Electric vehicle charger installation socket

Abstract

A mounting socket 9 for a kerbside electric vehicle charger comprises a channel 10 having a base segment 13, and first and second vertical segments 14,17 each having a respective distal end 15,18 and

Description

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle charger installation socket and a method of installing an electric vehicle charging installation socket. In urban areas or areas where housing is provided without off-street parking it is common to find vehicles parked on the road alongside a kerb separating the road from a footway, such as a pavement or sidewalk. For electric vehicles (EVs) kerbside parking is an issue since it can be difficult to access charging facilities. For example, charging from a domestic property would require cabling to be provided from the property to the vehicle, with trailing cables lying across the footway causing a risk of accidents. One solution to this has been to provide electric vehicle charging installations within lamp posts (such as those from Ubitricity™) or by utilising charging posts or sockets that retract into the ground when not in use (such as those from Trojan Energy Ltd). However, unless existing infrastructure is positioned appropriately for use any new installations involve a significant engineering outlay in terms of excavation for foundations, cabling and earthing, all within the proximity of domestic dwellings or on busy roads. It would therefore be desirable to be able to install electric vehicle charging apparatus in urban or built-up housing areas simply and easily whilst reducing installation costs and time. The present invention aims to address these issues by providing, in a first aspect, an electric vehicle charger installation socket, comprising: a) a channel member comprising: a base segment; a first vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end; and a second vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end; the base segment being joined to each of the first and second vertical segments at their distal ends such that the channel member has an opening between the proximate ends of the first and second vertical segments; b) a first flange mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the first vertical segment and directed away from the opening of the channel member; c) a second flange mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the second vertical segment and directed away from the opening of the channel member; wherein the channel member is sized and adapted to receive cabling for an electric vehicle charger installation, and wherein the first flange is provided with fixation means adapted to fix the electric vehicle charger installation socket to a kerbstone and both the first and second flanges are provided with mounting means adapted to mount an electric vehicle charger on the electric vehicle charger installation socket. By using existing kerbstones as the foundation of an electric vehicle charger installation costs are reduced and installation is simplified. In addition, the kerbstones protect the cabling required to supply electricity to the electric vehicle charger, so that installation of electric vehicle chargers can take place at the edge of a footway proximate the road, removing the need for any trailing charging cables across a footway in a built-up environment. Preferably, the fixation means comprises apertures adapted to receive fixing members to be inserted into the kerbstone. Preferably, the fixing members are bolts. Preferably, the mounting means comprises apertures adapted to receive fixing members from an electric vehicle charger. Preferably, the channel member has one of: a rectangular cross-section or a ll-shaped cross-section. Preferably, the channel member is sized and adapted to receive cabling housing within a cabling conduit. In one embodiment, the electrical vehicle charging installation socket may further comprise a socket cover, the socket cover being provided with an outer rim that overlaps a portion of the first flange, and an aperture sized and adapted to allow the egress of cabling from within the channel member. In another embodiment, the electrical vehicle charging installation socket may further comprise a socket cover, the socket cover being provided with an outer rim that overlaps a portion of the first and second flanges, and an aperture sized and adapted to allow the egress of cabling from within the channel member. Preferably, the socket cover further comprises locating lugs adapted to fit in the opening between the proximate ends of the first and second vertical segments. Preferably, the first and second flanges further comprise apertures adapted to receive fastening means to fasten the socket cover onto the electric vehicle charging installation socket. Preferably, the base segment of the channel member comprises spikes adapted to engage with a cabling conduit, and wherein the locating lugs force the cabling conduit into engagement with the spikes. The present invention also provides, in a second aspect, a method of installing an electric vehicle charger installation socket, comprising: a) excavating a channel in a footway proximate a kerbstone separating the footway from a road; b) inserting an electric vehicle charger installation socket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 into the channel; and c) fixing the electric vehicle charger installation socket to the kerbstone. Preferably, the step of fixing comprises bolting the electric vehicle charging installation socket to the kerbstone. The present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a number of kerbside electric vehicle charging installations in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic exploded view of an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the mounting of an electric vehicle charger on to an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view of an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention adopt the approach of using the existing kerbstones sited between the road and the footway as protection for the required cabling and / or a base for the installation of electric vehicle chargers. This is achieved by using an electric vehicle charger installation socket. The socket comprises a channel member provided with a pair of flanges for engaging with both a kerbstone and an electric vehicle charger, such as a charging post. The channel member comprises a base segment, a first vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end and a second vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end. The base segment is joined to each of the first and second vertical segments at their distal ends such that the channel member has an opening between the proximate ends of the first and second vertical segments. This creates a substantially U-shaped or rectangular-cross-section channel. The first flange is mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the first vertical segment and directed away from the opening of the channel member. The second flange is mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the second vertical segment and also directed away from the opening of the channel member. In this mannerthe opening of the channel member remains un unobstructed. The channel member is sized and adapted to receive cabling for an electric vehicle charger installation. The first flange is provided with fixation means adapted to fix the electric vehicle charger installation socket to a kerbstone and both the first and second flanges are provided with mounting means adapted to mount an electric vehicle charger on the electric vehicle charger installation socket. This will now be described in more detail below. