Charging station for recharging electrical equipment, as well as charging systems including such charging stations

Abstract

A charging station for recharging electrical equipment, as well as a charging system comprising such charging stations. The charging station (100) has a main line (120), which, at the input of the station, is connected to a power supply (200) and to which are connected in parallel sockets (131 to 134) for connecting equipment by secondary lines (141 to 144), each equipped with a switch (151 to 154), the sockets being individually ordered according to a priority order per phase of the power supply. An electrical measuring device (170) determines a current consumption corresponding to the current intensity in the main line per phase.A control unit (180) is configured to, when the current consumed exceeds the maximum value, implement a sequencing operation consisting, for the phase in question, of opening, among the closed switches, the switch associated with the lowest priority outlet among the corresponding outlets, and then, if the current consumed has not fallen below the maximum value, repeating the sequencing operation. Figure for the abbreviation: 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Charging station for recharging electrical equipment, as well as a charging system comprising such charging stations

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging station for recharging electrical equipment. It also relates to a charging system for recharging electrical equipment, comprising at least two such charging stations.

[0002] The invention addresses the problem of recharging multiple electrical devices located in the same temporary storage location, typically multiple vehicles and / or power tools at the same rental agency, for example, overnight. In practice, the power delivered by the rental agency's electrical system is limited by the contracted power from the electricity supplier and by the installed capacity, which is determined by the sizing of the electrical cables and overcurrent protection devices. Therefore, charging the various vehicles and / or power tools stored at the agency must be managed carefully; otherwise, the agency's electrical system may malfunction in the event of a prolonged overcurrent, and / or recharging may become expensive due to regularly exceeding the contracted power.It is therefore typically advisable to avoid charging all vehicles and / or electrical tools stored in the agency at the same time.

[0003] The aim of the present invention is to provide a charging station and a charging system which, while cleverly managing the charging of a plurality of electrical equipment, are simple and economical to implement.

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a charging station for recharging electrical equipment, comprising:

[0005] - a main power line which is adapted for, at the input of the charging station, be connected to an electrical supply having one phase or several phases, including three phases,

[0006] - sockets, each adapted for plugging in one of the electrical devices to to recharge, these sockets being:

[0007] - connected in parallel to the main power line respectively by lines secondary electrical circuits, each equipped with a switch, and

[0008] - ordered individually according to a predetermined priority order per phase of the power supply,

[0009] - an electrical measuring device, adapted to determine a current consumed corresponding to the intensity of the current flowing in the main power line per phase of the power supply, and

[0010] - a control unit, suitable for both opening and closing each of the switches and to compare said current consumed with a predetermined maximum value, the control unit being configured to, when the control unit determines that said current consumed is greater than said maximum value for the single phase or one of said several phases of the power supply, implement a sequencing operation which consists, for the phase concerned, of:

[0011] - open, among the closed switch(es), the switch that is associated with the the least priority socket among the socket(s) respectively associated with this or these closed switches, then

[0012] - compare again said consumed intensity with said maximum value and, in the event that the control unit determines that the said consumed intensity has not fallen below the said maximum value, repeat the sequencing operation.

[0013] The invention also relates to a charging system for recharging electrical equipment, comprising at least two charging terminals:

[0014] - which are each as defined above,

[0015] - which are ordered individually according to a predetermined order of priority,

[0016] - whose respective main power lines are connected in series to a same power supply, and

[0017] - whose respective control units are linked together by being jointly configured to, at each implementation of the sequencing operation, apply this sequencing operation to the lowest priority charging station among the charging stations of which at least one of the switches is closed.

