Conductive charging system comprising a lid closure

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductive charging system (1) comprising a vehicle unit (2) that is mounted on a vehicle and is designed to contact, by means of a contacting unit (3) which is arranged in or on the vehicle unit (2), a contact plate of a base unit in order to adjust a charging process, wherein the vehicle unit (2) has a pivotable cover / closure / lid (5) and a seal (6) that is positioned between a housing (7) of the vehicle unit (2) and the cover / closure / lid (5), wherein the seal (6) is designed to vary, by means of a change in pressure, the effective contact pressure of the seal (6) on the cover / closure / lid (5) by changing the shape of the seal (6) in order to keep the cover / closure / lid (5) sealed in a first operating position and to hold it open in a second operating position in order to allow access to the contacting unit (3).

Description

[0001] Conductive charging system with lid closure

[0002] This invention relates to a conductive charging system with a vehicle unit that is arranged on a vehicle and is designed to contact a contact plate of a base unit for setting a charging process with a contacting unit that is arranged in or on the vehicle unit, wherein the vehicle unit has a lid / closure / cover that can be pivoted, preferably about a pivot axis, and a seal that is arranged between a housing of the vehicle unit and the lid / closure / cover.

[0003] The state of the art in automated contact systems for charging electric or hybrid vehicles is currently only represented in the form of prototypes and small series, as there is no series implementation yet.

[0004] In these systems (automated contacting - underbody), a connection is formed between a first contacting part located on / at the ground and a second contacting part located on the vehicle as soon as both are at a sufficiently short distance from each other.

[0005] The vehicle unit is exposed to the weather and dirt conditions on the vehicle's underbody. Therefore, it's clear that the actual contact unit must be protected during ferry operation. This protection requires a component that normally securely seals the area but can be opened during the charging process, such as a cover.

[0006] To ensure this lid closes securely, a seal must be present between the lid and the housing to properly seal the transition. A molded seal is ideal for this. This molded seal requires a contact pressure between the lid and the housing to ensure the sealing function.

[0007] The state of the art currently provides for the lid to be removed from the open

[0008] The cover is pivoted around an axis and then a movement is initiated toward the seal, which generates the contact pressure. This movement is generated by a "locking motor" that acts on a point on the cover that, from the perspective of the contact unit, is located approximately opposite the pivot axis and, if necessary, also via a lifting movement along the pivot axis of the cover.

[0009] The technical problem of the state of the art is that a lifting movement of the lid is necessary, which on the one hand requires installation space, requires an additional drive for the locking motor and may require a complex linkage for the sequence "first swivel-then-lifting movement" of the lid in the swivel axis.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conductive charging system which reduces the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0011] This is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of claim 1.

[0012] This is achieved according to the invention in that the seal is designed to vary the effective pressure of the seal on the lid / closure / cover by changing the shape of the seal via a pressure change (negative pressure) in order to keep the lid / closure / cover sealed in a first operating position and to keep it open in a second operating position in order to enable the contacting unit to be released.

[0013] In other words, the invention relates to the seal being changeable in its shape under the influence of pressure. According to the invention, the seal has a shape that is significantly "higher" than the available gap between the cover and the housing. Thus, when installed with the cover closed, the seal generates a contact force that results from its shape and its rigidity / spring effect.

[0014] The advantage of the invention is not only that the contact unit of the vehicle unit requires less installation space. It also eliminates the need for an additional drive for a locking motor or the complete linkage for the "first swivel, then lift" sequence of the lid along the swivel axis. A further advantage is that this type of seal allows not only a conventional lid (which, without the inventive solution, can also be pressed on using a lifting movement), but also other, alternative locking mechanisms where pressing on the lid after closing is not possible.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the subclaims and are explained in more detail below.

[0016] Advantageously, the seal is integrally attached to the housing. Integral attachment can be achieved by gluing, clamping, or positive-locking connections using screws, etc.

[0017] The vehicle unit preferably has a fan and / or a supply line / connection from the outside to the inside of the seal, which are designed to cause the pressure change in the seal. The supply line / connection can be designed, for example, like a bicycle tube without a valve insert. The supply line / connection makes it possible to reduce or completely eliminate the effective pressure from the cover to the seal, so that a pivoting movement is safely possible.

[0018] This is possible by applying a negative pressure, which causes the hose to contract and the pressure on the lid to be reduced or the contact to be completely broken.

[0019] If a fan is present in the overall concept of the contacting system, an air supply / intake area / intake can be arranged on it, so that the fan is used to tap into a negative pressure from the intake line.

