IMPROVEMENT OF AN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CABLE END CAP AND A CHARGING CAP FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved assembly comprising a charging cable connector (1) for an electric motor vehicle and a compartment (2) integrated into the vehicle and intended to house said connector, characterized in that the side wall (1a) of said connector is provided with an electrical contact (11) intended to connect to a complementary electrical contact (21) located on the bottom (2a) of the compartment, ensuring the detection of its presence in the vehicle by being arranged parallel to the bottom of said compartment. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: IMPROVEMENT TO AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CABLE END AND A CHARGING HATCH FOR ELECTRICALLY MOTORIZED VEHICLES

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of recharging the batteries of motor vehicles with electric or hybrid engines and is more particularly concerned with an improvement to the connection end of the recharging cable and the hatch containing this end.

[0002] Some electric vehicles are equipped with batteries which can be recharged, simply and practically, using different methods using a “type 2” cable end in the form of a gun, the end of which has male pins and a handle.

[0003] This end piece is generally fitted as standard and embedded in the vehicle and is accessible from a hatch provided on the vehicle body and equipped with devices ensuring its locking in the closed position. Such an end piece corresponds to the European standard applicable to all electric vehicles.

[0004] A first method of charging with a “type 2” tip consists of electrically connecting it to an adapter for connection to a conventional earthed domestic electrical outlet.

[0005] Another possible method of recharging with a “type 2” tip is to plug it directly into an outdoor public terminal.

[0006] The "type 2" tip supports an alternating current with a maximum intensity of 70 A in single phase and 63 A in three phase. Generally, such a tip comprises three phases, an earth connection, a neutral pole and two control pins (respectively called "Proximity Pilot" and "Control Pilot") which makes it possible to manage several load levels.

[0007] The pin (PP) ensures the detection of the electrical connection of the charging cable while the pin (CP) manages the intensity of the current. More precisely, the pin (PP) indicates that the vehicle is connected to a charging station (or to an electrical network) and, in certain cases, it can automatically block its start. Indeed, when electrically recharging a vehicle, it may happen that its user, through distraction or negligence, starts and begins to drive while the cable is still connected, which causes it to break.

[0008] Therefore, it is important, and even essential for obvious safety reasons, that the electric vehicle, and therefore its user, can detect the presence of a connection from the vehicle to a charger or an external terminal. For this purpose, it is intended that the pin (PP) of the charging tip creates an electrical circuit via a resistance on the ground pin. Thus, when the charging tip is connected, a voltage is applied to the PP pin and a current flow (or a voltage drop) is easily detected via this electrical circuit.

[0009] In the case of a charging cable and tip on board and attached to the vehicle, it is all the more necessary to be able to have this connection detection mode to avoid sudden tearing of the cable in the event of the vehicle leaving unexpectedly.

[0010] When a recharge is complete, the user of the vehicle is supposed to store the tip in the vehicle. To this end, the operating procedure consists of inserting the tip perpendicularly into the hatch and exerting pressure to connect its pin (PP) to a male contact carried by the bottom or the base of the hatch. The electrical connection of the pin (PP) of the tip with the male contact of the hatch thus makes it possible to confirm the disconnection of the cable outside the vehicle.

[0011] However, under these conditions, the dimensions of the hatch, and in particular its depth, are necessarily important because they must allow the end piece to be contained over its entire length. However, this configuration is problematic for achieving compact and flush integration of the hatch into the vehicle bodywork.

[0012] Patent US10773603B2 describes a system for detecting the connection of a charging cable to a vehicle by reading and recognizing an RFID or NFC chip. The control unit detects the possible connection of the electric cable to the vehicle and prevents it from starting if it is connected.

[0013] Patent FR2984615B1 describes a system ensuring the recognition of the connection of a charging cable to a vehicle and the blocking of its starting when the cable is connected to the vehicle.