[0018] One of the ideas behind the invention is to seek to sequence the respective charging of the different electrical equipment, so that the power consumed via the terminal(s) remains, over time, below a predetermined limit.To achieve this, within the charging station or each charging station conforming to the invention, the sockets of the station are individually controlled, by an ad hoc control unit of the charging station, to allow the charging of the electrical equipment respectively connected to these sockets, ensuring that, for the single phase or each of the phases of an electrical supply to which an input of the charging station is connected, the current consumed by the charging station remains below a predetermined maximum current, by means, if necessary, of the shedding of one or more sockets of the charging station, considered to be less priority than the other socket(s) of the charging station, due to a predetermined priority order, by phase of the supply. electrical current is distributed between the different sockets of the charging station. In other words, thanks to the invention, the charging station prioritizes charging the electrical device connected to its highest priority socket, while also allowing, as long as the current consumed by the charging station remains below the aforementioned maximum current for the single phase or each phase of the power supply, one or more other devices connected to lower priority sockets to also be charged. Of course, once the device connected to the highest priority socket is charged, the current consumed is distributed differently among the connected electrical devices, thus allowing the devices not yet charged to be charged further, and so on.Within the charging system according to the invention, several charging stations are connected in series and are prioritized to sequence the charging of electrical equipment connected to the respective sockets of the different stations. The charging of electrical equipment is thus managed efficiently, avoiding any peak in power consumption. In practice, since the invention does not require any data communication between the electrical equipment to be charged and the power supply provided to the charging station(s), the charging station according to the invention is simple to use and relies on inexpensive electrical components, particularly its sockets, which can be, or include, by way of non-limiting but preferential use, single-phase 230V 16A sockets and / or a three-phase 400V 16A socket. Other advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent later.

[0019] According to additional advantageous features of the charging station and / or charging system, according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0020] - The measuring device comprises, for each secondary power line, a current sensor, which measures a current intensity flowing in the secondary power line per phase of the power supply and which provides the control unit with the measured intensity, and the control unit is adapted to calculate said intensity consumed by summing, per phase of the power supply, the intensities respectively measured by the current sensors.

[0021] - The main power line is adapted so that, at the input of the charging station, it is connected to a three-phase power supply.

[0022] - The sockets include three single-phase sockets which are respectively supplied by one of the three phases of the power supply.

[0023] - The sockets include a three-phase socket which is powered by the three phases of the power supply.

[0024] - The control unit is configured to determine at least one characterization functional of each of the sockets, such as an on / off state of the socket or a charging status in progress / finished of an electrical device connected to the socket or a charging failure of an electrical device connected to the socket, and the charging station includes, for each socket, a display means, which is controlled by the control unit and which is adapted to visually indicate said at least one functional characterization of the socket concerned.

[0025] - The control unit is configured to analyze the intensity measured by each current sensors and to deduce from said at least a functional characterization of the corresponding socket.

[0026] - The charging station further comprises a support housing, inside which are arranged the main power line, the secondary power lines, the electrical measuring device and the control unit, and on the front of which the sockets are arranged.

[0027] - Each charging station includes a suitable display means to indicate visually the priority order in which the charging stations are arranged.

[0028] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which: - [Fig.1] the [Fig.1] is a charging system according to the invention; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a larger-scale view of one of the terminals of charge belonging to the charge system of [Fig.l], considered in isolation; - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an electrical diagram of part of the charging system of the [Fig. 1]; and - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view similar to [Fig.1], illustrating a mode of alternative implementation of the charging system, according to the invention.

[0029] Figure [1] shows a charging system S for recharging electrical equipment El to E7.

[0030] The embodiment of electrical equipment E1 to E7 is not limiting. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], this electrical equipment includes (i) construction and / or work vehicles E1, E2, E3, E5, and E6, including, in particular, aerial work platforms E2 and E6, shown here as scissor lifts but of any type, (ii) a power tool E4, and (iii) an electric vehicle E7, specifically a utility vehicle. Regardless of the specific embodiment of this electrical equipment E1 through E7, each piece includes one or more rechargeable batteries, which provide the energy necessary for the operation and / or movement of the equipment and which must be recharged regularly. Furthermore, in the example shown here, there are seven pieces of electrical equipment, but this number is not exhaustive, as will be explained later.

[0031] The charging system S is installed in a location dedicated to the storage of electrical equipment El and E7, where the latter can be recharged by connecting them to the charging system S, as detailed below. Again, the form The definition of this dedicated space is not exhaustive. As a preferred example, this dedicated space is a rental agency from which each of the electrical equipment El to E7 can be rented, if necessary by the day, to a customer wishing to use the electrical equipment at a location distant from the rental agency, before returning this electrical equipment to the rental agency.

[0032] In all cases, the charging system S comprises one or more charging terminals 100, which, in the example considered here in relation to Figures 1 to 3, are two in number and are individually identical to each other. In [Fig. 1], the two charging terminals 100 are illustrated as they appear from the front to a user of these charging terminals, being schematically connected to each other, as well as to the rest of the charging system S and to the electrical equipment E1 to E7, as explained in more detail later. In [Fig. 2], only one of the two charging terminals 100 is shown, being considered in isolation from the rest of the charging system S. In [Fig. 3], the two charging terminals 100 of the charging system S are represented schematically, showing some of their electrical components, as detailed later.

