Positioning unit for a charging station, and contacting method

Abstract

The invention relates to a positioning unit and to a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, wherein the positioning unit is designed to be arrangeable above a vehicle, wherein an electrical charging contact of the positioning unit is movable relative to a charging contact face of the vehicle by means of the positioning unit and is contactable with the charging contact face, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning device and a drive device (37) for driving the positioning device, wherein the charging contact can be positioned by means of the positioning device between a contact position for transmitting power and a retracted position for interrupting power, wherein the drive device has an adjustment drive (38) with at least one supporting means (39) which is coupled to the positioning device, wherein a traction force can be transmitted to the positioning device by way of the supporting means in such a way that the positioning device is movable between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjustment drive, wherein at least one sensor device (51) is provided, which is designed at least to detect that the contact position has been reached, wherein the positioning unit has a control device, by means of which the adjustment drive can be actuated to form defined slack in the supporting means and / or defined tension in the supporting means once the contact position has been reached.

Description

[0001] Positioning unit for a charging station and method for contacting

[0002] The invention relates to a positioning unit and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, wherein the positioning unit is designed to be arranged above the vehicle, wherein by means of the positioning unit an electrical charging contact of the positioning unit is movable relative to a charging contact surface of the vehicle and can be contacted therewith, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning device and a drive device for driving the positioning device, wherein the charging contact is positionable by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, wherein the drive device has an adjustment drive with at least one support means coupled to the positioning device,A tensile force can be transmitted to the positioning device via the support means, such that the positioning device can be moved between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjustment drive. Such positioning units and methods are known from the prior art and are regularly used in electrically powered vehicles that travel between stops. These can be electric buses, but in principle also other vehicles, such as a train or tram, that are not permanently electrically connected to a contact wire or similar. In these vehicles, an electrical energy storage device is charged via a charging station during a break in the journey at a stop or vehicle depot. The vehicle is electrically connected to the charging station, whereby the vehicle's energy storage device is charged, for example, during a short stop or overnight.

[0003] A charging contact of the positioning unit is then moved by means of the positioning device towards a charging contact surface on a roof of the vehicle and an electrical connection is established. For example, a positioning unit can have at least four charging contacts, whereby two charging contacts can then usually serve for energy transfer, one charging contact as a ground conductor, and another charging contact for data transfer. Buses in particular can be lowered in the area of ​​a stop to make access easier for people with physical disabilities, for example. This lowering of the bus causes a change in the height of a charging contact surface relative to the roadway and, if the lowering occurs only on one side of the bus, a tilting of the bus about its longitudinal axis.This movement of the bus requires an adjustment of the contact position of the positioning unit to compensate for the vehicle movement during charging of the energy storage device, thus avoiding an interruption in the contact with the vehicle, which would lead to a charging interruption. This can be achieved by further lowering the positioning device by readjusting the adjustment drive. Such a positioning unit is known, for example, from WO 2023 / 072365 A1. The disadvantage here is that the positioning unit is structurally complex, which significantly increases manufacturing and operating costs.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a positioning unit and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, which enables a secure contact with the vehicle while at the same time keeping acquisition and operating costs low.

[0005] This object is achieved by a positioning unit having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 19.

[0006] The positioning unit according to the invention for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, is designed to be arranged above a vehicle, wherein by means of the positioning unit an electrical charging contact of the positioning unit can be moved relative to a charging contact surface of the vehicle and can be contacted therewith, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning device and a drive device for driving the positioning device, wherein the charging contact can be positioned by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, wherein the drive device has an adjustment drive with at least one support means coupled to the positioning device, wherein a tensile force can be transmitted to the positioning device by means of the support means, such thatthat the positioning device is movable between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjustment drive, wherein at least one sensor device is provided which is at least designed to detect reaching of the contact position, wherein the positioning unit has a control device by means of which the adjustment drive can be controlled after reaching the contact position to form a defined sag of the support means and / or a defined tensile stress of the support means.

[0007] The positioning unit is therefore a component of a stationary charging station for an electrically powered vehicle and is used to move at least one charging contact of the charging station or of the positioning unit onto a charging contact surface of the vehicle, which is preferably arranged on a vehicle roof, and to make electrical contact with this. This makes it possible to supply the vehicle with electrical energy during a break in the journey at a stop or vehicle depot and to store this energy in the vehicle. The movement of the charging contact(s) onto the respective charging contact surface is carried out using the positioning unit, which is arranged above the vehicle on, for example, a mast, an underpass, a support structure or a ceiling structure of a hall. The charging contact orThe charging contacts are located at the lower end of the positioning unit and can be moved from an upper retracted position to a lower contact position for power transmission or contacting the charging contact surfaces. In the contact position, a defined contact force is exerted on the respective charging contact surfaces. The charging contact(s) are stored in the retracted position when the positioning unit is not in use.

[0008] It is provided that the adjustment drive acts on the positioning device via the support means. The deformable support means serves to transmit a tensile force to the positioning device, to which the support means is coupled or mechanically connected indirectly or directly. The drive device is designed such that the tensile force can be used to move the positioning device, and thus the charging contact arranged thereon, between the contact position and the retracted position. This makes it possible to actuate the positioning device solely by means of the deformable or inherently movable support means. In particular, by releasing the support means by means of the adjustment drive, the positioning device can be moved from the retracted position to the contact position.

