VEHICLE INCLUDES AN EXTENDABLE CHARGING CABLE WITH PLUG AND SWIVEL MOUNTING BASE

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising an extendable charging cable (1) having at one end an electrical connection plug (14), the vehicle comprising a body structure (4), a retaining base (2) for receiving the electrical connection plug by insertion, the vehicle further comprising an access hatch (3) mounted in a hinged manner relative to the body structure (4), between a closed position (TF) and an open position, characterized in that the retaining base is mounted in a hinged manner relative to the body structure, between a folded position (P2) and a plugging position (P1), the folded position being such that in the configuration where the electrical connection plug is inserted onto the retaining base in the folded position, the access hatch can be brought into the closed position. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE COMPRISING AN EXTENDABLE CHARGING CABLE WITH SOCKET AND PIVOTING RETAINING BASE

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising an extendable charging cable which has a connection socket at its distal end. Outside of the actual use phases for charging, the extendable charging cable and its connection socket are generally stored in a retracted position, behind an access hatch concealing at least the connection socket.

[0002] It is desirable to avoid any source of noise when driving in vehicles and consequently the distal end of the cable and its connection socket must be maintained and must not be subject to local relative movements which are sources of noise and damage or wear.

[0003] The focus here is on electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries. It is necessary to use an electric charging cable intended to connect the vehicle to a power supply base provided in a public or semi-public station or to a domestic residential base. The configuration considered here is that where the electric charging cable is arranged in a housing inside the vehicle with one of its ends permanently coupled to equipment of the on-board charger type and / or to an on-board battery manager associated with the traction battery.

[0004] The electric charging cable is an extensible cable, e.g. it may be a helical-shaped cable having intrinsic elasticity or the cable may be mounted on a reel with elastic return (winder mechanism).

[0005] Electrical connection interfaces for electric vehicle charging operations have been standardized in the IEC62196 standard. In this standard, we find in particular a so-called “type 2” connection with 7 ways which will be discussed in this document.

[0006] It is noted that the connection socket is sometimes called in practice 'gun', or 'connection plug'.

[0007] It is desirable to make as easy and ergonomic as possible, on the one hand the maneuver consisting of grasping the connection socket, extracting it to connect it to the electricity supply equipment and on the other hand the maneuver consisting of putting the extensible cable and its connection socket back in their initial place in a prescribed position.

[0008] Furthermore, the extendable cable and the connection socket occupy a significant volume in the environment behind the access hatch, and it is desirable to minimize the volume required for storing the helical cable or the reel mechanism and its connection socket.

[0009] The inventors sought to combine, on the one hand, good ergonomics of operation for grasping the socket, extracting it and storing it after use, and, on the other hand, minimizing the volume occupied by the extendable cable in the retracted position as well as its connection socket behind the access hatch.

[0010] To this end, the invention proposes a vehicle comprising an extendable charging cable comprising at a first end an electrical connection socket, the vehicle comprising a body structure, a holding base intended to receive the electrical connection socket by plugging (e.g. by form complementarity), the vehicle further comprising a hatch for access to the extendable charging cable, the access hatch being mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure, between a closed position and an open position, characterized in that the holding base is mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure, between a folded position and a plugged-in position, the folded position being such that in the configuration where the electrical connection socket is plugged onto the holding base in the folded position, the access hatch can be brought into the closed position.

[0011] Thanks to the provisions set out above, good ergonomics of use are obtained in the configuration where the electrical connection socket is to be plugged into the holding base (therefore in the plug-in position), with direct visibility and optimal orientation.

[0012] In the plug-in position, the coupling direction D is practical, it is substantially perpendicular to the bodywork. The electrical connection socket protrudes substantially from the bodywork in this configuration. After folding by the articulated movement towards the folding position, the electrical connection socket no longer protrudes from the bodywork and the hatch can be closed. The large dimension of the electrical connection socket generally extends parallel to the bodywork, so as to occupy a space.

[0013] The term "the access hatch being mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure" covers in particular the case where the access hatch is mounted in a pivoting manner relative to the body structure.

[0014] However, it should be noted that the assembly with articulation (of the hatch and / or the holding base) can be a sliding system or a connecting rod system comprising simultaneous rotation and translation.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, the holding base is pivotally mounted relative to the body structure along a first axis. As a result, it is a simple, reliable and robust mechanical assembly.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the pivoting movement around the first axis has an angular travel of between 30° and 60°. As a result, a minimal angular travel makes it possible to obtain the complete retraction of the connection socket inside the volume available behind the access hatch in the closed position.