[0033] As can be clearly seen in [Fig.2], each charging station 100 includes a support housing 110, for example of parallelepiped shape. This support housing 110 is adapted to rest, where appropriate fixed, stably on the floor, typically by means of feet 111 of the support housing 110, and / or to be fixed to a wall or similar structure, typically by means of fixing devices, not shown, engaging with dedicated fittings 112 of the support housing 110. In practice, as in the example illustrated in the figures, the support housing 110 has a front face 113, otherwise called the front panel, which is turned towards the reader in figures 1 and 2 and which, in operation, is turned towards the user of the charging station 100, and side faces 114 and 115, which extend towards the rear and on either side of the front face 113.

[0034] As schematically represented in [Fig.3], each charging station 100 has a main power line 120 which, in practice, is arranged inside the support housing 110, extending here from one to the other of the lateral faces 114 and 115. This main power line 120 is adapted to be connected, at the input of the charging station 100 to which it belongs, to a power supply 200 of the charging system S. The embodiment of this power supply 200 is not limiting: by way of example, the power supply 200 is (i) integrated into a main low-voltage switchboard, usually designated by its acronym LV switchboard, of the aforementioned dedicated location where the charging system S is installed, or (ii) integrated into a sub-switchboard of the aforementioned dedicated location, or (iii) consisting of a power outlet, typically of high power.Regardless of the form in which the 200 power supply is implemented, it can be single-phase, that is to say. It can be single-phase or polyphase, meaning it has several phases, particularly three phases. In a preferred example used for the remainder of the description of the load system S, the 200 power supply is thus three-phase.

[0035] In practice, for the purpose of the electrical connection between the power supply 200 and the main power line 120 of each charging station 100, the main power line 120 is advantageously provided with a connection input 121, here carried by the side face 114 of the support box 110, and a connection output 122, here carried by the side face 115 of the support box 110.In this way, within the charging system S, the main power line 120 of the first of the two charging stations 100 is connected to the power supply 200 directly, i.e. by an electrical conductor 210 which connects the power supply 200 to the connection input 121 of the main power line 120 of the first charging station, and the main power line 120 of the second of the charging stations 100 is connected to the power supply 200 via the first charging station 100, more precisely by successively the electrical conductor 210, the main power line 120 of the first charging station 100 and an electrical conductor 220 which connects the connection output 122 of the main power line 120 of the first charging station 100 to the connection input 121 of the main power line 120 of the second charging station 100.Of course, the embodiments of the connection input 121 and the connection output 122 of each of the charging stations 100, as well as the embodiments of the electrical conductors 210 and 220 are not limiting as long as (i) the main electrical line 120 of the first charging station 100 is, at the input, connected directly to the electrical supply 200 and (ii) the main electrical line 120 of the second charging station 100 is, at the input, connected to the electrical supply 200 via the main electrical line 120 of the first charging station 100, which is equivalent to saying that the first and second charging stations 100 are connected in series to the same electrical supply 200.

[0036] As clearly visible in [Fig. 2], and as schematically represented in [Fig. 3], each charging station 100 also includes sockets, each allowing one of the electrical devices E1 to E7 to be connected for the purpose of recharging them, via respective electrical conductors 301 to 307 shown schematically in [Fig. 1]. In the preferred example considered here, there are four of these sockets for each charging station 100, including three single-phase sockets 131, 132, and 133, which are respectively powered by one of the three phases of the three-phase power supply 200, and one three-phase socket 134, which is powered by all three phases of the three-phase power supply 200: this allows the user to simultaneously connect, on the same charging station, charge 100, three electrical devices, from among the electrical devices El to E7, which are rechargeable in single-phase current, and one electrical device, from among the electrical devices El to E7, which is rechargeable in three-phase current.

[0037] In all cases, for each charging station 100, the sockets 131 to 134 are connected in parallel to the main power line 120 by respective secondary power lines 141 to 144. In the preferred example considered here, it is understood that the secondary power lines 141 to 143 are single-phase, carrying respectively the first, second and third phases of the power supply 200, while the secondary power line 144 is three-phase.

[0038] In addition, each of the secondary power lines 141 to 144 is equipped with a switch 151 to 154.

[0039] In practice, here, the secondary electrical lines 141 to 144 are arranged inside the support box 110 and the sockets 131 to 134 are arranged on the front face 113 of the support box 110.

