Powertrain test bench charging cable

Abstract

The invention relates to a test charging cable (1) intended for simulating connection / disconnection operations at a charging station and a powertrain test bench. The cable comprises a charging station interface (2) and a test bench interface (3), power (4) and ground (5) electrical cables, as well as a CP line (6) and PP lines (72, 73). The electrical cables and the CP line connect the charging station interface and the test bench interface. The cable further comprises a control interface (10) positioned on the PP lines (72, 73) and the CP line (6), arranged to allow conditional transmission 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 charging cables for traction batteries of motor vehicles comprising a powertrain including an electric machine. In particular, the invention relates to a test charging cable for test benches of powertrains of such motor vehicles. 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 the operation of the charging of a traction battery used within such powertrains, connections / disconnections of a charging 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 connection / disconnection requires the presence of a technician handling a standard charging cable to perform the test. The time spent on this test therefore ties up human resources, making a validation plan for the charging function, also called the "Plugin" function, difficult and costly to implement. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing in particular a solution making it possible to do without the presence of a technician to validate the "Plugin" function and thus reduce the costs in financial and human resources.

[0005] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a test charging cable is proposed for simulating connections / disconnections at the level of a charging station and a powertrain test bench, the cable comprising a charging station interface and a test bench interface, power and ground electrical 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 transmission of information on said PP and CP lines.

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

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

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

[0009] According to one embodiment, the control interface comprises a relay box having 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, a piloting method is provided and simulation of a test charging cable exhibiting at least one of the preceding technical characteristics, the method comprising steps for 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, the 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, the 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 on the order of 200 ms.

[0013] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a test bench is provided for 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 includes a computer arranged to implement a control and simulation method for at least one of the preceding technical characteristics. brief description of the figures

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.1]: is a schematic diagram of a test charging cable according to the invention. DETAILED description of a method of implementation

[0016] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic 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 known conventional charging cable. It comprises, at one end, a charging station interface 2 for connection to a charging station. At its second end, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a test bench interface 3 for connection to a powertrain test bench comprising a traction battery for an electric machine. Directly connecting the test bench interface 3 and the charging station interface 2, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises power cables 4, conventionally for one or three phases and a neutral, as well as an earth 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 will be described in detail below. The test charging cable 1 according to the invention includes a CP line 6 (CP for "Control Pilot" in Anglo-Saxon terminology), which is the line through which the charging control information travels. The CP line 6, which normally extends between the charging station interface 2 and the test bench interface 3, is rerouted to the control interface 10 and cut there to form two branch points 61 and 62.

[0019] Furthermore, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises a first PP line 72 (PP for "Proximity Pilot" according to Anglo-Saxon terminology) associated with the charging station interface 2 and a second PP line 73 associated with the test bench interface 3. Each of the PP lines 72 and 73 respectively includes a resistor R2 and R3, with predetermined impedance. These two PP lines 72 and 73 extend, here, from their associated charging station interface 2 and test bench interface 3 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 terminates with a contact point 74 and the second PP line 73 terminates with a contact point 75. The test charging cable 1 according to the invention has a return line PP 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 verify the connection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention via the dedicated interface 2, 3.

[0020] Next, at the control interface 10, the test charging cable 1 according to the invention comprises various control lines 11 to 15 allowing for the detection of The presence or absence of signals at the various PP lines 72, 73, return 7, and CP 6, during use of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention. For example, control line 11 is connected to PP line 72, control line 12 is connected to PP line 73, control line 13 is connected to PP return line 7, and control line 14 is connected to CP line 6. As for control line 15, it has two channels, each connected respectively to PP return line 7 and CP line 6.

[0021] The contact points 61, 62, 71a, 71b, 74, 75 are arranged 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 allows the contact point 74 of the PP line 72 to be conditionally connected to the contact point 71a of the return PP line 7. Thus in use, the relay 51 allows the connection / disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention to be simulated on the charging station side without having to manipulate the charging station interface 2 after the physical connection of the latter to the charging station.

