Vehicle Charging System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging system (1) for a vehicle (2) adapted to receive at least one charging member, the charging system (1) comprising at least one connector (4), a connector support (3) adapted to be rigidly coupled to the vehicle (2) and an actuator (5) with a locking pin (550) adapted to fix the charging member relative to the connector (4). According to the invention, the connector support (3) comprises a guide means (6) capable of receiving an actuation arm adapted to release the locking pin (550).

Description

Summary of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the automotive industry, and more particularly to charging systems for motor vehicles, such as those systems being installed on hybrid or electric vehicles.

[0002] These hybrid or electric vehicles typically include an electric energy storage unit, such as a battery, that is used to supply the vehicle with electric energy that is converted into the mechanical power required to drive the vehicle via a powertrain. As the battery needs to be periodically connected to an electric network in order to be recharged, the hybrid or electric vehicle is fitted with a charging system that allows such recharging.

[0003] Thus, a hybrid or electric vehicle may have an electrical connector designed to cooperate with a mating electrical connector of the electrical network. The vehicle's electrical connector may be in the form of either a male plug or a female plug, also called a socket, and the electrical connector of the electrical network is a mating male or female plug, such that the two plugs fit together.

[0004] When the vehicle is being charged, the engagement of the two electrical connectors can be ensured by a locking pin that prevents the electrical connector from being pulled out of the electrical network. Such a locking pin can, for example, be engaged with the electrical connector of the electrical network to form a restraining means, thereby fixing said connector in a predetermined position relative to the electrical connector of the vehicle. The electrical connector can then only be removed from the electrical network after the locking pin has been retracted, i.e. after it no longer acts as a restraining means.

[0005] In case of failure of such a mechanism, emergency systems are usually provided to forcibly retract the locking pin. Among them, the locking pin can be manually retracted using an extractor, which can activate a lever that is mechanically linked to the locking pin. To do so, the lever is pulled upwards, i.e. away from the ground on which the vehicle rests. However, such emergency systems including an extractor have access problems, since the vehicle connector is usually enclosed, making it difficult to access the extractor.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a charging system in which a lever is not pulled but pushed upwards, the pushing action being performed by an actuation arm, thus addressing the access problems of the prior art.

[0007] The present invention therefore relates firstly to a charging system for a vehicle, adapted to receive at least one charging member, comprising at least one connector, a connector support adapted to be rigidly connected to the vehicle, and an actuator with a locking pin adapted to fix the charging member relative to the connector. According to the invention, the connector support comprises guide means capable of receiving an actuating arm independent of the charging system, the actuating arm being adapted to release the locking pin after it has been inserted through said guide means.

[0008] Such charging systems are adapted to be used for recharging hybrid or electric vehicles, the recharging being achieved by engaging a charging member with a connector, the support of which is rigidly connected to the vehicle, the charging member thus being an electrical connector of the electrical network, shaped to fit the connector of the charging system.

[0009] A locking pin is a pin that is inserted into the charging member and forms a stop for said member, thereby preventing said member from being pulled out of the connector when the vehicle is being recharged. The locking pin is then in a fixed position. Such a locking pin must be able to assume a retracted release position in order to remove the charging member after the vehicle has been recharged. In case of malfunction of this retraction and in case of the locking pin being stuck in the fixed position, the invention provides for the use of an actuating arm that can release the locking pin, which is accommodated for this purpose in at least one guide formed in the charging system. The actuating arm is thereby guided to an actuator in order to forcibly retract the locking pin and make it possible to disconnect the charging member from the connector.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a charging system includes an actuation arm.

[0011] Thus, the actuation arm can be permanently in place, i.e., located near the charging system, or can be located elsewhere in the vehicle, for example in a storage compartment of the vehicle, such as the glove box.

[0012] The actuation arm is a rigid rod having a diameter of 6 mm to 8 mm. This rigid rod may be a tool specially designed to release the locking pin, but may also take the form of, for example, a pencil.

[0013] According to another feature of the invention, the actuating arm is adapted to cooperate with a lever mechanically connected to the locking pin.

[0014] The lever is an element of an actuator that further comprises a locking pin, the lever and the locking pin being mechanically linked such that actuation of the lever causes reciprocating movement of the locking pin.

[0015] The guide means comprises at least one guide portion capable of receiving an actuation arm.

[0016] Preferably, said guide means comprise a plurality of guides capable of receiving the actuation arms, in particular at least two guides aligned on a single axis.

