Charging terminal device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging terminal device (100) for an electric vehicle, comprising a charging port (80) having at least two charging terminals (10, 20) for a charging plug, and a charging port cover (82) having an open position and a closed position for covering the charging port (80). The charging port (80) has a cover member (30) arranged inside the charging port cover (82), which selectively covers one of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20), in particular in a manner that is safe to touch and protected from environmental influences. In this regard, there are some legal provisions, in particular country-specific provisions, which require this. Here, the cover member (30) is formed to have an adjustable width (32), which can be set depending on the respective widths (12, 22) of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging terminal device for an electrically driven vehicle having a charging port with at least two charging terminals for a charging plug. [Background technology]

[0002] According to the prior art, an electric vehicle requires a unique charging terminal for each charging standard, and therefore two charging terminals are provided on the vehicle for two charging means of different standards.

[0003] The charging standards are considered to include DC charging, which is understood to be charging using direct current, and AC charging, which is understood to be charging using alternating current. The charging terminals may have different plug standards.

[0004] A charging standard currently in use in Europe, for example, is the so-called Combined Charging System (CCS). This charging standard allows charging with both direct and alternating current. Another standard, CHAdeMO = "Charge de Move," developed in Japan, provides a charging output of up to 50 kW. For future megawatt charging, with an output of at least 1 megawatt, a separate charging terminal conforming to a separate plug standard is planned. Several charging terminals can be electrically connected in one path, so that voltage is applied to several charging sockets simultaneously.

[0005] For example, if a charging port has two charging terminals, when a charging plug is inserted into one of the charging terminals, the unused charging terminal must be covered, particularly so that it is safe to touch and / or protected from environmental influences. Some legal requirements, particularly country-specific requirements, exist. This cannot be achieved with a displaceable cover, given the space required for a standard-compliant grip in the typically available structural space. Therefore, currently, charging terminals are covered with a plug or cover flap. In this case, a plug has proven impractical, while a cover flap requires more structural space.

[0006] That is, Patent Document 1, a publication related to the technology mentioned at the beginning, discloses a charging terminal device for an electric vehicle, which has two charging terminals, for example, two charging sockets, arranged next to each other, for a first DC charging terminal and a second DC and / or AC charging terminal. At least one charging terminal cover conceals at least one of the two charging terminals, wherein the charging terminal cover is configured so that only one of the two charging terminals is accessible for contact, while the other of the two charging terminals is covered by the charging terminal cover.

[0007] Patent Document 2 discloses a medium filling system, particularly a charging flap system or tank filling system, for a motor vehicle. The medium filling system includes a pot in which at least one medium connection area for a medium connection point and a hinge box are provided, and a flap that can be pivoted via a hinge arm. The hinge arm is at least partially received in an accommodation space of the hinge box. The medium connection area is connected to the accommodation space via a through-opening, at least in the open position of the flap. Furthermore, a shielding part is provided associated with the hinge box, which at least partially closes the through-opening when the flap is in the open position. Patent Document 3 discloses a charging terminal device for a vehicle, including a connection socket disposed in a recess, a pivotally disposed connection socket cover flap, and a pivotally disposed cover flap. The connection socket cover flap and the cover flap are each pivotable to an open position and a closed position, and the connection socket cover flap covers the connection socket in the closed position. The cover flap covers the recess. When the cover flap and the connection socket cover flap move from their respective open positions to their respective closed positions, the cover flap moves together with the connection socket cover flap as it is closed. When the connection socket cover flap is in its closed position, the connection socket cover flap is magnetically and removably held by the connection socket connecting device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] DE102021000307A1 [Patent Document 2] DE102018124996A1 [Patent Document 3] DE102019000462A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved charging terminal arrangement for an electrically driven vehicle, which has two charging terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The above object is achieved by the features of the independent claims, in particular with minimal requirements on construction space.

[0011] Preferred features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the other claims, the detailed description and the drawings.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, A charging terminal device for an electric vehicle is proposed, which includes a charging port having at least two charging terminals for a charging plug and a charging port cover having an open position and a closed position for covering the charging port. A cover member is arranged on the charging port inside the charging port cover, and the cover member selectively covers one of the at least two charging terminals, particularly to make it safe to touch and / or to protect it from environmental influences. In this regard, there are legal requirements, particularly country-specific requirements, in some cases.

