ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE FOR DISCONNECTING A CHARGING CABLE

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a disconnection device adapted to have a holding configuration in which the second connector (6) is inserted into the first connector (3), said fork (9a, 9b) clamping the first connector (3) and the second connector (6), the spring (10) being compressed between said plug (4) and said first connector (3), said locking finger (8) being inserted into said opening of the fork (9a, 9b), or a disconnection configuration in which said locking finger (8) is withdrawn from said opening by activation of the actuator (7) when the controller detects the open state of said charging port, said spring (10) being released so that said first connector (3) is disconnected from the second connector (6). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DISCONNECTING A CHARGING CABLE

[0001] The invention relates to means of recharging the batteries of electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] Prior art patent application WO2023222959 is known, describing an electric or hybrid motor vehicle with an integrated charging cable. The vehicle comprises a battery, a charging port, and a body. Furthermore, the vehicle includes an electrical outlet comprising a housing, an extension cord, and an electrical connector. The housing is integral with the body. The extension cord is deployable outside the vehicle. The electrical connector is removably housed within the housing so that a user can access it from outside the vehicle via the charging port. The connector is connected to the battery, via the extension cord, and to a terrestrial electrical grid. The extension cord forms a helical elastic spiral and is positioned within a guide tube. However, a drawback remains.If the extension cord is faulty, particularly if the coils are bent, it may be partially obstructed during storage. This can cause the electrical connector to become lodged outside the charging port cover, preventing it from closing. This poses a danger because the electrical connector and the extension cord are susceptible to damage while the vehicle is moving. Furthermore, some vehicles are equipped with an immobilizer system that prevents the vehicle from starting when the charging port cover is open. Therefore, if the extension cord is bent and prevents the connector from being stored properly, the vehicle will be immobilized.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to allow the removal of the charging cable when it is defective and thus avoid immobilizing the vehicle.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a conduit configured to contain a charging cable including a first connector, said conduit comprising a cap, said vehicle comprising a charging hatch giving access to the conduit and a controller configured to detect the open or closed state of said charging hatch, said vehicle comprising a user interface configured to receive a command to disconnect the charging cable from a user, said vehicle comprising a junction box and an electrical cable connected to said junction box, said electrical cable comprising a second connector configured to fit into the first connector, said second connector being positioned against said plug, notable in that said vehicle comprising a disconnect device comprising an actuator comprising a locking finger, said controller being configured to communicate with said actuator, the disconnect device comprising a fork configured to clamp said first connector, said second connector comprising a spring, said fork comprising an opening, said locking finger being configured to fit into said opening, said disconnect device being capable of having two configurations: - a retaining configuration in which the second connector is inserted into the first connector, said fork clamping the first connector and the second connector, the spring being compressed between said plug and said first connector, said locking finger being inserted into said opening of the fork; - a disconnection configuration in which said locking finger is extracted from said opening by activation of the actuator when the controller detects the open state of said reloading hatch, said spring being relaxed so that said first connector is disconnected from the second connector.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to release the charging cable to proceed with its replacement and prevent prolonged immobilization of the vehicle.

[0006] Advantageously, said first connector has two slots, said fork having two teeth, each tooth being configured to be inserted into one of said slots in the holding configuration.

[0007] In this way, the fork allows for more effective retention of the first connector and the second connector together.

[0008] Advantageously, the second connector has a cylindrical shape.

[0009] Thus, the spring positioned around the second connector conforms to the shape of said second connector. The arrangement of the various components is thus optimized.

[0010] Preferably, said fork comprises a body and a handle, said body comprising said opening, said handle being configured to be grasped by a user.

[0011] Thus, the user can remove said fork with greater ease.

[0012] Advantageously, said conduit has a cylindrical shape.

[0013] Thus, when the charging cable has a spiral shape, the charging cable is guided during storage to avoid deformation.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for ejecting a charging cable positioned in a conduit of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle as previously described, said disconnection device having the maintenance configuration, remarkable in that said process comprises the following steps: - a step of commanding the disconnection of the charging cable by a user via said user interface; - a step of detecting the open state of said charging hatch by the controller when the command to disconnect the charging cable is issued by the user, said controller activating said actuator so that said locking finger translates out of said opening; - a step of manual removal of said fork by the user causing the release of the spring and the disconnection of the first connector and the second connector, said disconnection device having the disconnection configuration; - a step of removing the charging cable by the user by pulling said charging cable out of said conduit from the charging hatch.

[0015] Thus, when the charging cable has a defect preventing its storage, the defective charging cable is ejected to avoid prolonged immobilization of the vehicle.