[0017] Even more preferably, said guide means comprises three guides aligned on a single axis.

[0018] The presence of a plurality of aligned guides forms a guide axis for the actuation arm, thereby facilitating handling of the actuation arm.

[0019] According to one feature of the present invention, the three guide portions include a first guide portion, a second guide portion, and a third guide portion, and at least one of the second and third guide portions is disposed vertically above the first guide portion.

[0020] The first guide portion, the second guide portion and the third guide portion are aligned in that order, and the first guide portion and the third guide portion are separated by a distance of at least 100 mm.

[0021] "Vertically positioned above" means that when the charging system is mounted on a vehicle, at least the second guide portion or the third guide portion is above the first guide portion, and the vertical direction is perpendicular to the ground on which the vehicle is resting.

[0022] According to another feature of the invention, the guiding means, in particular the first guiding portion, comprises a guiding chamfer.

[0023] The presence of such a guiding chamfer facilitates the insertion of the actuation arm into the guiding part. If the guiding means is a plurality of guiding parts, each guiding part may be provided with a guiding chamfer or the charging system may have a single guiding chamfer arranged in the first guiding part. The groove provides for centering of the actuation arm, which allows for the actuation arm to be positioned by touch.

[0024] According to one feature of the invention, the shaft passes through the lever.

[0025] The lever thus faces at least one guide, so that the actuating arm is arranged to come into contact with this lever when inserted into the at least one guide, preferably into two guides.

[0026] According to one feature, the connector support comprises fixing lugs for fixing the connector support to at least one structural element of the vehicle and a rectangular portion surrounding the connector, said guiding means being formed in a reinforcement portion arranged between the at least one fixing lug and the rectangular portion.

[0027] The connector support thus forms a frame for the connector, the connector being arranged inside its rectangular portion, the connector support being provided with fixing lugs enabling it to be rigidly connected to the vehicle on which it is intended to be mounted, and at least one guide being arranged between one of the fixing lugs and the rectangular portion, on a reinforcement extending between these two elements.

[0028] According to one feature of the invention, the guide means is a hole formed in the connector support.

[0029] Alternatively, the guiding means is a guiding fork formed on the connector support.

[0030] The holes improve the accuracy of guiding the actuating arms, while the guide forks have the advantage of simplifying the manufacture of the mold for the connector support in which they are formed.

[0031] The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular an electrically powered vehicle, equipped with the charging system described above.

[0032] The vehicle may include a base adapted to receive at least one hinge of a hood mounted to the vehicle, the connector support being rigidly coupled to the base.

[0033] Such bases are attached to the rails of the vehicle by welding.

[0034] According to one feature of the invention, the vehicle is designed to allow the actuating arm to be inserted into said guide means through the inside of the forward overhang.

[0035] The actuating arm can be inserted through the forward overhang in different ways; either the vehicle's dust guard has an opening through which the actuating arm is inserted to reach the charging system, or the vehicle is designed such that the dust guard must be removed to allow the actuating arm to access the charging system.

[0036] The invention further relates to a method for unlocking the charging system as described above, comprising a first step involving inserting an actuating arm through said guiding means, a step of translating the actuating arm until it contacts an actuator, and a step of moving a locking pin.

[0037] The actuating arm is inserted into said guiding means, for example the first guiding part, using the guiding chamfer. The actuating arm then slides in this guiding part until it abuts against the actuator, more specifically against the lever of this actuator. The lever is then pushed vertically against the at least one guiding part, transmitting its movement to the locking pin, which is moved to a release position in which the charging member can be removed from the connector.

[0038] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will be explained more clearly in the following description and in the exemplary embodiments given as non-limiting examples with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view of a charging system according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the charging system of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the charging system of FIG. 1 receiving a charging member. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the insulating connector support portion of the charging system of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic diagram of a guide unit of the charging system of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a vehicle equipped with the charging system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The features, variations, and various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided they are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. It should be noted that variations of the present invention that include only selected features from among those described below, apart from other described features, are also possible, provided that this selection of features provides a technical advantage and / or is sufficient to differentiate the present invention from the prior art.

[0041] In the drawings, elements that are common to multiple drawings have the same reference numbers.

[0042] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "lateral" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the charging system according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main direction in which the mounted vehicle extends, this longitudinal direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the coordinate system L, V, T shown in the figures. The vertical direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the ground on which the vehicle rests, this vertical direction being parallel to the vertical axis V of the coordinate system L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the lateral direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the transverse axis T of the coordinate system L, V, T, this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the vertical axis V.

