improved charging port for motor vehicles and regulation process

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging socket for a motor vehicle comprising a mounting base (4), a charging connector (2) mounted on the mounting base, wherein the charging socket includes a device (10) for regulating the temperature of the charging connector. The invention also relates to a method for regulating the temperature of the charging socket. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Improved charging socket for motor vehicles and regulation method. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of charging sockets for motor vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles equipped with an electric traction machine. The invention also relates to a method for regulating a charging socket. Prior art

[0002] To address the challenges posed by climate change (such as bans on the most polluting internal combustion engine vehicles in major cities), car manufacturers have largely focused their strategies on developing hybrid and electric vehicles. Consequently, with the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, more and more users of such vehicles need to recharge them daily, in all seasons and in all regions of the world. However, extreme temperatures in certain parts of the world can sometimes cause quality problems such as premature wear (due to high temperatures) or the blocking of charging ports on electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0003] In particular, during periods of extreme cold, charging sockets of electric motor vehicles may become blocked due to the formation of ice between the charging plug of the cable and the charging connector of the electric motor vehicle's charging socket, making it impossible for the user to use the electric motor vehicle. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing in particular a solution to avoid premature wear and / or blockages of the load taking.

[0005] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a charging socket for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising a mounting base, a charging connector mounted on the base, wherein the charging socket includes a device for regulating the temperature of the charging connector.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the regulating device is a heating resistance provided in the vicinity of the charging connector.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the heating element surrounds the charging connector.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the heating element is fixed to the mounting base.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the control device is a ventilated air heater.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the ventilated air heater is a heater and / or a forced convection cooler.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the charging system further includes a control and piloting system for the regulation device.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the control and monitoring system includes a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the charging connector

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for regulating the temperature of a charging socket having one of the preceding technical characteristics is provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. Obtaining a temperature value in the vicinity of the charging connector; b. Activation of the control device according to a heating mode when the value of a temperature is less than a predetermined low threshold value.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the process includes a step c) of switching on the control device in cooling mode when the value of a temperature is greater than a predetermined high threshold value.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the method includes an additional step d) of determining an optimal disconnection time following the start-up of the control device.

[0016] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is provided having a charging socket having one of the preceding technical characteristics. brief description of the figures

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate: • [Fig.1]: a partial schematic side view of a charging socket according to a first embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.2]: a partial schematic front view of the charging socket of [Fig.1]; • [Fig. 3]: a partial schematic side view of a second embodiment of a charging socket according to the invention; and, • [Fig.4]: a flowchart of a method for regulating the temperature of a charging socket according to the invention.

[0018] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED description of a method of implementation

[0019] With reference to [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], we will describe a first embodiment of a charging socket according to the invention.

[0020] A motor vehicle 1 comprises, in a manner known per se, a hybrid or electric powertrain including an electric motor and a traction battery for supplying electrical energy to the electric motor. The motor vehicle 1 further comprises a charging socket according to the invention provided on said motor vehicle 1 so as to be accessible to a user of said motor vehicle 1.

[0021] The charging socket according to the invention here comprises a mounting base 4 for the charging socket according to the invention on the motor vehicle 1. The charging socket according to the invention further comprises a charging connector 2 mounted on the mounting base 4. The charging connector 2 is intended to receive an additional charging socket 3 connected to a charging station.

[0022] The charging socket according to the invention further comprises a temperature control device 10 for the charging connector 2. In this first embodiment of the charging socket according to the invention, the temperature control device comprises a heating element 10 located near the charging connector. Here, the heating element 10 surrounds the charging connector 2. The heating element 10 is spiral-shaped. Other configurations of the heating element are possible to, in this case, heat the charging connector 2 if necessary.

[0023] On the other hand, the charging socket according to the invention further comprises a control and piloting system 15 of the regulation device 10. In one embodiment, the control and piloting system 15 comprises a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the charging connector 2 in order to be able to measure at the level of said charging connector 2 an air temperature in the vicinity of said charging connector 2.

[0024] With reference to [Fig.3], we will describe a second embodiment of a charging socket according to the invention.

[0025] The charging port according to the invention in this second embodiment differs from the charging port in the first embodiment described above in that the control device here comprises a ventilated air heater 20. The ventilated air heater 20 allows air at a predetermined temperature to be sent to the charging connector 2 in order to heat or cool it. For this purpose, the ventilated air heater 20 is a forced convection heater and / or cooler. As before, the control device 20 is controlled by the system control and piloting 15. The ventilated air heater 20 is located at the rear of the mounting base 4.