[0017] According to one embodiment, it is provided that at least the folded position and the plug-in position of the holding base are indexed. The folded position is mechanically stable, which makes it possible to avoid any source of noise. The plug-in position is stable, which makes it possible to maintain this position visible to the user when he is about to store the connection socket in the holding base.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, a friction brake may be provided to maintain any angular position, without voluntary effort, including the plug-in position and the folded position.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection socket takes the form of a pistol, which represents a certain volume, which must be housed in the retracted position behind the access hatch when the latter is in the closed position.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the holding base comprises a housing capable of receiving an external contour of a 7-way type 2 socket within the meaning of standard IEC62196.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the holding base may comprise a housing capable of receiving an external contour different from an external contour of a 7-way type 2 socket within the meaning of IEC62196, for example a contour according to a Japanese or American standard.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the hatch is flush with the body skin in the closed position. Advantageously, the aesthetic rendering is very attractive and aerodynamic disturbances are also avoided.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the hatch and the retaining base are arranged above a wheel arch. This makes optimal use of the space available above the wheel arch.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the extensible cable is in the form of a spiral (helical) or the extensible cable is mounted on a reel. These are two well-controlled solutions. Any other solution for forming an extensible cable can be adopted within the framework of the present invention.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a system is provided for positively holding the socket in the folded position, for example by means of clipping tabs.

[0026] The clip-on tabs may interact with the body of the connection socket or with the end of the cable at the rear of the connection socket.

[0027] 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] is a schematic representation in side view of a vehicle in a recharging situation according to one embodiment, [Fig.2] is a schematic representation, in cross-section to the axis, of an example of an extendable charging cable system in the area of ​​the access hatch, the holding base being in the plug-in position, with the hatch open, [Fig.3] is analogous to [Fig.2], the holding base being in the folded position, and the hatch in the closed position, [Fig.4] is a schematic representation, in section parallel to the axis, of an example of an extendable charging cable system in the area of ​​the access hatch, [Fig.5] is a schematic representation of an example of the footprint of the holding base housing and the corresponding footprint of the type 2 socket as defined in the IEC62196 standard.

[0028] In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity of the description, certain elements are not necessarily represented to scale.

[0029] In [Fig.l] a vehicle 7 is shown in a battery recharging situation. The present invention is intended for any type of private or utility vehicle. The vehicle 7 comprises an electric battery 8 requiring periodic recharging from an electrical energy supply terminal 6.

[0030] The battery 8 is arranged in the floor area of ​​the vehicle. Connection means are provided which will be detailed below. The connection means are illustrated here at the level of the rear wheel arch, but the position of these connection means could be any on the body of the vehicle.

[0031] With regard to the location of the vehicle in space, the X direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction relative to the local ground and the Y direction perpendicular to the two previous ones and corresponds to the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0032] The vehicle comprises a body structure generally referenced 4. As known per se, the body structure is composed of a plurality of parts assembled together by welding or any other means. The body elements are mounted in a fixed or mobile manner relative to the body structure. Certain elements of particular interest here, which will be commented on later, are mounted directly or indirectly on the body structure 4.

[0033] The vehicle comprises an extendable charging cable 1. The extendable charging cable 1 comprises at a first end (here the distal end) an electrical connection socket 14. At the other end, the extendable charging cable is permanently coupled to the on-board charger of the vehicle battery, via a internal electrical connector.

[0034] In a non-limiting example illustrated here, the electrical connection socket 14 takes the form of a gun. According to a particular example, the connection socket is a 7-way type 2 socket within the meaning of the IEC62196 standard. It is adapted to be plugged into a charging base 16 of a public or semi-public charging station 6. The coupling of the electrical connection socket 14 in the charging base 16 of a charging station involves a mechanical interface and an electrical interface (Phase and Neutral or three-phase depending on the case).

[0035] The vehicle further comprises an access hatch 3 as known per se, to protect access to the electrical connection means. It is noted that in the case of a hybrid vehicle, the access hatch 3 can also protect the filler opening of a fuel tank.

[0036] In addition, the vehicle comprises a holding base 2 for receiving the electrical connection socket 14, this coupling involving only a mechanical interface.

[0037] According to the illustrated embodiment, the holding base 2 is pivotally mounted relative to the body structure. It should however be noted that different kinematics may be used, for example a curved slide or connecting rod system with a combination of translation and rotation, or 3D kinematics.