[0013] Here, according to the present invention, the cover member is formed to have an adjustable width, and this adjustable width can be set according to the respective widths of the at least two charging terminals.

[0014] Here, when the charging port cover is in the closed state, the cover member is disposed inside the charging port cover, i.e., between the charging terminal and the charging port cover.

[0015] The proposed charging terminal device allows two charging terminals to be placed on a charging port with a charging port cover, while still ensuring access to only one of the charging terminals at any one time. In this case, a movable second cover member is arranged on the charging port, and this second cover member can slide, pivot, or fold back to move back and forth between the two charging terminals. The width of the cover member is adjustable so that each charging terminal can be completely covered by a single cover member, even if the two charging terminals have different widths. This can be achieved, for example, by a simple sliding slot.

[0016] For this purpose, the charging terminal device has a cover member whose width can be set variably. The width of the cover member can be individually adapted to each charging terminal during operation. That is, one cover member can selectively and reliably cover charging terminals of different widths. The cover member can include two or more cover member parts of different widths, which can be easily displaced to each position and cover each charging terminal via, for example, slot guides and abutments.

[0017] Advantageously, such a cover element allows for easy handling of the charging terminal device when changing the charging terminal to be plugged in. In this case, the cover element, which can be advantageously integrated into the charging port, requires minimal structural space. Manual intervention is no longer required before closing the charging port cover as an opening in the vehicle exterior. That is, advantageously, the automatic charging port cover can be closed at any time after the charging plug is removed.

[0018] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can be moved by at least one of sliding, folding, and pivoting one of the at least two charging terminals toward the other, so that when the charging plug is inserted, the other charging terminal is reliably covered in a manner that is particularly safe to touch and protected from environmental influences.

[0019] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can have at least one first cover member part and at least one second cover member part, which are connected to each other so as to be displaceable via a sliding slot. Advantageously, the width of the cover member can be easily adapted to the width of the charging terminal to be covered. This can be easily achieved by making the cover member two-part or multi-part using the sliding slot, which allows the cover member to be defined in two final states (narrow and wide, or wide and narrow), thereby allowing the inner cover member to be easily and flexibly configured.

[0020] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can be moved from one to another of the at least two charging terminals via a guide device. Furthermore, the cover member can have a mechanism as a guide device, which can easily adapt to the width of the charging terminal, or automatically adapt to the width when sliding, folding, or pivoting, or can displace itself self-adjustingly when inserted or pushed into the charging terminal, thereby adapting to the width.

[0021] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the at least one first cover part and the at least one second cover part can be moved in the guide device so that the at least one first cover part and the at least one second cover part are displaced relative to one another via the sliding slot. In particular, in this case, the sliding slot can be integrated into the guide device. In particular, when sliding the cover parts, the outer guide rail can cause the two cover parts to be displaced inwards. For this purpose, the sliding slot can optionally be part of the guide device in the guide rail.

[0022] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can have at least one locking and / or sliding and / or plugging aid for positioning the cover member over the at least two charging terminals. In particular, the at least one locking and / or sliding and / or plugging aid can be integrated into the guide device, in particular as a locking protrusion or locking notch. Advantageously, such a cover member can have a locking and / or sliding and / or plugging aid that facilitates and supports the sliding or plugging when folding or turning over onto the charging terminals and then holds the cover member on the charging terminals. After that, the cover member can no longer be removed by itself without external assistance. In the case of a slide, this can simply be a small locking protrusion or locking notch in the guide rail that must be passed over in order to slide.

[0023] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can be removably connected to at least two charging terminals via locking devices. In particular, the cover member can be removably connected to each of the at least two charging terminals via a separate locking device. When the cover member is turned or folded back, this locking mechanism must be re-openable to fulfill its function, and of course, to allow it to be folded back again after the charging process. Here, for example, a simple locking latch that locks the two charging terminals is sufficient. Alternatively, a separate locking latch or mechanism for each charging terminal can be configured on each side of each charging terminal, since each charging terminal sees the other side of the surface of the cover member during the folding process.

