ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A SPIRAL CHARGING CABLE

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle 1 provided with: A traction battery 2; An aerodynamic screen 9 fixed under the floor 8 of the vehicle 1; Means 6 for selecting an electrical power source for the traction battery 2, the selection means 6 being fixed under a floor 8 of the vehicle 1 and arranged between the aerodynamic screen 9 and the floor 8. A spiral electrical charging cable 3 for the traction battery 2, one end 5 of the spiral electrical charging cable 3 being connected to the selection means 6; A guide duct 11 secured to the aerodynamic screen 9, said guide duct 11 being crossed by said spiral electrical charging cable 3. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A SPIRAL CHARGING CABLE

[0001] The technical field of the invention relates to motor vehicles, of the electric or rechargeable hybrid type, comprising a spiral electric charging cable. One aspect of the invention relates more particularly to an electric or hybrid vehicle provided with a guide conduit crossed by the spiral electric charging cable.

[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] Since the computers are not able to simultaneously manage two sources of electrical recharging of the traction battery, it is important that two sources of electrical power external to the vehicle do not simultaneously supply electrical energy to the traction battery via the two cables.

[0006] To this end, this type of vehicle is equipped with means for selecting an electrical power source (better known by the English terminology of "Junction box") allowing, when electrical energy is transmitted from an electrical power source external to the vehicle to the vehicle battery via one of the charging cables, to prohibit the transmission of electrical energy via the other cable. These selection means can be fixed under the floor of the vehicle.

[0007] As described in document DE-A1-4212207, it is known to store a spiral charging cable in a housing provided in the bodywork of the vehicle. This housing is closed by an external hatch allowing access to the male plug arranged at the end of the charging cable.

[0008] The charging cable can be connected to the means for selecting an electrical power source located under the floor of the vehicle. The part of the charging cable arranged under the floor of the vehicle is then exposed to the external environment so that its service life is reduced.

[0009] The aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a solution making it possible to increase the lifespan of the electric charging cable.

[0010] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to an electric or hybrid vehicle equipped with: • A traction battery; • Means for selecting an electrical power source for the traction battery, the selection means being fixed under a floor of the vehicle; • A spiral electric charging cable for the traction battery, one end of the spiral electric charging cable being connected to the selection means; • An aerodynamic screen fixed under the floor of the vehicle.

[0011] The vehicle according to this aspect of the invention is remarkable in that the selection means are arranged between the aerodynamic screen and the floor and in that it comprises a guide duct secured to the aerodynamic screen, the guide duct being crossed by the spiral electric charging cable.

[0012] Thus, thanks to the positioning of the selection means between the aerodynamic screen and the floor and to the conduit secured to the aerodynamic screen, the spiral electric charging cable running under the floor of the vehicle is protected from the external environment. Its duration of use is consequently increased.

[0013] 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.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen comprises a first surface arranged to be positioned facing the floor, the guide duct is bent and has a C-shaped section, the guide duct comprising a first end originating at the first surface and a second end extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface, each end of the C-shaped section being extended by a wall forming a quarter of a flange.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen comprises a first surface arranged to be positioned facing the floor and the guide duct is formed by a bent tube comprising a first end originating at the first surface and a second end extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen comprises a groove for holding the guide duct, the first end of the guide duct being force-fitted into the holding groove.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the walls of the holding groove form a V.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen comprises a boss originating at the first surface and extending perpendicular to the first surface, the walls of the retaining groove being formed by a wall of the boss and a wall of the aerodynamic screen substantially perpendicular to the first surface.

[0019] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the boss is formed by a stud for fixing the aerodynamic screen to the floor of the vehicle.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen is fixed under a trunk floor of the vehicle.

[0021] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the second end of the guide duct extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface opens into a wheel arch of the vehicle.

[0022] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0023] [Fig-1] illustrates, schematically, a vehicle according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically represents a non-limiting example of an aerodynamic screen that the vehicle according to the invention comprises.

[0025] [Fig.3] schematically represents a retaining groove included in the aerodynamic screen illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig.4] schematically represents another non-limiting example of an aerodynamic screen that the vehicle according to the invention comprises.

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates an electric vehicle 1 equipped with a traction battery 2 rechargeable by means of an electrical power source external to the vehicle 1.

[0028] The vehicle 1 further comprises a spiral electrical charging cable 3 for the traction battery 2. The spiral electrical charging cable 3 comprises, at one of its ends, a male plug 4. The other end 5 of the spiral electrical charging cable 3 is connected to means 6 for selecting a power source. electric traction battery 2.

[0029] These selection means 6 are also known by the English terminology of “Junction box”. They allow, when electrical energy is transmitted from an external electrical power source to the vehicle 1 to the traction battery 2 via, for example, the spiral electrical charging cable 3, to prohibit the transmission of electrical energy via another charging cable, for example connected to a box 7 provided with a female socket, called BEPR (for Boitier Basis Prise de Recharge) which the vehicle 1 comprises

[0030] In the non-limiting example illustrated, the selection means 6 are fixed under the floor 8 of the trunk of the vehicle 1.

[0031] The vehicle 1 further comprises an aerodynamic screen 9 fixed under the floor 8 of the trunk of the vehicle 1.

[0032] It should be noted that the selection means 6 are arranged between the aerodynamic screen 9 and the trunk floor 8. These selection means 6 are therefore covered by the aerodynamic screen 9 and are thus protected from external aggression.

[0033] According to this non-limiting embodiment, the aerodynamic screen 9 originates at the rear of the rear wheel set 10 and extends, becoming thinner, towards the rear bumper of the vehicle 1.