[0026] Now, with reference to [Fig. 4], we will describe a method for regulating the temperature of a charging socket according to the invention. In a first step, the regulation method 100 according to the invention obtains or receives a temperature value 101 in the vicinity of the charging connector 2. This temperature value can be obtained in various ways.

[0027] In a first way, the temperature value 101 is measured using sensors provided in the motor vehicle 1: the temperature sensor 111 of the control and piloting system 15 of the charging socket according to the invention; an on-board outside temperature sensor 112, generally located in one of the rearview mirrors of the motor vehicle 1; an on-board humidity sensor 113 which makes it possible to assess a possible presence of frost / ice at the charging connector 2.

[0028] In a second way, the temperature value 101 is evaluated using existing functions 120 within the motor vehicle 1, such as a frost detection function 121.

[0029] In a third way, if the motor vehicle 1 is connected, the temperature value 101 is evaluated using an integrated weather application 130: a geolocation application 131 and / or a temperature and humidity application 132. This integrated weather application makes it possible to obtain information external to the motor vehicle 1 from external sources of a weather service.

[0030] The three ways described above can coexist within the motor vehicle 1.

[0031] In a second step, based on the evaluated and / or measured temperature value 101, the control method according to the invention activates the control device 10,20 of the load socket according to the invention. The control method according to the invention activates the control device 10,20 in heating mode if the temperature value 101 is below a predetermined lower threshold value. Similarly, the control method according to the invention puts the control device 20 into cooling mode if the temperature value 101 is above a predetermined upper threshold value.

[0032] In order to determine the activation of the control device 10, 20, the control method according to the invention can use a predictive algorithm 200 or a simple rule, both based on the temperature comparisons described above. If a temperature sensor 111 is present in the load socket according to the invention, temperature control of the control device 10, 20 via a PID temperature controller can also be implemented (based on changes in external temperatures) in addition to activating the device. regulation 10,20. In the case where there is no temperature sensor 111, a simple binary activation / deactivation request for the regulation device 10,20 is carried out (Activated = 1; Deactivated = 0)

[0033] The control method according to the invention leaves the control device 10,20 activated for a predetermined time. If the motor vehicle 1 is connected to a charging station, the control method uses information related to the state of charge of the traction battery to anticipate the activation of the control device 10,20 before the traction battery is fully charged.

[0034] Thus, the regulation method according to the invention makes it possible to anticipate the heating / cooling of the charging connector 2 before (to prevent the user from being unable to plug in) or during charging (before the end of charging so that the user can unplug the charging plug).

[0035] Alternatively, the regulation method according to the invention includes an additional step of determining an optimal connection / disconnection time following the activation of the regulation device 10,20. This information is sent to a user of the motor vehicle 1 so that he can connect or disconnect the motor vehicle 1 at the most opportune time.

[0036] The use of a charging socket according to the invention as previously described makes it possible to avoid a situation of blocking / immobilization of the motor vehicle 1 in the event of extreme weather conditions (very cold or very hot) due to an impossibility of plugging or unplugging the charging socket.

[0037] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0038] It is emphasized that all features, as they appear to a person skilled in the art from this description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if in practice they have only been described in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, without this having been expressly excluded or without technical circumstances rendering such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Demands

1. Charging socket for motor vehicle comprising a mounting base (4), a charging connector (2) mounted on the mounting base, wherein the charging socket comprises a device for regulating the temperature of the charging connector.

2. Taken according to claim 1, wherein the regulating device is a heating resistance (10) provided in the vicinity of the charging connector.

3. Taken according to claim 2, wherein the heating element surrounds the charging connector.

4. Taken according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the heating element is fixed to the mounting base.

5. Taken according to claim 1, wherein the control device is a ventilated air heater (20).

6. Taken according to claim 5, wherein the ventilated air heater is a forced convection heater and / or cooler.

7. Taken according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the take-up further includes a control and piloting system (15) of the regulating device.

8. A method for regulating the temperature of a charging socket according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method comprises steps of: a. Obtaining (100) a temperature value in the vicinity of the charging connector; b. Switching on (300) the regulating device in a heating mode when the temperature value is less than a predetermined lower threshold value.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method includes a step c) of switching on the control device in cooling mode when the value of a temperature is greater than a predetermined high threshold value.

10. A method according to any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the method comprises an additional step d) of determining an optimal disconnection time following the start-up of the regulating device.

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