[0040] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, which is implemented in the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, each secondary power line 141 to 144 is equipped with a residual current and thermal-magnetic circuit breaker 161 to 164, as shown schematically in [Fig. 3]. As is known per se, these circuit breakers 161 to 164 provide protection for the load system S, as well as for the user of the latter.

[0041] As schematically represented in [Fig. 3], each charging terminal 100 also includes, for each of the secondary power lines 141 to 144, a current sensor 171 to 174 which measures the current flowing in the corresponding secondary power line per phase of the power supply 200. The embodiment of these current sensors 171 to 174 is not limiting; for example, these current sensors 171 to 174 are Hall effect current sensors. Regardless of the embodiment of the current sensors 171 to 174, it is understood that by summing, for each phase of the power supply 200, the currents respectively measured by the current sensors 171 to 174, one obtains the current flowing in the main power line 120 per phase of the power supply 200.Thus, the current sensors 171 to 174 together form an electrical measuring device 170 that determines the current flowing in the main power line 120 per phase of the power supply 200. This current is subsequently referred to as "Consumed Current" since it corresponds to the current consumed, per phase of the power supply 200, by the electrical equipment connected to the load terminal 100 in question. In practice, here, the electrical measuring device 170 is arranged inside the support housing 110.

[0042] Also as schematically represented in [Fig. 3], each charging station 100 further comprises a control unit 180, typically electronic, whose components may be analog and / or digital. In practice, here, the control unit 180 is arranged inside the support housing 110.

[0043] Whatever the embodiment of the control unit 180, the latter allows each of the switches 151 to 154 to be controlled in opening / closing. For this purpose, the control unit 180 is connected to each of the switches 151 to 154 so as to actuate the opening / closing of the latter, by ad hoc means, known in themselves and not detailed here.

[0044] Furthermore, the control unit 180 allows the current consumed to be compared with a predetermined maximum value, hereinafter referred to as the "maximum current". To this end, the control unit 180 is pre-programmed with the maximum current and performs, in real time, a comparison of values ​​between the current consumed and the maximum current, typically by means of a dedicated calculator within the control unit 180, which is known per se and not detailed here. In the embodiment considered in figures 1 to 3, each of the current sensors 171 to 174 is advantageously connected to the control unit 180, so as to provide the latter with the current intensity which it measures, and the control unit 180 is able to calculate the current consumed, by summing, by phase of the power supply 200, the intensities respectively measured by the current sensors 171 to 174.

[0045] Before explaining in detail how the control unit 180 uses the result of the comparison between the current consumed and the maximum current, it should be noted that, according to an advantageous optional arrangement implemented in the illustrated example, the control unit 180 is configured to determine one or more functional characteristics of each of the sockets 131 to 134. According to a first possibility, one or more of these functional characteristics of each socket 131 to 134 consists of an on / off state of the socket in question: for this purpose, the control unit 180 is advantageously configured to deduce, from the selectively open or closed state of the switch 151 to 154 associated with the socket in question, that the latter is either on, i.e., with the corresponding switch closed, or off, i.e., with the corresponding switch in the off position. open.According to another possibility, which can be combined with the first possibility mentioned above, one or more of the functional characteristics of each socket 131 to 134 consists of a state of charging, selectively in progress or finished, of electrical equipment connected to the socket concerned: for this purpose, the control unit 180 is configured to analyze over time the intensity measured by the current sensor 171 to 174 associated with the socket concerned and to deduce from this that the charging of the electrical equipment, connected to the . The charging process for the socket in question is either in progress or finished. This deduction is based on the fact that the charging of an electric battery normally follows a typical temporal pattern, which is well-known and can be entered into the control unit 180. According to yet another possibility, which can be combined with each of the previous ones, one or more of the functional characteristics of each socket 131 to 134 consists of a charging failure of electrical equipment connected to the socket in question. For this purpose, the control unit 180 is configured to analyze over time the current measured by the current sensor 171 to 174 associated with the socket in question and deduce that the charging of the equipment connected to the socket in question has a fault. This deduction is based, for example, on the sudden interruption of the current measured by the current sensor. Of course, other functional characteristics of sockets 131 to 134 are conceivable.