[0020] Alternatively, the vehicle has a vehicle-mounted vacuum generator, which is not located on the fan but rather located inside the vehicle. It is connected to a brake booster via an additional hose / connecting line and a switching valve to tap the brake booster's vacuum and transmit it to the seal via the supply line. This allows the effective pressure from the cover to the seal to be reduced or completely eliminated. The air supply / intake area / intake is preferably designed, for example, as a simple throttle valve that can be switched using simple means, or, permanently during fan operation, as a nozzle similar to the Venturi principle.

[0021] Preferably, the seal has a filling material in the form of foam or a support structure on the inside, which is designed to reinforce the restoring effect.

[0022] Preferably, the seal has at least one sealing lip on its side facing the lid, which is used to improve the sealing effect.

[0023] Preferably, the seal is made of a material whose deformability is sufficiently high even at lower temperatures to ensure the flexibility of the seal in particularly cold weather.

[0024] Advantageously, the seal is formed from one or more, preferably two, individual seals, which are designed to improve the contact pressure in the contact area. Preferably, the individual seals each have their own supply line / connection from the outside to the interior of the individual seals.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing. It shows:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a conductive charging system according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0027] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an air circulation with a closed lid of a conductive charging system according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a representation of a seal of a conductive charging system according to the invention in various operating positions and embodiments; and

[0028] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an air supply / intake area / intake of a conductive charging system according to the invention in various embodiments.

[0029] The figures are merely schematic and serve solely to clarify the invention. The same elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a conductive charging system 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment. The conductive charging system 1 is shown in three operating states A, B, and C. The conductive charging system has a vehicle unit 2 attached to a vehicle. The vehicle unit 2 can be arranged on the underbody or on the side of the vehicle. However, the vehicle unit 2 can also be an integral part of the vehicle. The vehicle unit has a contacting unit 3, which is designed to initiate a charging process for charging the vehicle with a contact surface of a base unit. The vehicle unit 2 also has a housing 7, with which it can be attached to the vehicle. The contacting unit 3 can, for example, be designed as a unit that can be extended from the housing 7 and have a contacting surface that is designed to contact the contact surface of the base unit.On the underside of the vehicle unit 2, i.e., the side facing away from the vehicle and toward the base unit, the vehicle unit 2 has a cover 5, which is rotatably / pivotably mounted on a pivot axis 4. In a first operating mode, in which the vehicle is in motion, the cover 5 serves as a closure and protects the contact unit 3 from environmental influences, dirt, and damage. Seals 6 are integrally arranged on the underside of the housing 7. The seal 6 is designed to form a press contact with the cover 5 in order to hold or bring it into a specific position in the various operating modes.On the side opposite the pivot axis 4, the vehicle unit 2 has a closure 12, which, in conjunction with the seal 6, holds the cover 5 in a closed position by applying an effective pressure to the seal 6, causing the seal 6 to deform and press the cover 5 against the closure. Furthermore, a fan 9 is arranged in the vehicle unit 2, which can vary the air supply and thus the pressure / pressure volume within the seal 6 via a supply line (shown in Fig. 2).

[0031] In the first operating mode A, i.e. in the closed mode (upper illustration of Fig. 1 ), a certain ambient pressure is applied to the seal 6 so that the seal 6 presses the cover 5 onto the closure 12 and the underside of the vehicle unit 2 is closed or covered.

[0032] In the next operating mode B (middle illustration of Fig. 1), a vacuum is applied to the seal, or its ambient pressure is changed such that the seal undergoes a deformation and releases or detaches the lid 5. This means that there is no pressure from the seal 6 on the lid 5 and thus on the closure 12.

[0033] In a third operating mode C, the cover 5 is rotated about the pivot axis 4, so that the contact unit 3 is released for setting a charging process. The seal 6 is completely relieved of pressure and hangs freely toward the floor.

[0034] The cover 5 is only pivoted (generally speaking, only opened and closed) and has no other direction of movement. To retract the seal 6, the fan 9 can be operated at high power, just as during a cleaning process. If the fan 9 is not operated during the charging process or is operated at a low speed, the seal 6 may assume its fully unloaded position.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of air circulation with a closed cover 5 of a conductive charging system 1 according to the invention. The vehicle unit 2 has a contact unit 3, a fan 9, an air supply / intake area / suction 10 arranged on the fan, a cover 5, and a seal 6. The seal 6 is again arranged on the underside of the housing 7 and designed to hold the cover 5 in a closed position. Even with the cover 5 still closed, an air flow can develop, via which a negative pressure is generated, because the contact surface 3 and the air supply / intake area / suction 10 are located within the seal area.