[0038] According to the pivoting assembly of axis A, bearings 5 ​​are provided in the stationary part connected to the body structure and journals 22 on the pivoting part, the journals being aligned on the axis A and received in the bearings 5.

[0039] The holding base 2 is mounted to move between a folded position P2 and a plug-in position PL

[0040] The pivoting movement has an angular travel 01 of between 30° and 60°. In the plug-in position PI, the coupling direction D is substantially perpendicular to the skin of the bodywork. With reference to [Fig.3], in the folded position, the coupling direction D is spaced from the reference direction denoted D0 of the angular travel 01.

[0041] The extreme positions of the holding base, i.e. the folded position and the plug-in position, are indexed.

[0042] According to an alternative embodiment, friction braking can be provided which makes it possible to keep all angular positions stable. Only an applied force tending to rotate the holding base leads to a change in angular position.

[0043] The holding base 2 is intended to receive the electrical connection socket by plugging in. The holding base comprises a housing 28 capable of receiving an external contour of a 7-way type 2 socket 15.

[0044] It is noted that the holding base 2 is purely mechanical, it does not contain any electric spit.

[0045] It is noted that, as illustrated in [Fig. 5], dummy markings representing the pins (shown in the form of dotted circles in [Fig. 5]) may be provided in the bottom of the housing. This improves understanding from the user's point of view so that the user finds it intuitive to insert the connection socket 14 at this location in the housing 28 after use.

[0046] As illustrated in [Fig.4], a well 40 may be provided inside the volume provided for the connection socket. This well 40 provides space for the rotation of the holding base.

[0047] In the closed position, the access hatch 3 is flush with the body skin 34 as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0048] The access hatch 3 is pivotally mounted relative to the body structure 4, between a closed position TF and an open position TO. The hatch pivots about a second axis of rotation W. The angular travel of the hatch between the open position TO and the closed position TF can typically be between 75° and 100°.

[0049] In the example illustrated, the second axis of rotation W is parallel to the first axis A but of course it could be otherwise.

[0050] The access hatch 3 could be mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure 4.

[0051] The charging cable 1 is telescopic, either by means of a winding mechanism or by means of an intrinsic cylindrical helical shape. In both cases, it can be extended substantially (a few meters) to reach a charging base 16 of the network terminal.

[0052] Optionally, a system for positively holding the electrical connection socket 14 is provided. For example, a clip or anti-disconnection clipping tabs make it possible to positively hold the connection socket in the folded position.

[0053] The clipping tabs can interact either with the body of the connection socket or with the end of the cable at the rear of the connection socket, as illustrated in dotted lines in [Fig.3] by reference 9. They can be two curved and elastic tabs 95, arranged symmetrically and embracing the body of the connection socket in the folded position.

[0054] According to a particular embodiment, the hatch axis W may be substantially vertical and the holding base axis A substantially vertical. This configuration is found for example if the access hatch 3 is located on the side of the vehicle, above the wheel arch, or nearby, for example at the level of the front wing, or at the level of the rear wing.

[0055] The holding base is preferably made of plastic material as are the bearing 5 and the axle journals 22.

[0056] Optionally, as visible in [Fig. 5], two elastic elements 24 may be provided in the receiving housing 28 which make it possible to maintain the connection socket 14 inside the housing after insertion.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising an extendable charging cable (1) comprising at a first end an electrical connection socket (14), the vehicle comprising a body structure (4), a holding base (2) intended to receive the electrical connection socket by plugging, the vehicle further comprising an access hatch (3) to the extendable charging cable, the access hatch being mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure (4), between a closed position (TF) and an open position (TO), characterized in that the holding base is mounted in an articulated manner relative to the body structure, between a folded position (P2) and a plugging position (PI), the folded position being such that in the configuration where the electrical connection socket is plugged onto the holding base in the folded position, the access hatch can be brought into the closed position.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding base is pivotally mounted relative to the body structure along a first axis (A).

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivoting movement around the first axis (A) has an angular travel (01) of between 30° and 60°.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that at least the folding position (P2) and the plug-in position (PI) of the holding base are indexed.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrical connection socket takes the form of a pistol.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holding base comprises a housing (28) capable of receiving an external socket contour (15) of type 2 to 7 ways within the meaning of standard IEC62196.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hatch is flush with the body skin (34) in the closed position.

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hatch and the retaining base are arranged above a wheel arch.

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in whether the coiled cable is spiral shaped or the coiled cable is mounted on a reel.

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a system is provided for positively maintaining the socket in the folded position, for example by means of clipping tabs.

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