[0046] Regardless of the functional characterization(s) of each of the sockets 131 to 134, which is advantageously determined by the control unit 180, each charging station 100 advantageously comprises, for each socket 131 to 134, a display means 191 to 194, which is controlled by the control unit 180 to visually indicate the functional characterization(s) to the user of the charging station 100. In the example illustrated in the figures, each display means 191 to 194 comprises, or even consists of, a light-emitting diode, which is arranged adjacent to the corresponding socket 131 to 134 and which is controlled by the control unit 180 by adjusting the color and / or the flashing frequency and / or the on / off state of this diode, according to the aforementioned functional characteristic(s).

[0047] In all cases, and regardless of the embodiment of the control unit 180 of each charging station 100, this control unit 180 makes it possible to electrically shed one or more specifically determined sockets, among the sockets 131 to 134, when the control unit 180 determines, by comparison of the current consumed with the maximum current, that the current consumed is greater than the maximum current for the single phase or one of the phases of the power supply 200. This load shedding capacity of each charging station 100 is based on the following two aspects.

[0048] On the one hand, the sockets 131 to 134 of each charging station 100 are individually ordered according to a predetermined priority order per phase of the power supply 200, in the sense that, for the single phase or each of the phases of the power supply 200, the sockets supplied by the phase in question are arranged from the highest priority socket to the lowest priority socket. In the preferred example considered here, the aforementioned priority order consists, according to a first possibility, of the single-phase socket 131 having priority over the three-phase socket 134 for the first phase of the power supply 200, the single-phase socket 132 has priority over the three-phase socket 134 for the second phase of the power supply 200, and the single-phase socket 133 has priority over the three-phase socket 134 for the third phase of the power supply 200; according to a second possibility, the two sockets supplied by one of the same three phases of the power supply 200 are ordered according to a reverse order of priority. Regardless of the priority order assigned to sockets 131 to 134 of each charging station 100, this priority order is known to the control unit 180, the information corresponding to this priority order being previously provided to the control unit 180. This information can be permanently pre-programmed in the control unit 180, in particular when the priority order between sockets 131 to 134 cannot be modified by the user of the charging station 100.Alternatively, this information can be entered into the control unit 180 in a modifiable manner in the case where the user has the possibility of adjusting the priority order between the sockets 131 to 134; in this case, each charging station 100 is adapted to allow such adjustment, in particular either via an interface or adjustment device, which is carried by the support housing 110, typically on the front, and which is connected to the control unit 180, or via a data exchange, typically wireless, in particular via an ad hoc communication protocol, between the control unit 180 and a remote electronic unit, such as a smartphone, tablet or similar.

[0049] On the other hand, the control unit 180 of each charging station 100 is configured so that, when, for the single phase or one of the phases of the power supply 200, the control unit 180 compares the current consumed with the maximum current and deduces from this comparison that the current consumed is greater than the maximum current, it implements a sequencing operation which consists, for the phase concerned, of: - open, from among the closed switches 151 to 154, the switch 151, 152, 153 or 154 that is associated with the lowest priority socket among the sockets 131 to 134 associated with this or these closed switches, then - compare again the current consumed with the maximum current and, if the control unit 180 determines that the current consumed has not fallen below the maximum current, repeat the sequencing operation.

[0050] To better understand the two aspects above relating to the load shedding capacity of each charging station 100, let us assume, for illustrative purposes only, that (i) the equipment E1 to E4 is respectively connected to the sockets 131 to 134 of the first charging station 100, (ii) no electrical equipment is connected to the sockets 131 to 134 of the second charging station 100, and (iii) the first charging station 100 is, according to the preferential example mentioned above, with the three-phase socket 134 having priority over the single-phase socket 131 for the first phase of the power supply 200, the three-phase socket 134 having priority over the single-phase socket 132 for the second phase of the power supply 200, and the three-phase socket 134 having priority over the single-phase socket 133 for the third phase of the power supply 200. Let us also consider that the switches 151 to 154 are all initially closed, thus allowing the recharging of electrical equipment El to E4 via the charging station 100.When, during the real-time comparison performed by the control unit 180 between the current consumed and the maximum current, the control unit 180 determines that the current consumed is greater than the maximum current for any of the three phases of the power supply 200, for example for the first phase, the control unit 180 implements the aforementioned sequencing operation for the first phase, which leads to the opening of the switch 151 by the control unit 180 and then a new comparison by the control unit 180 between the current consumed and the maximum current; in the event that the control unit 180 determines that the current consumed has not fallen below the maximum current, the aforementioned sequencing operation is repeated, which leads to the opening of the switch 154 by the control unit 180 and then a new comparison by the control unit 180 between the current consumed and the maximum current.Once the control unit 180 determines that the current consumed has fallen below the maximum current, the aforementioned sequencing operation is not repeated, so the switch(es) that have not been opened remain closed.