[0034] The aerodynamic screen 9 is integral with a guide duct 11 in which a part of the spiral electric charging cable 3 is inserted.

[0035] This guide conduit 11 has a diameter greater than that of the winding of the spiral electric charging cable 3 so as to allow it, on the one hand, to stretch when a user pulls on the plug 4 of the spiral electric charging cable 3 and, on the other hand, to retract when the user releases the plug 4 of the spiral electric charging cable 3.

[0036] According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the guide conduit 11 can be formed by a bent tube.

[0037] In this case, the bent tube 11 has a first end 11i originating at a first surface 12 of the aerodynamic screen 9. This first surface 12 is positioned opposite the trunk floor 8.

[0038] The bent tube 11 further comprises a second end 112 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface 12. By substantially perpendicular is meant an angle α of between 70° and 110°, said angle α being formed between the first surface 12 and the second end 112.

[0039] In order to keep the guide duct 11 secured to the aerodynamic screen 9, the latter comprises a groove 13 for holding this guide duct 11.

[0040] [Fig. 3] illustrates a non-limiting example of embodiment of the holding groove 13.

[0041] This holding groove 13 is formed by a wall 14 of a boss 15 which the aerodynamic screen 9 comprises and a wall 16 of the aerodynamic screen 9 arranged opposite each other.

[0042] More particularly, the boss 15 originates at the level of the first surface 12 and extends perpendicular to the first surface 12 in the direction of the trunk floor 8. The wall 16 of the aerodynamic screen 9 also extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface 12 in the direction of the trunk floor 8.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bottom of the holding groove 13 is formed by the first surface 12.

[0044] The holding groove 13 is, in this non-limiting embodiment, V-shaped (more particularly, the walls of the holding groove 13 form a V). Thus, the first end 11 of the guide conduit 11 is force-fitted into the holding groove 13.

[0045] It should be noted that other shapes of the holding groove 13 can be envisaged, for example U-shaped.

[0046] Furthermore, according to another embodiment not illustrated, the boss is formed by a fixing stud 17 of the aerodynamic screen 9 with the trunk floor 8. When assembling the aerodynamic screen 9 with the trunk floor 8, this fixing stud 17 makes it possible, for example, to secure the aerodynamic screen 9 with the trunk floor 8 by means of a screw.

[0047] According to a different non-limiting exemplary embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4], the guide duct 11 is bent and has a C-shaped section.

[0048] In this case, the guide duct 11 comprises a first end 111 originating at the level of the first surface 12 of the aerodynamic screen 9.

[0049] The guide duct 11 further comprises a second end 112 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface 12.

[0050] By substantially perpendicular is meant an angle α of between 70° and 110°, said angle α being formed between the first surface 12 and the second end 112.

[0051] It should further be noted that each end of the C-shaped section 18b 182 is extended by a wall 19b 192, forming a quarter flange. The upper edge 20i, 202 of the quarter flange-shaped walls 19b 192 may be arranged to come into contact with the trunk floor 8 so as to prevent water from entering the guide duct 11.

[0052] The guide duct 11 according to this embodiment can be held integral with the aerodynamic screen 9 via rivets or screws (not shown).

[0053] The second end 112 of the guide conduit 11 may be arranged so as to open into a wheel arch 21 of the vehicle 1 where part of the cable circulates. spiral electric refill 3.

[0054] The various aspects of the invention mentioned above have numerous advantages. Among these, we can cite: • Protect the spiral electric charging cable from the external environment; • Guide and hold the spiral electric charging cable in position; • Do not cause significant additional costs.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid vehicle (1) provided with: - A traction battery (2); - Selection means (6) for an electrical power source for said traction battery (2), said selection means (6) being fixed under a floor (8) of said vehicle (1) - A spiral electrical charging cable (3) for said traction battery (2), one end (5) of said spiral electrical charging cable (3) being connected to said selection means (6); - An aerodynamic screen (9) fixed under said floor (8) of said vehicle (1); - Said vehicle (1) being characterized in that said selection means (6) are arranged between said aerodynamic screen (9) and said floor (8) and in that it comprises a guide duct (11) integral with said aerodynamic screen (9), said guide duct (11) being crossed by said spiral electrical charging cable (3).

2. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the aerodynamic screen (9) comprises a first surface (12) arranged to be positioned opposite the floor (8) and in that the guide duct (11) is bent and has a C-shaped section, said guide duct (11) comprising a first end (11i) originating at the first surface (12) and a second end (112) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first surface (12), each end (18i, 182) of said C-shaped section being extended by a wall (19i, 192) forming a quarter of a flange.

3. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the aerodynamic screen (9) comprises a first surface (12) arranged to be positioned opposite the floor (8) and in that the guide duct (11) is formed by a bent tube comprising a first end (11 i) originating at the level of said first surface (12) and a second end (112) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first surface (12).

4. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the aerodynamic screen (9) comprises a retaining groove (13) for the guide duct (11), the first end (111) of the guide duct (11) being force-fitted into said retaining groove (13).

5. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the walls of the holding groove (13) form a V.

6. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the aerodynamic screen (9) comprises a boss (15) originating at the level of the first surface (12) and extending perpendicular to said first surface (12), the walls of the retaining groove (13) being formed by a wall (14) of said boss (15) and a wall (16) of said aerodynamic screen (9) substantially perpendicular to said first surface (12).

7. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said boss is formed by a fixing stud (17) of the aerodynamic screen (9) with the floor (8) of the vehicle (1).

8. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the second end (112) of the guide duct (11) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface (12) opens into a wheel arch (21) of said vehicle (1).

9. Vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said aerodynamic screen (9) is fixed under a floor (8) of the trunk of said vehicle (1).

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