Powertrain test bench charging cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a test charging cable (1) for simulating connections / disconnections at a charging station and a powertrain test bench, the cable comprising a charging station interface (2) and a test bench interface (3), electrical power (4) and ground (5) cables, as well as a CP line (6) and PP lines (72, 73), the electrical cables and the CP line connecting the charging station interface and the test bench interface, the cable further comprising a control interface (10) positioned on the PP lines (72, 73) and the CP line (6) arranged so as to allow conditional passage of information on said PP and CP lines. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Test charging cable for powertrain test bench Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of cables for recharging traction batteries of motor vehicles comprising a powertrain comprising an electric machine. In particular, the invention relates to a test recharging cable for test benches of the powertrains of such motor vehicles. State of the prior art

[0002] Today, in order to test and develop powertrains comprising an electric machine intended for hybrid or electric motor vehicles at the level of operation of recharging a traction battery used within such powertrains, connections / disconnections of a recharging cable are carried out manually in the presence of a so-called prototype motor vehicle comprising the traction battery of the powertrain to be tested.

[0003] Such manual connections / disconnections require the presence of a technician handling a conventional charging cable to carry out the test operation. The time spent on this test operation therefore blocks a human resource, making a validation plan for the charging function, also called a “Plugin” function, difficult to implement and expensive. Statement of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing in particular a solution making it possible to dispense with the presence of a technician to validate the “Plugin” function and thus reduce the costs in financial and human resources.

[0005] To do this, according to a first aspect of the invention, a test charging cable is proposed for simulating connections / disconnections at a charging station and a powertrain test bench, the cable comprising a charging station interface and a test bench interface, electrical power and ground cables, as well as a CP line and PP lines, the electrical cables and the CP line connecting the charging station interface and the test bench interface, the cable further comprising a control interface positioned on the PP lines and the CP line, arranged so as to allow conditional passage of information on said PP and CP lines.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the control interface comprises lines for controlling information present or not on the PP and CP lines.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the cable further comprises a return PP line connected to the electrical earth cable.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the control interface comprises a line for controlling information present or not on the return PP line.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the control interface comprises a relay box comprising a first relay positioned on one of the PP lines, a second relay positioned on the CP line and a third relay positioned on the other of the PP lines.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the relays are controlled relays.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of piloting and si mulation of a test charging cable having at least one of the preceding technical characteristics, the method comprising steps of carrying out at least one of the following sequences: • opening of the second relay, then opening of the first relay, then opening of the third relay; • closing of the first relay, then closing of the second relay, after a predetermined time if the third relay is closed, third relay which is then put in the open position; • closing of the third relay, then closing of the second relay, after a predetermined time if the first relay is closed, first relay which is then put in the open position; • closing of the third relay, then closing of the first relay, then closing of the second relay after a predetermined time.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the predetermined time is of the order of 200 ms.

[0013] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a group test bench is provided. powertrain comprising connection interfaces with test bench interfaces and control of a test charging cable at least one of the preceding technical characteristics.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the bench comprises a computer arranged so as to implement a method for controlling and simulating at least one of the preceding technical characteristics. brief description of the figures

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.l]: is a schematic diagram of a test charging cable according to the invention. DETAILED description of an embodiment

[0016] [Fig.l] illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a test charging cable 1 according to the invention.

[0017] The test charging cable 1 according to the invention is a modification of a common charging cable known per se. It comprises, at a first end, a charging terminal interface 2 intended to be connected to a charging terminal. At a second end, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a test bench interface 3 intended to be connected to a powertrain test bench comprising a traction battery for an electric machine. Directly connecting the test bench 3 and charging terminal 2 interfaces, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises power electrical cables 4, conventionally for one or three phases and a neutral, as well as an earth electrical cable 5.

[0018] The test charging cable 1 according to the invention further comprises a third end at which a control interface 10 is positioned, which we will detail below. The test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a CP line 6 (CP for “Control Pilot” according to English terminology) which is the line in which the charging control information circulates. The CP line 6, which normally extends between the charging terminal 2 and test bench 3 interfaces, is diverted to the control interface 10 and cut there to form two connection points 61 and 62.