[0051] The control unit 180 of each charging station 100 thus makes it possible to avoid any peak in current consumed via the corresponding charging station 100, by sequencing the charging of the electrical equipment which is connected to this charging station.

[0052] Of course, the control unit also advantageously allows, after it has opened one of the switches 151 to 154, for that switch to be closed as soon as the electrical conditions permit, typically after the charging of equipment connected to a socket with a higher priority than the one associated with the switch in question has been completed. Multiple possibilities are conceivable for implementing this feature. By way of non-limiting example, before opening the switch of one of the sockets 131 to 134 and thus deactivating that socket when the control unit 180 determines that the current drawn is greater than the maximum current for the single phase or one of the phases of the power supply 200, the control unit 180 is configured to memorize the value of the current flowing in the corresponding secondary power line for the phase in question, and then to reactivate that socket as soon as, for the phase In the case where several outlets have been deactivated because the control unit 180 determines that the current consumed exceeds the maximum current for the phase in question, these outlets are reactivated one by one, in the aforementioned priority order.

[0053] Furthermore, as schematically represented in [Fig. 3], the respective control units 180 of the two charging terminals 100 are, within the charging system S, interconnected in such a way as to allow one of them to be offloaded from the other. The connection between the control units 180 is achieved, for example, by a bus 400, but other embodiments, including wireless ones, are of course conceivable.

[0054] To this end, on the one hand, the two charging stations 100 are ordered individually according to a predetermined priority order: this amounts to saying that either the first charging station 100 has priority over the second charging station 100, or, conversely, the second charging station 100 has priority over the first charging station 100. The priority order between the charging stations 100 is known to the control units 180, the corresponding information being provided to them either by being pre-programmed, or entered in a modifiable manner, in particular by setting the charging system S by the user, and this according to considerations similar to those developed above on how the priority order between the sockets 131 to 134 is provided to the control unit 180.Furthermore, this priority order between the charging terminals 100 is advantageously indicated visually on the charging terminals 100, for the benefit of the user of the charging system S, by a dedicated display means 195 on each charging terminal 100, controlled by the corresponding control unit 180: in the example illustrated in the figures, the display means 195 comprises two LEDs 195.1 and 195.2, which are respectively arranged, here on the front face 113 of the support housing 110, adjacent to markings "1" and "2" and which are selectively illuminated between the two charging terminals 100. In [Fig. 1], the LED 195.1, associated with marking "1", of the first charging terminal 100, and the LED 195.2, associated with marking "2", are thus illuminated while that the light-emitting diode 195.2 of the first charging terminal 100 and the light-emitting diode 195.1 of the second charging station 100 are switched off, which indicates that the first charging station 100 has priority over the second charging station 100. Of course, multiple embodiments are conceivable for the display means 195, or even, more generally, for the way of indicating to the user the order of priority according to which the charging stations 100 are ordered with respect to each other.

[0055] Furthermore, the control units 180 of the two charging stations 100 are jointly configured so that, each time the sequencing operation is implemented, this sequencing operation is applied to the charging station 100, among the charging stations 100, that has the lowest priority and at least one of whose switches 151 to 154 is closed. In this way, when both charging stations 100 each have one or more of their switches 151 to 154 closed, the lower priority of the two charging stations, here the second charging station 100, is relieved of the load by opening at least one, or even successively all, of its closed switches, as long as the current consumed remains greater than the maximum current.Of course, in the event that, after all the switches of the least priority charging station 100, here the second charging station, have been opened in this way, a sequencing operation, or even several sequencing operations, can be implemented within the other charging station, here the first charging station, as long as the current consumed has not fallen below the maximum current, as explained in detail above.

[0056] Thus, it is understood that, within the charging system S, the electrical equipment El to E7 respectively connected to the different sockets 131 to 134 of the two charging stations 100 are recharged in a sequential manner, where appropriate partly one after the other, and this according to the aforementioned order of priority between the two charging stations 100 and, at the level of each of these charging stations 100, according to the aforementioned order of priority between the sockets 131 to 134 of the charging station concerned, ensuring that the current consumed does not permanently exceed the maximum current.