[0024] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, a locking device can be provided, by which the cover member is locked to one of the at least two charging terminals when a charging plug is inserted into the other of the at least two charging terminals for charging. Optionally, when voltage is applied to the charging terminals during the charging process, the cover member is locked again by the locking device, and this cannot be released via the locking part during charging, so that contact protection is guaranteed.

[0025] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal device, the cover member can have a circumferentially extending edge that extends in the direction of the at least two charging terminals and surrounds the covered charging terminals. In particular, the at least one first cover member part and the at least one second cover member part can have at least partially circumferentially extending edges that extend in the direction of the at least two charging terminals and, together, surround the covered charging terminals.

[0026] That is, the cover member can have a surrounding edge that extends at least partially toward the charging terminal, thereby better covering the charging terminal and, at the same time, optionally reinforcing the edge. Since the same side always faces the charging terminal when the cover member is slid, it is sufficient for the edge of the cover member to be surrounding in only one direction. In contrast, in the case of a folding or pivoting operation in which the front and back surfaces of the cover member face the charging terminal, such edges can advantageously protrude on both sides of the cover member. In this case, an inward displacement is nevertheless possible to set the width of the cover member, so that the edge can be accommodated in itself or inserted into a corresponding recess depending on the sliding slot of the cover member.

[0027] According to one advantageous configuration of the charging terminal arrangement, the cover member can have a circumferential seal that extends in the direction of the at least two charging terminals and seals the covered charging terminals from the outside, in particular the at least one first cover member part and the at least one second cover member part can have at least partially circumferential seals that extend in the direction of the at least two charging terminals and cooperate to seal the covered charging terminals from the outside.

[0028] Preferably, the cover member, while being displaceable, can also have a seal that not only covers the charging terminals but also at least partially seals them. This seal must be able to set its width according to the width setting means of the cover member, so that the seal can also be displaced accordingly and still fulfill its function. The seal can also be arranged on the charging terminals, in which case it acts as a seal together with the cover member when covered.

[0029] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the detailed description, and the claims contain a number of combined features. Those skilled in the art will preferably consider these features individually and will also be able to combine the individual features of the exemplary embodiments of the invention in different ways within the scope of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 shows a plan view of a charging terminal apparatus for an electrically powered vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the charging port cover open and the first charging terminal covered by the cover member. [Figure 2] 2 shows a plan view of the charging terminal arrangement according to FIG. 1, in which the second charging terminal is covered by a cover member; [Figure 3] 2 shows an isometric view of the charging terminal arrangement according to FIG. 1 with the charging terminal open; [Figure 4]4 shows a detailed view of the guide device for displacing the cover element according to FIG. 3; [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the surface of the cover member in a narrow state. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the rear surface of the cover member in the narrow state. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the surface of the cover member in a wide state. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the rear surface of the cover member in the wide state. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B show plan views of the surfaces of a first cover member part and a second cover member part; [Figure 10] 10A and 10B show plan views of the rear surfaces of the first and second cover member parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In the various figures, the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals. The figures are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a charging terminal apparatus 100 for an electrically powered vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, with a charging port cover 82 open and a first charging terminal 10 covered by a cover member 30.

[0033] The charging terminal device 100 includes a charging port 80 with at least two charging terminals 10, 20 for a charging plug and a charging port cover 82 for covering the charging port 80, which has an open position and a closed position. The charging port cover 82 is shown in an open position in FIG. 1 .

[0034] The charging port 80 has a cover member 30 disposed inside the charging port cover 82 (meaning the inside when the charging port cover 82 is closed), which selectively covers one of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 so as to be safe to touch and protected from environmental influences. The cover member 30 is formed to have an adjustable width 32, which can be set according to the widths 12, 22 of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20, respectively.

[0035] In various embodiments, the cover member 30 can be moved from one of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 to the other of the at least two charging terminals 20, 10 by sliding, folding, or pivoting. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the cover member 30 covers the first charging terminal 10 and can also slide to the second charging terminal 20 as needed. To this end, the cover member 30 can be moved from one of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 to the other of the at least two charging terminals 20, 10 via a guide device 40.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the charging terminal device 100 in which the second charging terminal 20 is covered by a cover member 30 .

[0037] In FIG. 1, the cover member 30 has a width 32 corresponding to the width 12 of the first charging terminal 10, whereas in FIG. 2, the width 32 of the cover member 30 corresponds to the width 22 of the second charging terminal.