[0043] 1 and 2 show, respectively from the front and rear, a charging system 1 according to the invention. Such a charging system 1 is adapted to be mounted on a hybrid or electric vehicle 2 to enable said vehicle to be recharged. This charging system 1 extends mainly in a longitudinal / vertical plane and, when rigidly coupled to the vehicle 2, has a first vertical end 101 pointing towards the ground on which the vehicle 2 rests, and a second vertical end 102 remote from the ground and opposite the first vertical end 101.

[0044] The charging system 1 comprises a connector support 3, shown from the rear in FIG. 4, surrounding a connector 4. The connector support 3 comprises a rectangular section 31 forming a frame for said connector 4 and fastening lugs 32 arranged on either side of the rectangular section 31 in the longitudinal direction. These fastening lugs 32 allow the connector support 3 to be fixed to the vehicle 2, so that it is rigidly connected to the vehicle. For this purpose, they have fastening means 320, in this case screws, which penetrate the fastening lugs 32 laterally from one side to the other and thereby engage in a base 28 of the vehicle, such base 28 being visible in FIG. 6. The fastening lugs 32 are not symmetrical but have various shapes, which in this case allow the fastening of the connector support 3 to the base 28 to be effected.

[0045] The connector 4 is in this case divided into a main connector 41 and a supplementary connector 42, the main connector 41 corresponding to a slow recharging of the vehicle, while the supplementary connector 42 allows a fast recharging of the vehicle. Each of these connectors 41 and 42 is capable of receiving a charging member 10 connected to an electric network, such a charging member 10 being shown in figure 3. This charging member 10 may in particular take the form of a male plug capable of cooperating with the connector 4, which is a female plug. Alternatively, the connector 4 may be a male plug and the charging member 10 a female plug.

[0046] The charging system 1 comprises an actuator 5, which is a housing arranged near the second vertical end 102. The actuator 5, which is particularly visible in FIG. 2, is not in the same plane as the rectangular portion 31 of the connector support 3, but is placed behind the rectangular portion of the connector support when the charging system 1 is viewed from the front. The actuator 5 is substantially rectangular. The actuator has a front face 51 facing the connector support 3, opposite a rear face 52 facing the base 12 of the vehicle 2. The actuator also has two side faces 53 facing each other in the longitudinal direction and joining the front face 51 and the rear face 52, as well as a top face 54 and a bottom face 55 facing each other in the vertical direction, the bottom face 55 facing the ground on which the vehicle 2 rests. These faces 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 define the housing of the actuator 5.

[0047] The actuator 5 has a locking pin 550 extending vertically out of the bottom surface 55. Such a locking pin 550 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with dotted lines. The locking pin 550 makes it possible to firmly couple the charging member 10 to the connector 4, and to fix the charging member 10 to the connector 4, as shown in Fig. 3, particularly during recharging of the vehicle 2. For this purpose, the locking pin 550 can be at least partially retracted into the housing of the actuator 5. The locking pin 550 can thus have a high or release position, in which it is at least partially retracted into the housing of the actuator 5, and a low or fixed position, in which it is not retracted and protrudes from the bottom surface 55. The charging member 10 is thus fixed when the locking pin 550 is in the low position. In that case, the locking pin penetrates the bulkhead 310 of the rectangular portion 31, which surrounds the connector 4, and also partially penetrates the charging member 10. Thus, the locking pin 550 is inserted into the connector 4 and the charging member 10 simultaneously. In this manner, the locking pin forms a stop for the charging member and restrains it by preventing it from moving laterally translationally, which would correspond to the charging member 10 being pulled out of the connector 4. Conversely, when the locking pin 550 is in the high position, the locking pin no longer acts as a stop, so that the connector 4 and the charging member 10 can be separated.

[0048] The actuator 5 further comprises a lever 530 arranged on one of the sides 53. This lever 530 constitutes an emergency system in case of malfunction of the locking pin 550 to which it is mechanically linked, in particular when the locking pin is stuck in a low position. Thus, actuating the lever 530 vertically, more specifically moving it in the direction away from the ground on which the vehicle 2 rests, forces the locking pin 550 to be retracted.

