position if a force threshold is applied by said pin (P) to the holding structure (M) and the second return means (R2).

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said pin (P) has a circular section.

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the second return means (R2) comprises a cylindrical spring.

8. System for attaching a cable end piece (E) of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising said coupling device (D), and the holding and releasing mechanism (RI, G, P).

9. A method of manufacturing a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of placing the housing (L) and the orifice (0) for access to the housing (L); said coupling device (D) in the housing (L); and the holding and releasing mechanism (RI, G, P).

10. Method for charging a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, by means of a charging cable equipped with a tip (E), characterized in that it comprises a step of placing the tip (E) in the housing (L) of said motor vehicle.

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