[0014] Patent JP6279867B2 describes a method for detecting the connection of a charging cable to a vehicle via a connector located on the end of the cable. When the connector is in the pushed position, it detects the presence of the end in the vehicle and allows the vehicle to start. In the opposite case, where the connector is free, the method considers that the end is absent from the vehicle and then blocks its start.

[0015] However, although these documents propose means of detecting the connection of the charging cable, they do not provide a solution for optimizing the method of storing the end of the cable in the vehicle and consequently reducing the dimensions of the hatch which is intended to house it.

[0016] In this context, the invention aims to solve the technical problems posed by the current cooperation between the hatch and the refill nozzle in order to ensure, at the same time, the detection of this tip and its compact storage in the vehicle.

[0017] This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of an improved assembly comprising a charging cable end piece for an electrically powered motor vehicle and a hatch integrated into the vehicle and intended to house said end piece, characterized in that the side wall of said end piece is provided with an electrical contact intended to connect to a complementary electrical contact carried by the bottom of the hatch ensuring the detection of its presence in the vehicle by being arranged parallel to the bottom of said hatch.

[0018] According to an advantageous characteristic of the whole of the invention, the electrical contact of the end piece is a female socket intended to be connected to a male socket forming the electrical contact of the hatch, the cooperation between the two sockets ensuring both the detection of the presence of the end piece and its immobilization in said hatch.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the entire invention, the tip is a gun whose longitudinal end carries seven female pins including a pin for detecting the connection of the tip to an external charging network.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment of the assembly of the invention, the hatch is provided with end piece support elements. Preferably, these end piece support elements are in the form of lower cradles and upper legs.

[0021] According to another advantageous characteristic of the assembly of the invention, the dimensions of the hatch are slightly greater than the dimensions of the end piece so that said end piece is capable of being housed entirely in said hatch.

[0022] According to another specific variant embodiment of the whole of the invention, the profile of the bottom of the hatch is complementary to the shape of at least the side wall of the end piece so as to ensure both its wedging and the optimization of the interior volume of said hatch.

[0023] Another subject of the invention is an electrically powered motor vehicle equipped with an on-board charging cable end piece and a hatch provided in the bodywork forming an assembly as defined above.

[0024] In principle, the invention proposes an improved technical solution making it possible to house a “type 2” charging tip in a compact manner in a charging hatch of reduced and optimal dimensions, while giving the user of the vehicle confirmation of the presence of this tip in the vehicle thanks to the connection between the secondary PP contact of the tip and the contact of the hatch.

[0025] Therefore, thanks to the improved assembly according to the invention, the user of the vehicle is assured of the disconnection of the cable from the external recharging means (terminal or charger) and can then carry out a safe start of the vehicle.

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description which follows, with reference to the attached figures, for which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a “type 2” charging tip intended to be integrated into the improved assembly according to the invention.

[0028] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of the assembly of the invention with the end piece of [Fig.l] and the improved trapdoor according to the invention in which the end piece is housed.

[0029] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0030] Naturally, the embodiment of the entire invention illustrated schematically by the figures presented above and described below, is given only as non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided within the scope of the invention that different modes can be proposed and combined with each other to propose others.

[0031] The invention relates to the general field of recharging vehicles with electric or hybrid motors and is more particularly concerned with a joint improvement of the “type 2” charging tip and the hatch integrated into the bodywork of the vehicle and intended to house this tip.

[0032] Traditionally and as illustrated by [Fig.l], such a tip is in the form of a gun 1 whose projecting end carries seven pins, respectively, three pins for the phases, one pin for earthing, one pin constituting the neutral pole and two control pins (called respectively, "Proximity Pilot" or PP and "Control Pilot" or CP). The two control pins allow, for one (PP), to detect the connection of the charging cable and, for the other (CP), to manage several charging levels by acting on the intensity of the current.

[0033] However, when the recharge is finished, the tip 1 is disconnected and replaced in the hatch where the detection pin (PP) is currently connected to a specific male socket carried by the bottom of the hatch.