[0016] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a conduit comprising a disconnection device having a holding configuration in an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the conduit shown in [Fig.1] comprising the disconnection device presenting a disconnection configuration in the electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0017] The invention relates to a conduit 1 of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle configured to include a charging cable 2. The vehicle includes a battery, a junction box, and an electrical cable 5. Furthermore, the vehicle includes a user interface configured to receive a command from a user to disconnect the charging cable. The charging cable 2 has a first connector 3. The electrical cable 5 has a second connector 6. The first connector 3 and the second connector 6 are capable of connecting together. The battery serves as the primary source of electrical power, providing the energy required to start the vehicle and power the electrical systems. The electrical cable 5 connects the battery to the junction box, which is a central device that distributes electrical current to the various components of the vehicle, such as the lights, control systems, and other circuits.Electrical cable 5 is . The charging cable 2 is also connected to the charging cable 2 by the connection of the first connector 3 and the second connector 6, thus allowing the battery to be charged when the charging cable 2 is plugged into an electric charging station, for example. The conduit 1 has a plug 4. The second connector 6 is positioned in said plug 4. The second connector 6 has a spring. Preferably, said second connector 6 has a cylindrical shape so that said spring can conform to the shape of the second connector 6. Preferably, said conduit 1 has a cylindrical shape and the charging cable 2 has a spiral shape. Thus, when stored, the charging cable 2 is guided in said conduit 1 to prevent deformation. The vehicle has a charging hatch providing access to the conduit 1 and a controller configured to detect the open or closed state of said charging hatch.Furthermore, the vehicle includes a disconnect device capable of releasing the charging cable 2 when it is defective. For example, it may be necessary to release the charging cable 2 for replacement when the coils of the charging cable 2 are deformed so that it cannot be fully inserted into the conduit 1. The disconnect device includes an actuator 7 comprising a locking finger 8 and a fork 9a, 9b configured to grip the first connector 3 of the charging cable 2. The fork 9a, 9b has an opening. Optionally, as shown in [Fig. 1], the fork 9a, 9b has a body 9a and a handle 9b. The body 9a has the opening. The handle 9b allows a user to grasp the fork 9a, 9b for movement. For example, the handle 9b is a cable connected to a pull tab located in the vehicle's trunk.To manually remove the fork 9a, 9b, the user pulls the tab from inside the compartment, which causes the fork 9a, 9b to be removed. The locking finger 8 is configured to engage in the opening of the fork 9a, 9b when the actuator 7 is activated. The disconnection device is capable of two configurations: a holding configuration and a disconnection configuration.

[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates the disconnection device in the holding configuration. The second connector 6 is inserted into the first connector 3. The fork 9a, 9b clamps the first connector 3. Preferably, the first connector 3 has two slots and the fork 9a, 9b has two prongs. Each prong is configured to fit into one of the slots to hold the first connector 3 and the second connector 6 together. The spring 10 is compressed between the plug 4 and the first connector 3. The locking finger 8 is inserted into the opening of the fork 9a, 9b so that it is impossible to move the fork 9a, 9b.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the disconnection device in the disconnection configuration. The locking finger 8 has been translated so that said locking finger 8 is extracted from said opening. The translation of the locking finger 8 is performed when the controller detects the open state of said reloading hatch. The fork 9a, 9b is then moved by a user. The fork 9a, 9b is not shown in Figure 2 for clarity. In this way, said spring is no longer compressed by said fork 9a, 9b, which causes the spring to release. Consequently, the force exerted on the first connector 3 generated by the release of the spring causes the disconnection of the first connector 3 and the second connector 6.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for ejecting the charging cable 2 to proceed with its replacement. Initially, the disconnect device is in the hold configuration. During a command step, the user commands the disconnection of the charging cable 2 from the vehicle's user interface. During a detection step, the controller detects the open state of the charging port when the user has commanded the disconnection of the charging cable 2. The controller then commands the activation of the actuator 7. The locking finger 8 then translates so as to withdraw from the opening of the fork 9a, 9b. During a withdrawal step, the fork 9a, 9b is manually withdrawn by the user. This causes the spring to release, and consequently disconnects the first connector 3 and the second connector 6. The disconnect device then is in the disconnect configuration.

Claims

Demands

1. An electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a conduit (1) configured to contain a charging cable (2) comprising a first connector (3), said conduit (1) comprising a cap (4), said vehicle comprising a charging hatch providing access to the conduit (1) and a controller configured to detect the open or closed state of said charging hatch, said vehicle comprising a user interface configured to receive a command to disconnect the charging cable (2) from a user, said vehicle comprising a junction box and an electrical cable (5) connected to said junction box, said electrical cable comprising a second connector (6) configured to fit into the first connector (3), said second connector (6) being positioned against said cap (4),characterized in that said vehicle comprises a disconnection device comprising an actuator (7) including a locking finger (8), said controller being configured to communicate with said actuator (7), the disconnection device comprising a fork (9a, 9b) configured to clamp said first connector (3), said second connector (6) comprising a spring (10), said fork (9a, 9b) comprising an opening, said locking finger (8) being configured to fit into said opening, said disconnection device being capable of having two configurations: - a holding configuration in which the second connector (6) is inserted into the first connector (3), said fork (9a, 9b) clamping the first connector (3) and the second connector (6), the spring (10) being compressed between said plug (4) and said first connector (3),said locking finger (8) being inserted into said opening of the fork (9a, 9b); - a disconnection configuration in which said locking finger (8) is extracted from said opening by activation of the actuator (7) when the controller detects the open state of said reloading hatch, said spring (10) being relaxed so that said first connector (3) is disconnected from the second connector (6).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said first connector (3) has two slots, said fork (9a, 9b)

3.

4.

5.

6. comprising two teeth, each tooth being configured to be inserted into one of said slots in the retaining configuration. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the second connector (6) has a cylindrical shape. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said fork (9a, 9b) comprises a body (9a) and a handle (9b), said body (9a) comprising said opening, said handle (9b) being configured to be grasped by a user. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said conduit (1) has a cylindrical shape. Method for ejecting a charging cable (2) positioned in a conduit (1) of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, said disconnection device having the holding configuration, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of commanding the disconnection of the charging cable (2) by a user via said user interface; - a step of detecting the open state of said charging hatch by the controller when the command to disconnect the charging cable (2) is issued by the user, said controller activating said actuator (7) so that said locking finger (8) translates out of said opening; - a step of manual removal of said fork (9a, 9b) by the user causing the release of the spring (10) and the disconnection of the first connector (3) and the second connector (6), said disconnection device having the disconnection configuration; - a step of removing the charging cable (2) by the user by pulling said charging cable (2) out of said conduit (1) from the charging hatch.

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