VEHICLE AND METHOD CONFIGURED TO HOLD BY VACUUM A CONNECTION END OF A CHARGING CABLE AGAINST A GATE

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle 1 comprising: A charging cable 3 for electrical energy storage means 2 of the vehicle 1, the charging cable 3 being provided with a connection end piece 4 for connecting to a charging socket external to the vehicle 1; A connection end piece housing arranged in a bodywork 6 of the vehicle 1, the connection end piece 4 being removable from the connection end piece housing 5; A gate 8 arranged to move between a closed position and an open position of the connection end piece housing 5, the gate 8 comprising an internal face 9 arranged opposite the connection end piece housing 5 when the gate 8 is in the closed position, the internal face 9 comprising means 10 for holding the connection end piece 4 against the gate 8 by means of a vacuum.

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE AND METHOD CONFIGURED TO MAINTAIN BY DEPRESSION A CONNECTION END OF A CHARGING CABLE AGAINST A GATE

[0001] The technical field of the invention relates to motor vehicles, of the electric or rechargeable hybrid type, comprising an electric charging cable. One aspect of the invention relates more particularly to a vehicle provided with means for holding by depression a connection end piece of a charging cable against a gate. This gate moves between an open position and a closed position of a housing of said connection end piece.

[0002] Electric or hybrid vehicles draw their electrical energy from on-board traction batteries. These traction batteries must be regularly recharged by connecting them to a charging station powered by an electricity distribution network.

[0003] To do this, vehicles are generally supplied with a mobile electric charging cable equipped at one end with a socket suitable for connecting it to the charging station, and at the other end with a socket suitable for connecting it to a box equipped with a female socket, called BEPR (for Boitier Embase Prise de Recharge) allowing the mobile electric charging cable to be connected to the battery. When the vehicle is not connected to a charging station, the mobile electric charging cable is generally stored in the trunk of the vehicle for later use.

[0004] Vehicles are also known which further comprise an electrical charging cable secured to the vehicle, said electrical charging cable being able to be wound in a bodywork element of the vehicle. Such an electrical charging cable secured to the vehicle comprises a first fixed end connected to the battery and a second end provided with a male plug arranged to be connected to a charging station or an electrical outlet in a home.

[0005] As described in document DE-B4-102017203327, it is known to store an electric charging cable in a housing provided in the bodywork of the vehicle. This housing is closed by an external gate providing access to the male plug located at the end of the charging cable. This document discloses complex means for automatically transporting a portion of the cable when the opening of the gate is detected.

[0006] If such a solution makes it easier to extract the charging cable for the connect to an external terminal, its implementation entails a considerable additional cost

[0007] The aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an inexpensive technical solution making it easier to extract the charging cable.

[0008] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising: • A charging cable for the vehicle's electrical energy storage means, the charging cable being equipped with a connection tip to a charging socket external to the vehicle; • A connection tip housing provided in a body of said vehicle, said connection tip being extractable from said connection tip housing; and • A gate arranged to move between a closed position and an open position of said end piece housing, said gate comprising an internal face arranged opposite said end piece housing when said gate is in the closed position.

[0009] The vehicle according to this aspect of the invention is remarkable in that the internal face of the gate comprises means for holding the connection end piece against the gate by depression.

[0010] Thus, when the user opens the gate to access the charging cable, the connection end piece, for example formed by a male plug, follows the movement of the gate and is easily accessible by the user. It is only necessary for the user to exert a tensile force on the connection end piece to detach it from the gate, and extract the desired length of charging cable to connect it to a charging terminal external to the vehicle. These vacuum holding means are obviously inexpensive.

[0011] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the vehicle according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0012] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the charging cable is a spiral charging cable.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the connection end piece is formed by a male plug.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vacuum holding means are formed by a suction cup.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vacuum holding means are formed by a vacuum pump.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vacuum holding means are formed by a suction cup equipped with a vacuum pump.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of the connection end piece opposite the vacuum holding means and the vacuum pump control means, the control means being arranged to activate the vacuum pump when the connection end piece is positioned opposite the vacuum holding means and said presence detection sensor detects the presence of said connection end piece.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of holding a connection end piece of a vehicle charging cable according to the aforementioned aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: • When the gate is in the open position and the connection end piece is positioned opposite the vacuum holding means, detect, via the presence detection sensor, the presence of the connection end piece; • Activate, via the control means, the vacuum pump included in the vacuum holding means so as to hold said connection end piece against the gate.