[0057] Figure 4 shows a charging system S' corresponding to an alternative embodiment of the charging system S described so far. Unlike the charging system S, the charging system S' comprises four charging terminals, namely two charging terminals referenced 100', one charging terminal referenced 500' and one charging terminal referenced 600'.

[0058] Before describing each of the charging stations 100', 500', and 600' in more detail, it should be noted that, as in system S, these four charging stations 100', 500', and 600' are individually ordered according to a predetermined priority order within the charging system S'. By way of example, which will be used for the remainder of the description of the charging system S', the first of the two 100' charging stations has higher priority than the 500' charging station, which itself has higher priority than the 600' charging station, which in turn has higher priority than the second of the 100' charging stations. In other words, in [Fig. 4], the four charging stations of the charging system S' have progressively lower priority relative to each other from left to right. Of course, alternative priority orders between the charging stations of the S' charging system are conceivable, and it should also be noted that, as explained in detail for the two 100 charging stations of the S charging system, this priority order is advantageously modifiable by the user of the S charging system.

[0059] Each of the two charging stations 100' is similar, or even identical, to the charging station 100 described in Figures 1 to 3, except that each charging station 100' includes a display means 195' which, while being functionally similar to the display means 195 of the charging station 100, allows the order of priority between the four charging stations of the charging system S' to be indicated visually. Thus, the display means 195' of each charging station 100' here comprises four light-emitting diodes 195.1', ​​195.2', 195.3' and 195.4', which are each functionally similar to light-emitting diodes 195.1 and 195.2, but which are respectively associated with markings '1', '2', '3' and '4' functionally similar to the markings '1' and '2' of each charging station 100.With regard to the example mentioned above concerning the order of priority between the charging stations of the charging system S', and following considerations similar to those developed above in relation to the light-emitting diodes 195.1 and 195.2, the first charging station 100' has, here, its LED 195.1' lit and its other LEDs 195.2', 195.3' and 195.4' off while the second charging station 100' has its LED 195.4' lit and its other LEDs 195.1', ​​195.2' and 195.3' off.

[0060] The 500' charging station is similar to each of the 100' charging stations, except that the 500' charging station includes only two sockets, designated 541' and 542' respectively. Sockets 541' and 542' are functionally similar to sockets 131 to 134 of each 100' charging station. In the illustrated embodiment, socket 541' is, for example, a single-phase socket, while socket 542' is a three-phase socket. Of course, many other embodiments are possible, as mentioned above, in addition to sockets 131 to 134.

[0061] The 600' charging station is similar to the 500' charging station, except that the 600' charging station includes only one 641' socket. This 641' socket is functionally similar to sockets 131 to 134 of each 100 charging station. In the illustrated embodiment, the 641' socket is, for example, a three-phase socket. Of course, since the 600' charging station includes only one socket, the potential load shedding of this 600' charging station is total, in the sense that, unlike the 100, 100', or 500' charging stations, it is not possible to shed at least one of its sockets without also shedding at least one other socket.

[0062] Within the charging system S', and following considerations similar to those developed above for the charging system S, the respective main power lines of the charging stations 100', 500' and 600' are connected in series to the same power supply 200', similar to the power supply 200, and the the respective control units of the 100', 500' and 600' charging stations are connected to each other in the same way as the respective control units 180 of the 100 charging stations are connected to each other within the S charging system.

[0063] In light of the above, it is understood that, within a charging system such as charging systems S and S', the number of charging points is variable. Naturally, the means for displaying the charging points belonging to a given charging system, such as display means 195 or 195', is advantageously adapted to the number of charging points in the charging system, in order to indicate the priority order in which these charging points of the same charging system are arranged. In practice, the maximum number of charging points in the same charging system can be linked to the amperage of the power supply of the charging system in question: thus, preferably, the number of charging points is two when the power supply is 16A and the number of charging points is four when the power supply is 32A.

