ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A CHARGING CABLE REWINDING SYSTEM INCLUDING A KEY

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a charging cable (2) and a first housing (3), said charging cable (2) being configured to be stored in said first housing (3), said vehicle comprising a winding system configured to wind said charging cable (2) in said first housing (3), said winding system having a winding axis (A), said first housing (3) having an opening (4) at the level of said winding axis (A), characterized in that said winding axis (A) has a first end positioned at the level of said opening (4), said first end having an indentation, the winding system comprising a key (1), said key (1) having a second end, said second end having a shape corresponding to said indentation,said second end being configured to fit into said imprint through said opening (4). Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A SYSTEM WINDING A CHARGING CABLE INCLUDING A KEY

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electric or hybrid motor vehicles, and more particularly to means of storing the electric charging cables of these vehicles.

[0002] Prior art has shown that a motor vehicle includes an automatic winding system, motorized or not. The vehicle includes a battery. The winding system includes an electrical charging cable. The charging cable has a first end that is electrically connected to the battery. Furthermore, the charging cable has a second end that is capable of being electrically connected to a charging station to recharge the battery. When recharging is complete, the second end is detached from the charging station, and the charging cable must be stored in the vehicle to prevent damage during movement. The winding system automatically retracts the charging cable for this purpose.For example, the retraction system is mechanical, using a spring to pull the charging cable into the vehicle. In another example, the retraction system is motorized. However, there are drawbacks. The retraction system is susceptible to malfunction. For example, the spring may break, or the motorized retraction system may break down. In this case, the charging cable remains stuck outside the vehicle. The driver is then forced to move the vehicle, and the charging cable is likely to be damaged. For example, if the charging cable is long enough, it will be subject to friction from the road. Furthermore, if the damaged charging cable is reused, the risk of a short circuit increases.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks, and in particular to allow the charging cable to be stored in the vehicle in the event of a malfunction of the winding system.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a charging cable and a first housing, said charging cable being configured to be stored in said first housing, said vehicle comprising a winding system configured to wind said charging cable in said first housing, said winding system having a winding axis, said first housing having an opening at said winding axis, notable in that said winding axis has a first end positioned at said opening, said first end having an indentation, the winding system comprising a key, said key having a second end, said second end having a shape corresponding to said indentation, said second end being configured to fit into said indentation through said opening.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the charging cable can be stored manually in the event of a malfunction of the automatic winding system.

[0006] Preferably, said opening is protected by a hatch.

[0007] The presence of a hatch prevents debris from entering the opening, thus preventing the key from being inserted. Furthermore, it prevents debris from passing through the opening and entering the first compartment, which could hinder or even prevent the charging cable from winding into the first compartment.

[0008] Advantageously, said second end has a square or flat shape and said imprint is respectively a square imprint or a flat imprint.

[0009] Preferably, said second end has a hexalobular shape and said imprint is a hexalobular imprint.

[0010] These tips are easily inserted into said opening and allow rotation of the winding axis in order to store the charging cable.

[0011] Advantageously, said key has a longitudinal shape whose length is between 5 cm and 15 cm.

[0012] Such a length is required to easily reach the opening, without causing a problem with storing said key in the vehicle.

[0013] Advantageously, said key has a ring, said first end having a thread, said ring being suitable for use as a towing ring.

[0014] Thus, the key can be used to manually wind the charging cable or to serve as a towing ring. Costs are therefore reduced for manufacturing a hybrid key compared to two separate tools. Furthermore, storing a single tool in the vehicle is simplified.

[0015] Preferably, said vehicle includes a trunk, said first housing being positioned in said trunk.

[0016] Thus, it is easy to access the opening of said first housing to wind the charging cable by simply opening the trunk of the vehicle.

[0017] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-binding embodiments figuratives, and based on the attached figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates, in perspective, a trunk of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a winding system according to a first embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a key to the winding system of the electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0018] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a partial view of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a winding system according to a first embodiment of the invention. The vehicle includes a charging cable 2 and a first housing 3. Furthermore, the vehicle includes a battery to which the charging cable 2 is electrically connected. To supply electrical energy to the battery, the charging cable 2 must be connected to an electric charging station. The vehicle includes a first housing 3 in which the charging cable 2 can be stored after the battery has been charged. The first housing 3 includes a winding system that allows the charging cable 2 to be wound up. In this way, the charging cable 2 is protected inside the first housing 3 to prevent damage.The winding system has a winding axis A around which the charging cable 2 is wound. The first housing 3 has an opening 4 at the winding axis A. The winding axis A has a first end positioned at the opening 4. The first end has a groove. The winding system includes a key 1 having a second end that is inserted into the groove through the opening 4 to wind the charging cable 2 for storage. Thus, in the event of a malfunction of the winding system, it is still possible to manually store the charging cable 2 for protection. Preferably, the opening 4 is protected by a flap to prevent debris from entering the opening 4 and the first housing 3.Preferably, said key 1 has a longitudinal shape with a length between 5 cm and 15 cm. Thus, the key 1 can be stored in said vehicle 100 without difficulty. Preferably, said vehicle has a trunk 5. The trunk 5 has the first compartment 3. Thus, the first compartment 3 is easily accessible to the user simply by opening the trunk 5. Moreover, this prevents damage to said first compartment 3, particularly in the event of an impact that could deform said first compartment 3. Deformation of the first compartment 3 makes it difficult, or even impossible, to store said charging cable 2.

[0019] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the key 1 of the winding system. The key has a second end la. The second end la has a shape corresponding to the aforementioned recess. Advantageously, said second end la has a square or flat shape, and the recess is respectively a square or flat recess. In another embodiment, said first end 1b has a hexalobular shape, known as "Torx" (registered trademark), and said recess is a hexalobular recess. The second end la of the key 1 illustrated in Figure 1 has a hexalobular shape. Preferably, the key 1 has a ring 1b as shown in Figure 1. The ring is suitable for use as a towing ring. The second end la has a thread 6 to allow the key 1 to be attached to said vehicle in order to use the towing ring.The key 1 is then a hybrid tool capable of presenting two uses: a first use for winding said charging cable 2 by said first end 1a and a second use for attaching a trailer to said vehicle by locking said key 1 in said vehicle by means of the thread 6 and attaching the trailer at the second end 1b.

Claims

Demands

1. An electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a charging cable (2) and a first housing (3), said charging cable (2) being configured to be stored in said first housing (3), said vehicle comprising a winding system configured to wind said charging cable (2) in said first housing (3), said winding system having a winding shaft (A), said first housing (3) having an opening (4) at said winding shaft (A), characterized in that said winding shaft (A) has a first end positioned at said opening (4), said first end having an indentation, the winding system comprising a key (1), said key (1) having a second end (la), said second end (la) having a shape corresponding to said indentation,said second end (la) being configured to fit into said imprint through said opening (4).

2. System according to claim 1 characterized in that said opening (4) is protected by a hatch.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said second end (the) has a square or flat shape and said imprint is respectively a square imprint or a flat imprint.

4. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said second end (the) has a hexalobular shape and said imprint is a hexalobular imprint.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said key (1) has a longitudinal shape whose length is between 5 cm and 15 cm.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said key (1) has a ring (1b), said first end having a thread (6), said ring (1b) being suitable for use as a towing ring.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that said vehicle comprises a trunk (5), said first housing (3) being positioned in said trunk (5).

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