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a number of kerbside electric vehicle charging installations in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This represents a typical urban streetscape having embodiments of the present invention installed therein. A road 1 is separated from a footway 2 by a kerb 3 comprising a plurality of kerbstones 4a...4n. Behind the kerbstones 4a...4n the footway 2 is raised above the level of the road 1, providing an area for pedestrians to walk on safely away from traffic. Along the rear of the kerbstones 4a..An are positioned a number of electric vehicle chargers 5, in this example, in the form of a bollard or post. Each electric vehicle charger 5 is provided with a socket 6 into which an electric vehicle may be plugged, and is mounted with at least a portion of the base of the electric vehicle charger 5 positioned on one of tig kerbstones 4a...4n. Underneath each of the electric vehicle chargers 5 a cabling conduit 7 is provided, buried in the footway 2 proximate to the kerbstones 4a...4n. This cabling conduit 7 carries cabling (not shown) for supplying an electric current to each of the electric vehicle chargers 5. Preferably, the cabling conduit 7 is installed so that its upper surface is level with the surface of the footway 2, since this helps to avoid issues arising from either pedestrians tripping on or near the cabling conduit 7 or standing water forming in the cabling conduit 7 after rain. The upper surface of the cabling conduit 7 may be a cover or a filler material, as described below. In order to supply the electric vehicle chargers 5 a second section of cabling conduit 8 is provided to carry cabling (not shown) from an existing electrical supply positioned at the rear of the footway 2 to the cabling conduit 7 running cabling to each of the electric vehicle chargers 5. This second section of cabling conduit 8 may also be provided with a cover or filler material level with the surface of the footway 2. Each of the electric vehicle chargers 5 is installed by means of an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic exploded view of an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 comprises a channel member 10, a first flange 11 and a second flange 12. The channel member 10 comprises a base segment 13, a first vertical segment 14 having a distal end 15 and a proximate end 16; and a second vertical segment 17 having a distal end 18 and a proximate end 19. The base segment 13 is joined to each of the first 14 and second 17 vertical segments at their distal ends 15,18 such that the channel member 10 has an opening 20 between the proximate ends 16,19 of the first 14 and second 17 vertical segments. The first flange 11 is mounted at, and perpendicular tom the proximate end 16 of the first vertical segment 14 and directed away from the opening 20 of the channel memberlO. The second flange 12 is mounted at, and perpendicular to, the proximate end 19 of the second vertical segment 17 and directed away from the opening 20 of the channel member 10. In this example the first 11 and second 12 flanges are shown as being exactly perpendicular to the first 14 and second 17 vertical segments respectively, although there may be some variation due to the exact configuration of the kerbstones 4a...4n. In all cases the opening 20 of the channel member 10 will remain unobstructed. The first 11 and second 12 flanges are semi-circular in shape in order to be able to support an electric vehicle charger 5 with a circular base. However, the shape and dimensions of the first 11 and second 12 flanges will depend upon the size and shape of the base of the electric vehicle charger 5, and may be square, rectangular, elliptical or otherwise regularly shaped. The first 11 flange is provided with fixation means 21 adapted to fix the electric vehicle charger installation socket 9 to a kerbstone 4a..An. Both the first 11 and second 12 flanges are provided with mounting means 22 adapted to mount an electric vehicle charger 5 on the electric vehicle charger installation socket 9. In this example, the fixation means 21 comprises apertures 23 adapted to receive fixing members 24 to be inserted into the kerbstone 4a...4n. Preferably, the fixing members 24 are bolts, such that the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 is fixed directly to a kerbstone 4a..An. The mounting means 22 comprises apertures adapted to receive fixing members from an electric vehicle charger 5, which depending on the type of electric vehicle charger 5 used will include bolts and other mechanical fixings. Although cabling may be inserted into the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 directly, preferably, the channel member 10 is sized and adapted to receive cabling housed within a cabling conduit 7. The cross-section of the cabling conduit 7 should ideally conform to the cross-section of the channel member 9, which preferably has a rectangular or U-shaped cross-section, but there may be occasions where this is not the case. The electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 further comprises a socket cover 25. The socket cover 25 is provided with an outer rim 26 that overlaps a portion of the first 11 and second 12 flanges, and an aperture 27 sized and adapted to allow the egress of cabling from within the channel member 10. The outer rim 26 of the socket cover 25 is circular to correspond to the shape of the first 11 and second 12 flanges and the base of the electric vehicle charger 5. However, where the shape of the first 14 and second 17 flanges and the base of the electric vehicle charger 5 are shaped differently, the outer rim 26 of the socket cover 25 may be shaped to match. The socket cover 25 further comprises locating lugs 28, 29 adapted to fit in the opening 20 between the proximate ends 16, 19 of the first 14 and second 17 vertical segments. The lugs 28, 29 are sized and shaped to fit within the opening 20 of the channel member 10, and may be generally "L"-shaped to enable contact with the cabling conduit 7. The base segment 13 of the channel member 10 may comprise spikes 30 adapted to engage with the cabling conduit 7 if use. The locating lugs 29, 30 force the cabling conduit 7 into engagement with the spikes 30 when fixed into position. The first 11 and second 12 flanges further comprise apertures 31 adapted to receive fastening means 32 to fasten the socket cover 25 onto the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9. Preferably, this is done using bolts to bolt the socket cover 25 and first 11 and second 12 flanges together. Compression screws 33 are provided to press the locating lugs 28, 29 onto the cabling conduit 7 and therefore onto the spikes 30. This creates electrical continuity between the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 and the cabling conduit 7. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the mounting of an electric vehicle charger on to an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The base 34 of an electric vehicle charger 5 is provided with a number of mating bolts 35 that fit into the apertures of the mounting means 22 provided on the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 in order to secure the elec- trie vehicle charger 5. Prior to these being secured, the bolts forming the fixing members between the electrical vehicle charging installation socket 9 and the kerbstone 4a...4n, the fastening means between the socket cover 25 and the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 and the compression screws 33 are all tightened in place. Although cabling is not shown this would be passed up through the electric vehicle charger 5 to the socket 6 before the electric vehicle charger 5 is fixed in position. Once everything is in place and connected, the second flange 12 is either bolted to or cemented to the footway 2. Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view of an electric vehicle charging installation socket in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 is of the same construction as that illustrated in Figure 2, but the base segment 13 of the channel member 10 is lengthened in order to enable the electric vehicle charger 5 to be installed proximate to a kerbstone 4a..An. The first flange 11 is still fixed to a kerbstone 4a..An, but the base segment 13 is extended commensurate with the distance behind the kerbstone 4a...4n that the electric vehicle charger is to be installed. As shown in Figure 4 an extension to the cabling conduit 7 may be required in order to accommodate the cabling 36 running from the cabling conduit 7 (which is no longer directly underneath the electric vehicle charger 5) to the electric vehicle charger 5. This embodiment also illustrates that the first flange 11 need not be the same shape and size as the second flange 12. To install the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9, a channel is excavated in the footway 2 proximate a kerbstone 4a...4n separating the footway 2 from the road 1. The electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 is then inserted into the channel and fixed to the kerbstone 4a..An. This comprises bolting the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9 to the kerbstone 4a..An. If cabling conduit 7 is used, this is also laid in the excavated channel, and cabling 36 laid within the cabling conduit 7. The socket cover 25 is fastened to the electric vehicle charging installation socket 9, and the cabling 36 pulled up through the aperture 27 for insertion in an electric vehicle charger 5. If no cabling conduit 7 is used and the cabling 36 is laid directly in the channel, this may be filled with sand or other stablising material, and a cover, such as a metal plate, fixed over the top, level with the surface of the footway 2, to protect the cabling 36.