[0049] However, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6, since the charging system 1 is located in the vehicle 2, the lever 530 cannot be directly actuated. Therefore, an intermediary must be used to reach this lever 530, for example an actuation arm 7. Such an actuation arm 7 is a rigid rod, preferably with a diameter of 6 mm to 8 mm. The actuation arm can be a tool specifically designed to actuate the lever 530, or an object such as a pencil rod, a drill bit, or a screwdriver shaft as shown in the figures. This actuation arm 7 can be permanently in a predetermined position, i.e. in the vicinity of the charging system 1, or it can be located in the passenger compartment 21 of the vehicle 2.

[0050] According to the invention, the guide means 6 comprise at least one guide 6A, 6B or 6C capable of receiving this actuation arm 7.

[0051] The guide means may comprise two guide parts 6A and 6C that define a guide axis for the actuation arm. More specifically, said guide means 6 comprises three guide parts 6A, 6B and 6C, as in the embodiment shown here. Said guide parts 6A, 6B, 6C may in particular be through holes or guide forks, as in the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0052] The three guides 6A, 6B, 6C are aligned on a single axis A, through which the lever 530 also passes. The three guides 6A, 6B, 6C and the lever 530 are therefore aligned on this axis A. This alignment establishes a guide axis for the actuating arm 7, which is inserted into the guide means 6 and comes into contact with this lever 530, actuating this lever and releasing the locking pin 550. "Acturing" in this case means that the lever 530 is pushed upwards by the actuating arm 7, i.e. away from the ground on which the vehicle 2 rests.

[0053] In Fig. 4, which shows the connector support 3 from the rear, the guiding means 6 are shown without the actuating arms 7. These guiding means 6 are formed in the connector support 3. More specifically, the guiding parts 6A, 6B, 6C are arranged in a reinforcing part 33 which extends between the rectangular part 31 and one of the fixing lugs 32. The reinforcing parts 33 are essentially perpendicular plates which form a joint between this rectangular part 31 and this fixing lug 32. The reinforcing parts 33 extend rearwards from the connector support 3, i.e. from the face of the support opposite to the face which receives the charging member 10.

[0054] The guiding means 6 may comprise a first guide 6A, a second guide 6B and a third guide 6C aligned in this order, so that the first guide 6A is adjacent to the first vertical end 101 of the charging system 1 and the third guide 6C is adjacent to the second vertical end 102 of the charging system. The third guide 6C is thus arranged vertically above the second guide 6B, which is itself arranged vertically above the first guide 6A, this arrangement being determined by the distance of the guides 6A, 6B, 6C from the ground on which the vehicle 2 rests. This arrangement of the guides 6A, 6B, 6C and their alignment with the lever 530 along the axis A results in the third guide 6C facing the lever 530.

[0055] Advantageously, the first guide 6A and the third guide 6C are separated by a distance of at least 100 mm. The second guide 6B, which is arranged between these two guides, is preferably closer to the first guide 6A than the third guide 6C, i.e. closer to the first vertical end 101 than the second vertical end 102. This second guide 6B may therefore be arranged at 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 the distance between the first guide 6A and the third guide 6C. This unique arrangement facilitates the use of the actuation arm 7 by a user who is working blindly as a result of arranging the charging system 1 on the vehicle 2.

[0056] To make it even easier for the user to use the actuation arm 7, the first guide part 6A may be provided with a guide chamfer 61, as shown in Figure 5. Such a guide chamfer 61 has the advantage of facilitating the insertion of the actuation arm 7 into the first guide part 6A, which, sliding over this guide chamfer 61, is guided towards the light of the hole.

[0057] The charging system 1 can be released using a release method that includes a first step that involves inserting the actuation arm 7 into the first guide 6A. The user places the actuation arm 7 on the first vertical end 101 of the charging system 1 and, with the help of the guide chamfer 61, slides it into the through hole or fork that constitutes the first guide 6A. The next step of the release method involves translating the actuation arm 7, while it slides along the axis A in the other guide 6B and / or 6C towards the second vertical end 102. The actuation arm 7 translates until it comes into contact with the actuator 5, more specifically the lever 530 facing the third guide 6C. The release method ends with a step of moving the locking pin 550. To do so, the actuation arm 7 abuts and pushes against the lever 530, thereby actuating it by moving it away from the third guide 6C. The lever 530 then activates the locking pin 550 using a mechanism inside the actuator 5, which retracts and moves from the low position to the high position. After release, the locking pin 550 no longer acts as a stopper for the charging member 10, and therefore the charging member can be disconnected from the connector 4 in which it was inserted.