[0038] Advantageously, the cover element 30 can have at least one locking and / or sliding and / or plugging aid, not shown, for positioning the cover element 30 over the at least two charging terminals 10, 20. In particular, here the at least one locking and / or sliding and / or plugging aid can be integrated into the guide device 40, in particular as a locking protrusion or a locking notch.

[0039] Furthermore, the cover member 30 can be removably connected to the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 via locking devices (not shown). In particular, here, the cover member 30 can be removably connected to each of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 via a separate locking device.

[0040] Preferably, a locking device (not shown) can be provided, which locks the cover member 30 to the other of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 when a charging plug is inserted into one of the at least two charging terminals 10, 20 for charging.

[0041] 3 shows an isometric view of the charging terminal device 100 according to FIG. 1 with the charging terminals 10, 20 open. The first charging terminal 10 is shown, by way of example, as a so-called Type 1 charging terminal, while the second charging terminal 20 is shown as a charging terminal conforming to the CHAdeMO standard. Of course, it is understood that charging sockets conforming to other standards can also be arranged in the charging port 80. Furthermore, slot guides 56 of the guide device 40 for displacing the cover member 30 can be seen above and below the charging terminal.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the guide device 40 for sliding the cover member 30 according to Fig. 3. The slot guide 56 of the guide device 40 has, for example, a first abutment portion 58 and a second abutment portion 60 for the cover member 30, which define the left and right abutment portions 58, 60 of the charging port 80.

[0043] Figures 5 and 6 show plan views of the front (Figure 5) and back (Figure 6) of the cover member 30 in a narrow state having a width 32 corresponding to the width of the first charging terminal 10, and Figures 7 and 8 show plan views of the front (Figure 7) and back (Figure 8) of the cover member 30 in a wide state having a width 32 corresponding to the width of the second charging terminal 20, respectively.

[0044] To set the width 32 of the cover member 30, the cover member 30 has a first cover member part 34 and a second cover member part 36, which are displaceably connected to each other via a sliding slot 38 (visible in Figure 8).

[0045] In this regard, FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the front surface of the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member 36, while FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the back surface of the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member 36.

[0046] The guide members 69 of the second cover member part 36 engage with the slot guides 68 of the slide slots 38 of the first cover member part 34, thereby connecting the second cover member part 36 to the first cover member part 34. That is, the width 32 of the cover member 30 can be set and changed by displacing the two cover member parts 34, 36 relative to each other.

[0047] The first cover member part 34 has two mutually opposing guide members 62, 64 which engage with slot guides 56 of the guide device 40 of the charging port 80, and the cover member 30 can be displaced in the guide device 40 via these slot guides 56.

[0048] In order to displace the cover member 30 in the guide device 40, the surface of the first cover member part 34 has a gripping member 66, which can be used to displace the cover member 30 from one charging terminal 10, 20 to the other charging terminal 20, 10.

[0049] In one advantageous embodiment, the guide device 40 can be configured such that the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member part 36 are displaced relative to one another via the sliding slots 38 as a result of the movement of the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member part 36 in the guide device 40. That is, preferably, as soon as the cover member 30 is displaced from one charging terminal 10, 20 to the other charging terminal 20, 10 in the guide device 40, the correct width 32 of the cover member 30 can be set, which corresponds to the widths 12, 22 of the charging terminals 10, 20 to be covered.

[0050] In one alternative embodiment, in particular the sliding slot 38 can be integrated into the guide device 40 .

[0051] 9 also shows a protrusion 70 on the surface of the second cover member part 36, which can be used as a tool placement surface 72 and / or a gripping web when the second cover member part 36 becomes difficult to move or is completely prevented from moving due to external environmental factors such as dirt, deposits, or ice formation. Similarly, when a side or lateral region of the first cover member part 34 becomes difficult to move or is completely prevented from moving, either alone or together with the second cover member part 36, the entire side or lateral region can also be used as a tool placement surface 72, or at least a portion of the side or lateral region. The tool placement surface 72 can be formed as a structurally strong region so that the first cover member part 34 and / or the second cover member part 36 can absorb the force of a tool applied thereto without being damaged. Furthermore, the tool placement surface 72 can have an area of ​​an appropriate size to ensure proper and reliable tool placement and to absorb the force of the tool. As an option, the tool placement surface 72 or its periphery may be provided with letters, icons or pictograms indicating the function or purpose of use.