[0019] In addition, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a first PP line 72 (PP for “Proximity Pilot” according to the English terminology) associated with the charging terminal interface 2 and a second PP line 73 associated with the test bench interface 3. Each of the PP lines 72 and 73 respectively comprises a resistor R2 and R3, of predetermined impedance. These two PP lines 72 and 73 extend, here, between their associated charging terminal 2 and test bench 3 interfaces up to the pilot interface 10 of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention. At the control interface 10, the first PP line 72 ends with a contact point 74 and the second PP line 73 ends with a contact point 75. The test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a return PP line 7 connected to the earth cable 5 at one end and having two contact points 71a and 71b at the control interface 10.As a reminder, the PP lines allow the charging station, on the one hand, and the test bench, on the other hand, to check the connection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention via the dedicated interface 2, 3.

[0020] Then, at the level of the control interface 10, the test recharge cable 1 according to the invention comprises different control lines 11 to 15 making it possible to detect the presence or absence of signals at the level of the different lines PP 72, 73, return 7 and CP 6, when using the test charging cable 1 according to the invention. For example, the control line 11 is connected to the PP line 72, the control line 12 is connected to the PP line 73, the control line 13 is connected to the return PP line 7, the control line 14 is connected to the CP line 6. As for the control line 15, it has two paths, each connected respectively to the return PP line 7 and the CP line 6.

[0021] The contact points 61, 62, 71a, 71b, 74, 75 are arranged so as to be connected to a relay box 50 provided, here, on the powertrain test bench. The relay box 50 comprises three controlled relays 51, 52, 53.

[0022] The relay 51 makes it possible to conditionally connect the contact point 74 of the PP line 72 to the contact point 71a of the return PP line 7. Thus, in use, the relay 51 makes it possible to simulate the connection / disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention on the charging terminal side without having to manipulate the charging terminal interface 2 after physically connecting it to the charging terminal.

[0023] The relay 52 makes it possible to conditionally connect the contact points 61 and 62 of the CP line 6 to each other. Thus, in use, the relay 52 allows the transmission or not of information between the powertrain test bench and the charging station without having to manipulate the test bench interface 3 after physically connecting it to the powertrain test bench, nor the charging station interface 2 after physically connecting it to the charging station.

[0024] The relay 53 makes it possible to conditionally connect the contact point 75 of the PP line 73 to the contact point 71b of the return PP line 7. Thus, in use, the relay 53 makes it possible to simulate the connection / disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention on the powertrain test bench side without having to manipulate the test bench interface 3 after physically connecting it to the powertrain test bench.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the relay box 50 is integrated into the control interface 10 of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention. In this case the contact points 61, 62, 71a, 71b, 74, 75 are no longer necessary, the associated ends of the lines PP 72, 73, return 7 and CP6 being directly connected to the respective inputs of the respective relays 51, 52, 53. A control interface for each of these relays is then provided with the powertrain test bench.

[0026] In order to simulate connections / disconnections of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention to validate the “Pulgin” function of a powertrain comprising a traction battery associated with an electric machine, a control and simulation method is implemented and implemented at the powertrain test bench. The control and simulation method comprises steps compatible with expectations on the charging station side and on the traction chain side of the tested powertrain. Thus, four positions of the relays 51, 52, 53 are provided. In each of the positions, management of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention is preferably in accordance with an operating mechanism of a conventional current charging cable. 1. A position simulating a complete disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention on the charging station side and on the powertrain test bench side. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench and the charging station consider the cable disconnected. For this, the control and simulation method controls, in order, the opening of relay 52, then the opening of relay 51, then the opening of relay 53. 2. A position simulating a connection on the charging station side and a disconnection on the powertrain test bench side. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench considers the cable disconnected and the charging station considers it connected. For this, the control and simulation method controls, in order, the closing of relay 51, then the closing of relay 52, after a predetermined waiting time (for example, 200 ms) if relay 53 is closed, which is then open. 3. A position, the opposite of the previous one, simulating a disconnection on the charging station side and a connection on the powertrain test bench side. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench considers the cable connected and the charging station considers it disconnected. For this, the control and simulation method controls, in order, the closing of relay 53, then the closing of relay 52, after a predetermined waiting time (for example, 200 ms) if relay 51 is closed, which is then open. 4. A position simulating a complete connection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention on the charging station side and on the powertrain test bench side. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench and the charging station consider the cable connected. For this, the control and simulation method controls, in order, the closing of relay 53, then the closing of relay 51, then the closing of relay 53 after a predetermined waiting time (for example, 200 ms).