[0064] Finally, various modifications and variations to the charging stations and charging systems described so far are conceivable. For example: - following considerations similar to those detailed above on how the priority order between sockets 131 to 134 is provided to the control unit 180, the maximum intensity is provided to the control unit 180 by being either pre-programmed in the control unit 180, or entered into the latter in an adjustable manner; - rather than the electrical measuring device, such as measuring device 170, having a current sensor for each secondary power line, such as current sensors 171 to 174, a variant of this electrical measuring device, not illustrated in the figures, consists in this electrical measuring device having a single current sensor, which (i) directly measures on the main power line of the charging station concerned the current flowing in that main power line per phase of the power supply and (ii) provides the control unit of that charging station with the measured current to constitute the Current consumed; and / or - an optional additional arrangement of the control unit of each charging station, such as the control unit 180, consists of this control unit taking into account the times of day to activate the sockets of this charging station, typically so that these sockets can only be activated during so-called "off-peak" hours when the supply of electrical energy is less expensive, so that the energy consumption for recharging electrical equipment is carried out at a lower cost.

Claims

Demands

1. Charging station (100; 100'; 500') for charging electrical equipment (E1 to E7), comprising: - a main power line (120) which is adapted, at the input of the charging station, to be connected to a power supply (200; 200') having one phase or several phases, in particular three phases, - sockets (131 to 134; 541', 542') which are each adapted to connect one of the electrical equipment to be charged, these sockets being: - connected in parallel to the main power line (120) respectively by secondary power lines (141 to 144) which are each provided with a switch (151 to 154), and - individually ordered according to a predetermined priority order by phase of the power supply (200;200'), - an electrical measuring device (170), adapted to determine a current consumed corresponding to the current flowing in the main power line (120) per phase of the power supply (200; 200'), and - a control unit (180), adapted both to control the opening / closing of each of the switches (151 to 154) and to compare said current consumed with a predetermined maximum value, the control unit being configured to, when the control unit determines that said current consumed is greater than said maximum value for the single phase or one of said several phases of the power supply (200;200'), implement a sequencing operation, which consists, for the phase concerned, of: - opening, among the closed switch(s) (151 to 154), the switch which is associated with the least priority socket among the socket(s) respectively associated with this or these closed switch(s), then - comparing again said current consumed with said maximum value and, in the event that the control unit (180) determines that said current consumed has not fallen below said maximum value, repeating the sequencing operation.;

2. Charging station according to claim 1, in which the measuring device (170) comprises, for each secondary power line (141 to 144), a current sensor (171 to 174), which measures a current intensity flowing in the secondary power line per phase of the power supply (200; 200') and which provides the control unit (180) with the measured intensity, and in which the control unit (180) is adapted to calculate said intensity consumed by summing, per phase of the power supply (200; 200'), the intensities respectively measured by the current sensors (171 to 174).

3. Charging station according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the main power line (120) is adapted to be connected to a three-phase power supply (200; 200') at the input of the charging station (100).

4. Charging station according to claim 3, wherein the sockets (131 to 134) include three single-phase sockets (131 to 133) which are respectively powered by one of the three phases of the power supply (200; 200').

5. Charging station according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the sockets (131 to 134) include a three-phase socket (134) which is powered by the three phases of the power supply (200; 200').

6. A charging station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (180) is configured to determine at least one functional characterization of each of the sockets (131 to 134), such as an on / off state of the socket or a charging status in progress / finished of electrical equipment (E1 to E7) connected to the socket or a charging failure of electrical equipment connected to the socket, and wherein the charging station (100; 100'; 500') comprises, for each socket (131 to 134; 541', 542'), a display means (191 to 194), which is controlled by the control unit (180) and which is adapted to visually indicate said at least one functional characterization of the socket concerned.

7. A charging station according to claim 6 taken in combination with claim 2, wherein the control unit (180) is configured to analyze the intensity measured by each of the sensors of current (171 to 174) and to deduce from it at least one functional characterization of the corresponding socket (131 to 134).

8. Charging station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (100; 100'; 500') further comprises a support box (110): - inside of which are arranged the main power line (120), the secondary power lines (141 to 144), the electrical measuring device (170) and the control unit (180), and - on the front of which are arranged the sockets (131 to 134).

9. Charging system (S; S') for recharging electrical equipment (E1 to E7), comprising at least two charging terminals (100; 100', 500'): - each of which conforms to any one of the preceding claims, - which are individually ordered according to a predetermined order of priority, - whose respective main power lines (120) are connected in series to the same power supply (200; 200'), and - whose respective control units (180) are linked together by being jointly configured to, at each implementation of the sequencing operation, apply this sequencing operation to the lowest priority charging terminal among the charging terminals of which at least one of the switches (151 to 154) is closed.

10. Charging system according to claim 9, wherein each charging terminal (100; 100', 500') has a display means (195; 195') adapted to visually indicate the priority order in which the charging terminals are ordered.

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