Claims

1. Electric vehicle charger installation socket, comprising:a) a channel member comprising:a base segment;a first vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end; and a second vertical segment having a distal end and a proximate end; the base segment being joined to each of the first and second vertical segments at their distal ends such that the channel member has an opening between the proximate ends of the first and second vertical segments;b) a first flange mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the first vertical segment and directed away from the opening of the channel member;c) a second flange mounted at and perpendicular to the proximate end of the second vertical segment and directed away from the opening of the channel member;wherein the channel member is sized and adapted to receive cabling for an electric vehicle charger installation, and wherein the first flange is provided with fixation means adapted to fix the electric vehicle charger installation socket to a kerbstone and both the first and second flanges are provided with mounting means adapted to mount an electric vehicle charger on the electric vehicle charger installation socket.

2. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixation means comprises apertures adapted to receive fixing members to be inserted into the kerbstone.

3. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing members are bolts.

4. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means comprises apertures adapted to receive fixing members from an electric vehicle charger.

5. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the channel member has one of: a rectangular cross-section or a U-shaped crosssection.

6. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the channel member is sized and adapted to receive cabling housing within a cabling conduit.

7. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a socket cover, the socket cover being provided with an outer rim that overlaps a portion of the first flange, and an aperture sized and adapted to allow the egress of cabling from within the channel member.

8. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a socket cover, the socket cover being provided with an outer rim that overlaps a portion of the first and second flanges, and an aperture sized and adapted to allow the egress of cabling from within the channel member.

9. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the socket cover further comprises locating lugs adapted to fit in the opening between the proximate ends of the first and second vertical segments.

10. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first and second flanges further comprise apertures adapted to receive fastening means to fasten the socket cover onto the electric vehicle charging installation socket.

11. Electric vehicle charging installation socket as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the base segment of the channel member comprises spikes adapted to engage with a cabling conduit, and wherein the locating lugs force the cabling conduit into engagement with the spikes.

12. A method of installing an electric vehicle charger installation socket, comprising: a) excavating a channel in a footway proximate a kerbstone separating the footway from a road;b) inserting an electric vehicle charger installation socket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 into the channel; andc) fixing the electric vehicle charger installation socket to the kerbstone.

13. Method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of fixing comprises bolting the electric vehicle charging installation socket to the kerbstone.

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