[0052] 5 to 10 , the cover member 30 can have a circumferentially extending edge 42 that extends in the direction of and surrounds the covered charging terminals 10, 20. Here, in particular, the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member part 36 can have at least partially circumferentially extending edges 44, 46 that extend in the direction of and cooperate to surround the covered charging terminals 10, 20.

[0053] Furthermore, the cover member 30 can have a circumferentially extending seal 50 that extends in the direction of the charging terminals 10, 20 and seals the covered charging terminals 10, 20 against the environment. In particular here, the first cover member part 34 and the second cover member part 36 can have at least partially circumferentially extending seals 52, 54 that extend in the direction of the charging terminals 10, 20 and cooperate to seal the covered charging terminals 10, 20 against the environment.

[0054] Advantageously, the seals 50 , 52 , 54 may be integrated into the edges 42 , 44 , 46 of the cover member 30 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 Charging terminal 12 width 20 Charging terminal 22 width 30 Cover member 32 width 34 Cover component parts 36 Cover component parts 38 Slide slot 40 Guide device 42 Edge 44 Edge 46 Edge 50 stickers 52 stickers 54 Seal 56 Slot Guide 58 First contact portion 60 second contact portion 62 Guide member 64 Guide member 66 Gripping member 68 Slot Guide 69 Guide member 70 Convex part 72 Tool placement surface 80 charging port 82 Charging port cover 100 Charging terminal device

Claims

1. A charging terminal device (100) for an electric vehicle includes a charging port (80) having at least two charging terminals (10, 20) for a charging plug, and a charging port cover (82) having an open position and a closed position for covering the charging port (80), In the charging terminal device, a cover member (30) is disposed inside the charging port cover (82) in the charging port (80), and the cover member (30) selectively covers one of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20). The charging terminal device is characterized in that the cover member (30) is formed to have an adjustable width (32), and the adjustable width (32) can be set according to the respective widths (12, 22) of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20).

2. 2. The charging terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member (30) is movable from one of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) to the other of the at least two charging terminals (20, 10) by at least one of sliding, folding, and pivoting.

3. 3. The charging terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member (30) has at least one first cover member part (34) and at least one second cover member part (36), and the at least one first cover member part (34) and the at least one second cover member part (36) are displaceably connected to each other via a slide slot (38).

4. 4. The charging terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the cover member (30) is movable from one of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) to the other of the at least two charging terminals (20, 10) via a guide device (40).

5. 5. The charging terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one first cover member part (34) and the at least one second cover member part (36) move in the guide device (40), thereby displacing the at least one first cover member part (34) and the at least one second cover member part (36) relative to each other via the slide slot (38).

6. 5. The charging terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the cover member (30) has at least one locking portion and / or a sliding auxiliary portion and / or an insertion auxiliary portion for positioning the cover member (30) over the at least two charging terminals (10, 20).

7. 7. The charging terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one locking element and / or slide assisting element and / or plugging assisting element is integrated into the guide device (40).

8. 3. The charging terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member (30) is detachably connected to the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) via a locking device.

9. 3. The charging terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device, wherein the cover member (30) is locked to one of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) when a charging plug is inserted into the other of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) for charging.

10. 4. The charging terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the cover member (30) has an edge (42) extending around its periphery, the edge (42) extending in the direction of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) and surrounding the covered charging terminals (10, 20).

11. 11. The charging terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one first cover member part (34) and the at least one second cover member part (36) have edges (44, 46) extending at least partially around their peripheries, the edges (44, 46) extending at least partially around their peripheries extending in the direction of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) and cooperating to surround the covered charging terminals (10, 20).

12. 4. The charging terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the cover member (30) has a seal (50) extending around its periphery, the seal (50) extending in the direction of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) and sealing the covered charging terminals (10, 20) against the surroundings.

13. 13. The charging terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first cover member part (34) and the at least one second cover member part (36) have seals (52, 54) extending at least partially around their peripheries, the seals (52, 54) extending at least partially around their peripheries extending in the direction of the at least two charging terminals (10, 20) and cooperating to seal the covered charging terminals (10, 20) against the surroundings.

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