[0019] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the method comprises a step of, when the gate is in the closed position and the vehicle is in a rolling phase, activating the vacuum pump.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: • When the gate is in the open position and the connection end piece is removed from the vacuum holding means, detect, via the presence detection sensor, the absence of said connection end piece; • Stop, via the control means, the vacuum pump included in the vacuum maintenance means.

[0021] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0022] [Fig-1] illustrates, schematically, a vehicle comprising means of holding a connection tip of an electric charging cable according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, a first example of the production of a gate provided with means for holding a connection end piece which the vehicle according to the invention comprises;

[0024] [Fig.3] illustrates, schematically, a second example of embodiment of a gate provided with means for holding a connection end piece that the vehicle according to the invention comprises;

[0025] [Fig.4a], [Fig.4b], [Fig.4c] illustrate, schematically, a third example of embodiment of a gate provided with means for holding a connection end piece that the vehicle according to the invention comprises;

[0026] [Fig.5] illustrates, schematically, an example of implementation of a method according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates an electric vehicle 1 provided with electrical energy storage means 2, for example formed by a traction battery, rechargeable by means of an electrical power source external to the vehicle 1.

[0028] The vehicle 1 further comprises a charging cable 3 for the traction battery 2. This charging cable 3 is provided with a connection end 4 for connecting to a charging socket external to the vehicle 1, for example an electric charging station. According to the non-limiting example embodiment illustrated, this connection end 4 is of the male type. According to a different example embodiment, this connection end may be a female type connection end.

[0029] The vehicle 1 further comprises a connection end piece housing 5 arranged in the bodywork 6 of the vehicle 1. The connection end piece 4 is removable from the connection end piece housing 5. In other words, the user can pull on the connection end piece 4 so as to remove it from the connection end piece housing 5.

[0030] According to the illustrated embodiment, the charging cable 3 is a spiral cable. The spiral of the cable has an axial elasticity which tends to bring its contiguous turns back together. In this way, the output of the charging cable 3 gives a permanent axial tension on the stretched turns making it possible to reach the external charging socket of the vehicle 1. Storage is then facilitated with the retraction of the charging cable 3 into a cable housing 7 by a retraction of the spiral when the traction is released.

[0031] The vehicle 1 further comprises a gate 8 arranged to move between a closed position and an open position of the connection end housing 5. In [Fig. 1], the gate 8 is in the open position so that the connection end 4 is accessible from outside the vehicle 1.

[0032] The gate 8 has an internal face 9 arranged opposite the connection end housing 5 when the gate 8 is in the closed position.

[0033] The internal face 9 of the gate 8 comprises means 10 for maintaining by depression the connection end piece 4 with the gate 8.

[0034] According to a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the means of vacuum support 10 are formed by a suction cup 10i.

[0035] Thus, thanks to this suction cup 10i the connection end piece 4 is pressed against the gate 8 and cannot move. The occupants of the vehicle 1 are thus not bothered by the noise that could be generated by movements of the connection end piece 4 in the connection end piece housing 5. Such movements could be produced by vibrations caused by the road.

[0036] According to a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], the vacuum holding means 10 are formed by a vacuum pump 102. Thus, when the connection end piece 4 is arranged in front of the gate 8, the vacuum pump 102 sucks in said end piece 4 so as to keep it stuck to the gate 8.

[0037] According to another non-limiting embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4a], the means of holding by vacuum 10 are formed a suction cup lOmmuni of a vacuum pump 102.

[0038] According to this embodiment, the vehicle 1 further comprises: • A presence detection sensor 11 of the connection end piece 4 opposite the vacuum holding means 10; and • Means 12 for controlling the vacuum pump 102, the control means 12 being arranged to activate the vacuum pump 102 when the connection end piece 4 is positioned opposite the vacuum holding means 10.

[0039] Thus, the vacuum holding means 10 make it possible to hold the connection end piece 4 when opening and closing the gate 8. More particularly, as illustrated in [Fig.4b], when opening the gate 8, the activated vacuum pump 102 makes it possible to hold the connection end piece 4 against the gate 8. As illustrated in [Fig.4c], the user only needs to produce sufficient force to remove the connection end piece 4 from its suction cup 1 Op Once the traction battery 2 has been charged, the user positions the connection end piece 4 opposite the vacuum holding means 10. The presence sensor 11 then detects the presence of the connection end piece 4, then the control means 12 activates the vacuum pump 102 which sucks in air so as to press the connection end piece 4 against the gate 8. The user must then reposition the gate 8 in the position of closure.