[0036] In the case of a fan 9 located outside the main housing (not shown), e.g. for space reasons, the negative pressure can be led via a separate hose area into the main housing and from there to the seal.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a representation of a seal 6 of a conductive charging system 1 according to the invention in various operating positions and embodiments. The seal 6 is shown in cross-section. The supply line 8 is shown only schematically once. The connection of the supply line 8 to the interior of the seal 6 can be seen.

[0038] Position C is the unloaded state of the seal 6 ("production shape"), position A is the shape upon contact with the closed lid 5. The difference between C and A creates the effective contact force with which the seal 6 seals the lid 5 in the closed state. The negative pressure creates the shape of the seal 6 shown in position C from the shape of the seal 6 shown in position B, so that the lid 5 can be closed. The negative pressure can now be reduced; the seal 6 would like to return to the shape shown in position C, but is held in position A by the now-present lid 5. Position B shows the almost fully contracted seal 6 under the influence of negative pressure. This is the state in which the lid 5 can be moved (opened or closed).

[0039] A filler material, such as foam or a support structure, can be present inside the seal 6 to enhance the resilience. The seal 6 can also have a structure on its outer surface ("sealing lips") to improve its effectiveness. Furthermore, the seal 6 can also be made of a material that is particularly flexible in cold temperatures, such as silicone. Furthermore, the right-hand side of Fig. 3 shows an alternative construction of the seal 6, in which the seal 6 is formed from two individual seals 11, which can potentially improve the contact pressure in the contact area. One supply line 8 is guided into each individual seal 1.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an air supply / intake area / intake 10 of a conductive charging system 1 according to the invention in various embodiments.

[0041] Illustration a) shows a housing-integrated vacuum generation by means of a Venturi nozzle, in which a vacuum is generated proportional to the intake volume flow.

[0042] Illustrations b1) and b2) show a housing-integrated vacuum generation by means of a switchable throttle valve in different throttle valve positions, with the throttle valve being closed in b1), creating a vacuum in the seal 6. In position b2), the throttle valve is open, so that the air supply from outside reaches the fan 9 via the air supply / intake area / intake 10.

[0043] In both variants a) and b), the air supply / intake area / intake 10 is arranged at the fan 9. In addition, the supply line 8, via which the ambient pressure of the seal 6 can be changed, is connected to the air supply / intake area / intake 10. The arrows shown represent the flow direction.

[0044] The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. The above description is therefore not to be considered restrictive, but rather explanatory. The following claims are to be understood in such a way that a stated feature is present in at least one embodiment of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of further features. Where the claims and the above description define 'first' and 'second' features, this designation serves to distinguish between two (e.g.) similar features without establishing a priority.

[0045] List of reference symbols

[0046] 1 conductive charging system

[0047] 2 Vehicle unit 3 Contact unit

[0048] 4 swivel axis

[0049] 5 Lid / Closure / Cover

[0050] 6 Seal

[0051] 7 Housing 8 Supply line / connection

[0052] 9 fans

[0053] 10 Air supply / intake area / intake

[0054] 11 Single seal

[0055] 12 Closure

Claims

Claims 1. A conductive charging system (1) comprising a vehicle unit (2) which is arranged on a vehicle and is designed to contact a contact plate of a base unit for setting a charging process with a contacting unit (3) which is arranged in or on the vehicle unit (2), wherein the vehicle unit (2) has a pivotable lid / closure / cover (5) and a seal (6) which is arranged between a housing (7) of the vehicle unit (2) and the lid / closure / cover (5), characterized in that the seal (6) is designed to vary the effective pressure of the seal (6) on the lid / closure / cover (5) by changing the shape of the seal (6) via a pressure change in order to keep the lid / closure / cover (5) sealed in a first operating position and to keep it open in a second operating position in order to enable the contacting unit (3) to be released.

2. Conductive charging system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (6) is integrally connected to the housing (7) of the vehicle unit (2).

3. Conductive charging system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle unit (2) has a fan (9) and / or a supply line / connection (8) from the outside to the inside of the seal (6), which are designed to control the pressure change of the seal (6).

4. Conductive charging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vehicle unit (2) has an air supply / intake area / intake (10) which is arranged on the fan (9) and is designed to supply the fan (9) with air.

5. Conductive charging system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the air supply / intake area / intake (10) is designed as a throttle valve or venturi gland.

6. Conductive charging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seal (6) has a filling material inside to reinforce the restoring effect.

7. Conductive charging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the seal (6) has at least one sealing lip on its side facing the cover (5).

8. Conductive charging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the seal (6) is made of a material whose deformability is still sufficiently high even at lower temperatures.

9. Conductive charging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the seal (6) is formed from two individual seals (11) to improve the contact pressure in the contact area.

10. Conductive charging system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the individual seals (11) each have their own supply line / connection (8) from the outside to the interior of the individual seals (11).

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