[0058] 6 shows a portion of a front projection 20 of a vehicle 2 to which a charging system 1 according to the present invention is attached. Some parts of the front projection 20 have been removed in the drawing to facilitate understanding of the present invention.

[0059] The vehicle 2 comprises a passenger compartment 21 vertically defined by a sill 22 at the bottom of the passenger compartment close to the ground and a windshield pillar 24 away from the ground to which a windshield 23 is attached. The sill 22 and the windshield pillar 24 are connected by a front pillar 25. The front pillar 25 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, whereas the sill 22 is parallel to the ground. A rail 26 emerges from the front pillar 25 and extends in a longitudinal direction opposite the passenger compartment 21.

[0060] The charging system 1 is rigidly connected to the front overhang 20 at the junction between the front pillar 25 and the rail 26. In this case, the charging system is partly covered by an intermediate part 27 arranged between the connector support 3 and the body of the vehicle 2 (not shown in this figure).

[0061] The charging system 1 is rigidly connected to the vehicle 2 by means of a base 28 adapted to receive at least one hinge of the hood (not shown here). This base 28 is attached to the rails 26 by welding. The connector support 3 is fixed to this base 28 using the fixing lugs 32 and the fixing means 320 described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0062] The vehicle 2 may comprise a dust cover at least partially covering the charging system 1, and more particularly said guiding means 6. In order to allow access to the charging system 1 when carrying out said release method, such a dust cover may be provided with an opening through which the actuating arm 7 can pass. Alternatively, this dust cover may be detachable from the vehicle 2 in order to facilitate access to said guiding means 6. The vehicle 2 is therefore designed in such a way that the actuating arm 7 can be inserted into said guiding means 6 through the inside of the front overhang 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 6 .

[0063] The present invention therefore proposes a charging system fitted with an emergency system, which is used to forcibly release a locking pin used to secure a charging member in place in the connector of the charging system when recharging a hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0064] The present invention is in no way limited to the means and arrangements described and illustrated herein, but the present invention also encompasses any equivalent means or arrangements and any technically functional combinations of these means.

Claims

1. A charging system (1) for a vehicle (2) adapted to receive at least one charging member (10), the charging system (1) comprising at least one connector (4), a connector support (3) adapted to be firmly connected to the vehicle (2), and an actuator (5) having a locking pin (550) adapted to fix the charging member (10) to the connector (4), characterized in that the connector support (3) comprises a guide means (6) capable of receiving an operating arm (7) adapted to release the locking pin (550).

2. Charging system (1) according to claim 1, comprising said actuation arm (7).

3. 3. The charging system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuating arm (7) is adapted to cooperate with a lever (530) mechanically connected to the locking pin (550).

4. 4. A charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6) comprises at least one guiding portion (6A, 6B, 6C) capable of receiving the actuation arm (7).

5. 4. A charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6) comprises a plurality of guiding portions (6A, 6B, 6C) capable of receiving the actuating arm (7), in particular at least two guiding portions (6A, 6C) aligned on a single axis (A).

6. Charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6) comprises three guiding parts (6A, 6B, 6C) aligned on a single axis (A).

7. 7. The charging system (1) of claim 6, wherein the three guide portions (6A, 6B, 6C) include a first guide portion (6A), a second guide portion (6B), and a third guide portion (6C), and at least one of the second and third guide portions (6B, 6C) is positioned vertically above the first guide portion (6A).

8. 4. A charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6), in particular the first guiding portion (6A), comprises a guiding chamfer (61).

9. Charging system (1) according to claim 5, dependent on claim 3, wherein the axis (A) passes through the lever (530).

10. 4. The charging system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connector support (3) comprises fixing lugs (32) for fixing the connector support (3) to at least one structural element of the vehicle and a rectangular portion (31) surrounding the connector (4), and the guiding means (6) is formed in a reinforcing portion (33) arranged between at least one of the fixing lugs (32) and the rectangular portion (33).

11. 4. The charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6) is a hole formed in the connector support (3).

12. 4. The charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding means (6) is a guiding fork formed on the connector support (3).

13. A vehicle (2), in particular an electrically powered vehicle, comprising a charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. 14. A vehicle (2) according to claim 13, designed to allow the actuating arm (7) to be inserted into the guide means (6) through the inside of a front overhang (20).

15. 4. A method for unlocking a charging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a first step involving inserting the actuating arm (7) through the guiding means (6), a step of translating the actuating arm (7) until it contacts the actuator (5), and a step of moving the locking pin (550).

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