[0040] The storage of the connection tip 4 in the connection tip housing 5 is therefore made easier.

[0041] [Fig.5] illustrates a method 100 for holding a connection end piece 4 of a charging cable 3 of a vehicle 1 as illustrated in [Fig.3] or 4a.

[0042] The method 100 comprises a step of, when the gate 8 is in the open position and the connection end piece 4 is arranged opposite the vacuum holding means 10, detecting 101, via the presence sensor 11, the presence of the connection end piece 4.

[0043] As soon as the connection end piece 4 is detected, the control means 12 are configured to activate 102 the vacuum pump 102 that the holding means 10 comprises. Thus, the connection end piece 4 is pressed against and held integral with the gate 8.

[0044] Thus, the storage of the connection tip 4 is made easier.

[0045] Then, the user closes the gate 8. When the gate 8 is in the closed position and the vehicle 1 is in a rolling phase, the method 100 comprises a step of activating 103 the vacuum pump 102.

[0046] Thus, while the vehicle 1 is moving, the connection end piece 4 is kept pressed against the gate 8. The connection end piece 4 can no longer move. This feature makes it possible to eliminate any noise that could be generated by the vibration of the connection end piece 4 while the vehicle is moving.

[0047] Furthermore, when the gate 8 is in the open position and the connection end piece 4 is removed from the vacuum holding means 10, the method 100 comprises a step of detecting 104, via the presence sensor 11, the absence of the connection end piece 4. The method 100 then comprises a step of stopping 105, via the control means 12, the vacuum pump 102 that the vacuum holding means 10 comprises.

[0048] It should be noted that, according to an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, the vacuum holding means 10 may comprise several suction cups 10i, several vacuum pumps 102 and / or several suction cups 10i equipped with a vacuum pump 102.

[0049] The various aspects of the invention mentioned above have numerous advantages. Among these, we can cite: • Assist in removing the connection tip from its housing when opening the gate; • Make it easier to grip and store the connection tip; • Eliminate noise generated by the movement of the connection tip in its housing when the vehicle is moving.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1) comprising: - A charging cable (3) for electrical energy storage means (2) of said vehicle (1), said charging cable (3) being provided with a connection end piece (4) for connecting to a charging socket external to said vehicle (1); - A connection end piece housing (5) arranged in a body (6) of said vehicle (1), said connection end piece (4) being extractable from said connection end piece housing (5) - A gate (8) arranged to move between a closed position and an open position of said connection end piece housing (5), said gate (8) comprising an internal face (9) arranged opposite said connection end piece housing (5) when said gate (8) is in the closed position;- Said vehicle (1) being characterized in that the internal face (9) of said gate (8) comprises means for holding by depression (10) said connection end piece (4) against said gate (8).;

2. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the charging cable (3) is a spiral charging cable.

3. Vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection end piece (4) is formed by a male plug.

4. Vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum holding means (10) are formed by a suction cup (10i).

5. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vacuum holding means (10) are formed by a vacuum pump (102).

6. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vacuum holding means (10) are formed by a suction cup (100) provided with a vacuum pump (102).

7. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, ca-

8.

9.

10. characterized in that it comprises a presence detection sensor (11) of the connection end piece (4) opposite the vacuum holding means (10) and the control means (12) of the vacuum pump (102), said control means (12) being arranged to activate said vacuum pump (102) when said connection end piece (4) is positioned opposite said vacuum holding means (10) and said presence detection sensor (11) detects the presence of said connection end piece (4). Method (100) for maintaining a connection end piece (4) of a charging cable (3) of a vehicle (1) according to claim 7, said method (100) comprising the steps of: - When the gate (8) is in the open position and the connection end piece (4) is arranged opposite the vacuum holding means (10), detect (101), via the presence detection sensor (11), the presence of said connection end piece (4); - Activate (102), via the control means (12), the vacuum pump (102) which comprises the vacuum holding means (10) so as to hold said connection end piece (4) against said gate (8). Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of, when the gate (8) is in the closed position and the vehicle (1) is in a rolling phase, activating (103) the vacuum pump (102). Method (100) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - When the gate (8) is in the open position and the connection end piece (4) is removed from the vacuum holding means (10), detect (104), via the presence detection sensor (11), the absence of said connection end piece (4); - Stop (105), via the control means (12), the vacuum pump (102) which comprises the vacuum holding means (10).

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