[0023] Relay 52 allows the contact points 61 and 62 of the CP 6 line to be conditionally connected to each other. Thus, in operation, 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 its physical connection to the powertrain test bench, nor the charging station interface 2 after its physical connection to the charging station.

[0024] The relay 53 allows the contact point 75 of the PP line 73 to be conditionally connected to the contact point 71b of the return PP line 7. Thus in use, the relay 53 allows the connection / disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention to be simulated on the powertrain test bench side without having to manipulate the test bench interface 3 after its physical connection 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, as the associated ends of the PP lines 72, 73, return 7, and CP6 are directly connected to the respective inputs of the 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 connecting / disconnecting the test charging cable 1. According to the invention, to validate the "Pushing" function of a powertrain comprising a traction battery associated with an electric machine, a control and simulation method is implemented and carried out at the powertrain test bench. The control and simulation method includes The steps are compatible with the requirements of both the charging station and the powertrain of the tested drive unit. Thus, four positions for relays 51, 52, and 53 are provided. In each position, the management of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention is preferably similar to the operating mechanism of a conventional charging cable. 1. A position simulating a complete disconnection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention, both at the charging station and at the powertrain test bench. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench and the charging station consider the cable to be disconnected. To achieve this, the control and simulation method commands, in order, the opening of relay 52, then the opening of relay 51, and then the opening of relay 53. 2. A position simulating a connection at the charging station and a disconnection at the powertrain test bench. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench considers the cable disconnected, while the charging station considers it connected. To achieve this, the control and simulation process commands, 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, it is then opened. 3. A position, the inverse of the previous one, simulating a disconnection at the charging station and a connection at the powertrain test bench. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench considers the cable connected, while the charging station considers it disconnected. To achieve this, the control and simulation process commands, 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 opened. 4. A position simulating a complete connection of the test charging cable 1 according to the invention on both the charging station side and the powertrain test bench side. In this position, the traction powertrain test bench and the charging station consider the cable to be connected. To achieve this, the control and simulation method commands, in order, the closing of relay 53, then the closing of relay 51, and 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 "Plug" function, to perform on such a test bench, the calibration and validation of the "Plugln" function without human intervention and automatically with reduced cost, installation time and implementation time regardless of the hybrid or electric powertrain being tested, to transfer all or part of the validations usually carried out on a prototype hybrid or electric motor vehicle to the test facilities to optimize costs, to obtain a validation conforming to the tests carried out on hybrid or electric motor vehicles, and to avoid having to manage the configuration of the parameters of the invention according to 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 described above, allows for the automated execution of at least part of the validation plan for the "Plugin" function to verify the robustness of the powertrain calibrations of the drivetrain 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 vehicles previously required to perform these validations of the "Plugin" function by transferring the associated activities to the powertrain test bench.

[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 the present description, drawings and attached claims, even if in practice they have only been described 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 make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Demands

1. Test charging cable (1) for simulating connection / disconnection at a charging station and a powertrain test bench, the cable comprising a charging station interface (2) and a test bench interface (3), power (4) and ground (5) electrical cables, as well as a charging control information transmission line (6) and the first (72) and second (73) charging cable connection verification lines, the electrical cables and the charging control information transmission 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 transmission line (6) arranged so as to allow conditional transmission of information on said charging cable connection verification lines and charging control information transmission lines, and in that the control interface comprises a relay box (50) having a first relay (51) positioned on the first (72) of the charging cable connection verification lines (72,73), a second relay (52) positioned on the charging control information transmission line (6) and a third relay (53) positioned on the second (73) of the charging cable connection verification lines (72,73).

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

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

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

5. Cable according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relays (51,52,53) are controlled relays.

6. A method for controlling and simulating a test charging cable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises steps for 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, the third relay then being 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, the first relay then being 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.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the predetermined time is on the order of 200 ms.

8. Powertrain test bench, characterized in that the bench includes connection interfaces with test bench interfaces (2) and control interfaces (10) of a test charging cable (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. Test bench according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a computer arranged to implement a control and simulation method according to one of claims 6 and 7.

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