[0034] However, this method of storing the tip in the vehicle is not ergonomic and requires a large hatch to accommodate the tip perpendicularly and along its entire length.

[0035] Furthermore, the current method of detecting the presence of the tip in the vehicle consists of inserting it perpendicularly into the cavity delimiting the hatch and exerting pressure to connect the pin (PP) to the male socket of the hatch. However, this configuration is problematic from the perspective of achieving a compact and possibly flush integration of the hatch in the bodywork of the vehicle.

[0036] In this context, the invention aims to solve the technical problems posed by the current cooperation between the hatch and the recharging nozzle with a view to ensuring, at the same time, the detection of this nozzle and its compact storage in the vehicle.

[0037] For this purpose and as illustrated by [Fig.2], the side wall 1a of the end piece 1 is provided with an electrical contact 11 intended to connect to a complementary electrical contact 21 carried by the bottom 2a of the hatch 2 so as to detect its presence in the vehicle when it is arranged parallel to the bottom of the hatch. This complementary contact 21 ensures a detection mode identical or similar to that of the pin (PP). For this purpose, the contact 21 is connected to the electronic circuit controlling the “Proximity Pilot” of the end piece 1.

[0038] Preferably, the electrical contact 11 of the end piece 1 is in the form of a female socket intended to connect to the contact 21, which is in the form of a male socket.

[0039] The cooperation between the socket 11 of the end piece 1 and the socket 21 of the hatch 2 thus ensures both an electronic function and a mechanical function because the end piece is immobilized and retained in the hatch by the male / female interlocking of the two sockets.

[0040] Where appropriate, the male plug 21 projects into a cavity 20 formed in the bottom 2a of the hatch 2. The hatch 2 is advantageously provided with support elements for the end piece 1. These support elements are, for example, in the form of lower cradles 22 and upper tabs 23 which complete the retention of the end piece 1 in the hatch 2, as in the variant embodiment illustrated by [Fig.2].

[0041] The invention also provides that the dimensions of the hatch 2 are slightly greater than the dimensions of the end piece 1 so that this end piece is capable of being housed entirely in the vehicle, extending parallel to the bottom of the hatch 2.

[0042] According to a variant of the invention not shown, the profile of the wall forming the bottom 2a of the hatch 2 is possibly adapted and complementary to the shape of at least the side wall 1a of the end piece 1 which ensures both its wedging and the optimization of the interior volume of the hatch 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Improved assembly comprising a charging cable end piece (1) for an electrically powered motor vehicle and a hatch (2) integrated into the vehicle and intended to house said end piece, characterized in that the side wall (la) of said end piece is provided with an electrical contact (11) intended to connect to a complementary electrical contact (21) carried by the bottom (2a) of the hatch ensuring the detection of its presence in the vehicle by being arranged parallel to the bottom of said hatch.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical contact (11) of said end piece is a female socket intended to be connected to a male socket forming the electrical contact (21) of the hatch (2), the cooperation between the two sockets ensuring both the detection of the presence of the end piece and its immobilization in said hatch.

3. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end piece (1) is a gun whose longitudinal end carries seven female pins including a pin (PP) for detecting the connection of the end piece (1) to an external charging network.

4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hatch (2) is provided with elements for supporting the end piece.

5. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said support elements of the end piece (1) are in the form of lower cradles (22) and upper legs (23).

6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dimensions of said hatch (2) are slightly greater than the dimensions of the end piece (1) so that said end piece is capable of being housed entirely in said hatch.

7. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile of the bottom (2a) of the hatch (2) is complementary to the shape of at least the side wall (la) of the end piece (1) so as to ensure both its wedging and the optimization of the interior volume of said hatch (2).

8. Electrically powered motor vehicle equipped with an on-board charging cable end piece (1) and a hatch (2) provided in the bodywork forming an assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Images