[0027] The use of such a test charging cable 1 according to the invention makes it possible to simulate on a powertrain test bench the connections and disconnections of the charging cable used by the “Plugin” function, to carry out on such a test bench, the calibration and validation of the “Plugin” function without human intervention and automatically with a cost, an installation time and a commissioning time reduced implementation regardless of the hybrid or electric powertrain tested, to transfer all or part of the validations usually carried out on a prototype hybrid or electric motor vehicle to the test means to optimize costs, to obtain a validation in accordance with the tests carried out on hybrid or electric motor vehicles, and to avoid having to manage the configuration of the parameters of the invention depending on the type of motor vehicle present for a test. It appears that the use of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention as just described makes it possible to carry out in an automated manner at least part of the validation plan of the “Plugln” function to verify the robustness of the calibrations of the powertrain of the powertrain comprising an electric machine associated with a traction battery.

[0028] Furthermore, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the number of hybrid or electric motor vehicles previously required to carry out these validations of the “Plugin” function by transferring the associated activities to the powertrain test bench.

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

[0030] It is emphasized that all features, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if they have been specifically described only in relation to other determined 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 make such combinations impossible or devoid of sense.

Claims

Claims

1. Test charging cable (1) for simulating connections / disconnections at a charging station and a powertrain test bench, the cable comprising a charging station interface (2) and a test bench interface (3), electrical power (4) and ground (5) cables, as well as a charging control information circulation line (6) and first (72) and second (73) lines for verifying a connection of the charging cable, the electrical cables and the charging control information circulation line connecting the charging station interface and the test bench interface, characterized in that the cable further comprises a control interface (10) positioned on the charging cable connection verification lines (72,73) and the charging control information circulation line (6) arranged so as to allow conditional passage of information on said lines for verifying a connection of the charging cable and for circulating charging control information.

2. Cable according to claim 1, characterized in that the control interface comprises control lines (11, 12, 14, 15) for information present or not on the lines for verifying a connection of the charging cable and for circulating charging control information.

3. Cable according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cable further comprises a line for verifying a connection of the return charging cable (7) connected to the electrical earth cable.

4. Cable according to claim 3, characterized in that the control interface comprises a control line (13, 15) for information present or not on the verification line of a connection of the return charging cable.

5. Cable according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control interface comprises a relay box (50) comprising a first relay (51) positioned on the first (72) of the lines for verifying a connection of the charging cable (72,73), a second relay (52) positioned on the line for circulating charging control information (6) and a third relay (53) positioned on the second (73) of the lines for verifying a connection of the charging cable (72,73).

6. Cable according to claim 5, characterized in that the relays (51,52,53) are controlled relays.

7. Method for controlling and simulating a test charging cable (1) according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the method comprises steps of carrying out one of the following sequences: • opening of the second relay (52), then opening of the first relay (51), then opening of the third relay (53); • closing of the first relay (51), then closing of the second relay (52), after a predetermined time if the third relay (53) is closed, third relay which is then put in the open position; • closing of the third relay (53), then closing of the second relay (52), after a predetermined time if the first relay (51) is closed, first relay which is then put in the open position; • closing of the third relay (53), then closing of the first relay (51), then closing of the second relay (52) after a predetermined time.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the predetermined time is of the order of 200 ms.

9. Powertrain test bench, characterized in that the bench comprises connection interfaces with test bench interfaces (2) and control interfaces (10) of a test charging cable (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

10. Test bench according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a computer arranged so as to implement a control and simulation method according to one of claims 7 and 8.

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