ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A SPIRAL CHARGING CABLE

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle 1 equipped with: A traction battery 2; An aerodynamic screen 9 fixed under the floor 8 of the vehicle 1; Means 6 for selecting a power supply for the traction battery 2, the selection means 6 being fixed under a floor 8 of the vehicle 1 and disposed between the aerodynamic screen 9 and the floor 8; A coiled electric charging cable 3 for the traction battery 2, one end 5 of the coiled electric charging cable 3 being connected to the selection means 6; A guide conduit 11 integral with the aerodynamic screen 9, said guide conduit 11 being traversed by said coiled electric 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 plug-in hybrid type, comprising a coiled electric charging cable. One aspect of the invention relates more particularly to an electric or hybrid vehicle equipped with a guide conduit through which the coiled electric charging cable passes.

[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 supplied by an electricity distribution network.

[0003] To this end, vehicles are generally supplied with a mobile charging cable equipped at one end with a plug suitable for connecting to the charging station, and at the other end with a plug suitable for connecting to a box equipped with a female socket, called a BEPR (for Charging Socket Base Box), which allows the mobile charging cable to be connected to the battery. When the vehicle is not connected to a charging station, the mobile charging cable is generally stored in the vehicle's trunk for later use.

[0004] It is also known that vehicles further include an electric charging cable attached to the vehicle, said electric charging cable being able to be wound within a body panel of the vehicle. Such an electric charging cable attached to the vehicle has a first fixed end connected to the battery and a second end fitted with a male plug arranged for connection to a charging station or a household electrical outlet.

[0005] Since the computers are not able to manage two electrical charging sources for the traction battery simultaneously, it is important that two external electrical power sources 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 a power source (more commonly known by the English term "junction box") which, when electrical energy is transmitted from an external power source to the vehicle's battery via one of the charging cables, prevent the transmission of electrical energy via the other cable. These selection means can be fixed under the vehicle floor.

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

[0008] The charging cable can be connected to the means for selecting a power source located under the vehicle floor. The portion of the charging cable located under the vehicle floor is then exposed to the external environment, thus reducing its lifespan.

[0009] The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a solution 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 a power supply 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 vehicle floor.

[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 includes a guide conduit attached to the aerodynamic screen, the guide conduit being traversed by the spiral electric charging cable.

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

[0013] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the vehicle according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from 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 opposite the floor, the guide duct is bent and has a C-shaped section, the guide duct comprising a first end originating at the level of 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 opposite the floor and the guide duct is formed by an angled tube having a first end originating at the level of 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 includes a groove for retaining the guide duct, the first end of the guide duct being press-fitted into the retaining groove.

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

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the aerodynamic screen comprises a boss originating at the level of the first surface and extending perpendicularly 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 fixing stud of the aerodynamic screen with 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 conduit 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] represents, schematically, a non-limiting example of an aerodynamic screen included in the vehicle according to the invention.

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

[0026] [Fig.4] represents, schematically, another example of a non-limiting embodiment of an aerodynamic screen included in the vehicle according to the invention.

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

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

[0029] These selection means 6 are also known by the English term "Junction box". They allow, when electrical energy is transmitted from an external power source to the vehicle 1 to the traction battery 2 via, for example, the coiled electric charging cable 3, the transmission of electrical energy via another charging cable, for example connected to a box 7 equipped with a female socket, called BEPR (for Charging Socket Base Box) which is part of the vehicle 1

[0030] In the non-limiting example shown, 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 damage.

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

[0034] The aerodynamic screen 9 is integral with a guide conduit 11 into which 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 example of 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 1 li originating at the level of a first surface 12 of the aerodynamic screen 9. This first surface 12 is positioned opposite the floor 8 of the trunk.

[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, an angle α between 70° and 110° is understood, said angle α being formed between the first surface 12 and the second end 112.

[0039] In order to keep the guide duct 11 attached to the aerodynamic screen 9, the latter has a retaining groove 13 for this guide duct 11.

[0040] Figure 3 illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the retaining groove. 13.

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

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

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

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

[0045] It should be noted that other shapes of the retaining groove 13 can be envisaged, for example in the shape of a U.

[0046] Furthermore, according to another embodiment not shown, the boss is formed by a mounting stud 17 of the aerodynamic screen 9 with the trunk floor 8. When assembling the aerodynamic screen 9 with the trunk floor 8, this mounting stud 17 allows, for example, the aerodynamic screen 9 to be secured to the trunk floor 8 by means of a screw.

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

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

[0049] The guide conduit 11 further comprises a second end 1 l2s' extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface 12.

[0050] By substantially perpendicular, we mean an angle a between 70° and 110°, said angle a being formed between the first surface 12 and the second end 112.

[0051] It should also 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 can be arranged to come into contact with the floor 8 of the trunk so as to prevent water from entering the guide channel 11.

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

[0053] The second end 1 l2 of the guide conduit 11 can be arranged so as to open into a wheel arch 21 of the vehicle 1 through which part of the cable runs Spiral electric charger 3.

[0054] The various aspects of the aforementioned invention offer numerous advantages. Among these, we can mention: • Protect the coiled electric charging cable from the external environment; • Guide and hold the coiled electric charging cable in position; • Not to result in significant additional costs.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric or hybrid vehicle (1) equipped with: - A traction battery (2); - Means for selecting (6) a source of electrical power for said traction battery (2), said means for selecting (6) being fixed under a floor (8) of said vehicle (1); - A coiled electric charging cable (3) for said traction battery (2), one end (5) of said coiled electric charging cable (3) being connected to said means for selecting (6); - An aerodynamic screen (9) fixed under said floor (8) of said vehicle (1); - Said vehicle (1) being characterized in that said means for selecting (6) are disposed between said aerodynamic screen (9) and said floor (8) and in that it comprises a guide conduit (11) integral with said aerodynamic screen (9), said guide conduit (11) being traversed by said coiled electric 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 cross-section, said guide duct (11) comprising a first end (111) originating at the level of the first surface (12) and a second end (112) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first surface (12), each end (181, 182) of said C-shaped cross-section being extended by a wall (191, 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 having a first end (11i) originating at said first surface (12) and a second end (112) extending in a substantially perpendicular to said first surface (12).

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

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

6. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the aerodynamic screen (9) has a boss (15) originating at the level of the first surface (12) and extending perpendicularly 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 conduit (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 trunk of said vehicle (1).