[0009] Furthermore, at least one sensor device is provided in the positioning unit, which is at least designed to detect when the contact position is reached. If the drive device has two or more support means, a separate sensor device assigned to the respective support means can be provided for each support means. Accordingly, two or more sensor devices can be provided. The sensor device can be arranged on the drive device, in particular on the adjustment drive, and / or the positioning device. The drive device, in particular the adjustment drive, and / or the positioning device can also have the sensor device. Furthermore, the positioning unit has a control device by means of which the adjustment drive is controlled after the contact position has been reached.after detection of reaching the contact position, the sensor device can be controlled to create a defined sag in the support means and / or a defined tensile stress in the support means. The sensor device can be connected to the control device, in particular via signaling. The control device can be arranged on the drive device, in particular on the adjustment drive, and / or on the positioning device. The drive device, in particular the adjustment drive, can also have the control device. After the sensor device has detected reaching the contact position, the sensor device can transmit a signal to the control device, which can contain information about the fact that the contact position has been reached.In response to the signal, the control device can, in particular by transmitting a control signal to the adjustment drive, control the adjustment drive to form the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means. In this case, the release of the support means by means of the adjustment drive can be continued, in particular after a time specification and / or a length specification of the control device, until the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means is formed. The control signal can contain the time specification or length specification. The control device can control the adjustment drive to continue the release of the support means in such a way that the support means sags by a piece of a defined length and thus a defined sag of the support means is formed.When the charging contact is lowered into the contact position, the inherently deformable support means can then sag. Sagging or sagging of the support means is understood to mean that the support means is slack. In particular, when the support means sags, the support means is not under tensile stress or no tensile force or force is transmitted. It can also be provided to subject the support means in the contact position to a very small, defined tensile stress or tensile force, whereby the tensile force must always be smaller than the weight of the charging contact. Preferably, the tensile force is many times smaller than the contact force. A defined tensile stress is then formed in the support means. The support means then does not sag, although movement of the support means is still possible. Accordingly, the support means can be moved within a range if the support means can be moved with a very small tensile force in this range orrange of motion. The comparatively small tensile force can be generated by means of spring preload. When the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means is reached, the support means can be stopped. For this purpose, the adjustment drive can be switched off or the conveyance or release of the support means can be stopped. Complete unwinding or depositing of the support means on the vehicle or the charging contact surface can thus be prevented. In all cases, the support means has an excess length that can be moved or used to move the charging contact. Movement, in particular a sinking movement, of the vehicle, in particular during charging of an energy storage device in the vehicle, can then be compensated within limits by the support means. In this way, interruptions in the contact with the vehicle or the charging contact surface that lead to charging interruptions can be prevented.The electrical connection between the charging station and the vehicle can be avoided. Furthermore, readjustment of the adjustment drive to further lower the positioning device is therefore eliminated. The positioning unit therefore enables secure contact with the vehicle while simultaneously keeping acquisition and operating costs low.

[0010] The support means can be at least one of a band, a rope, a belt, or a chain. Such a support means can be easily stored on the positioning unit. A stroke length or movement length of the charging contact can also be easily varied with such a support means. At the same time, a tensile force can be reliably transmitted to the positioning device via the support means when the support means is connected to the positioning device. The positioning device can then be moved from the contact position to the retracted position by exerting the tensile force. Conversely, the positioning device can be lowered from the retracted position to the contact position by extending or releasing the corresponding support means. Nevertheless, multiple support means, even of different types, can be provided. In particular, two support means can be provided.

[0011] Thus, a weight force of at least the positioning device and the charging contact can generate an adjustment force that counteracts the tensile force, whereby a contact force can be generated on the charging contact surface by means of the weight force. Only the weight force generated by a mass of at least the positioning device and the charging contact can be held by the support means. This weight force then corresponds to the tensile force acting in the support means in opposition, whereby the adjustment force acting counter to the tensile force then acts on the positioning device or the drive device. In addition to the positioning device and the charging contact, other components of the positioning unit that are designed to be movable together with the positioning device and the charging contact can generate the weight force or the adjustment force.If the charging contact is now in the contact position on the vehicle's charging contact surface, the contact force essentially corresponds to the weight or the adjustment force. If multiple charging contacts are provided, the contact force of the individual charging contacts can be proportionally determined by the weight. The positioning unit can advantageously have a weight force that always ensures the development of a constant contact force.

[0012] The adjustment drive can be equipped with a winch for operating the support means. The winch can be used to release, unwind, or wind up the support means. The winch can be designed, for example, as a cable winch. Because the support means is connected to the positioning device, the positioning device can be easily raised or lowered by operating the winch. The drive device can then be designed simply.

[0013] The adjustment drive can have an electric motor by means of which at least one reel, a drum, a bobbin or a sprocket of the adjustment drive or winch can be driven. The electric motor can be connected directly or indirectly, for example via a gear, to the reel, the drum, the bobbin or the sprocket. The suspension element can thus be easily actuated or unwound and / or wound up. The electric motor can be a DC motor, a three-phase motor, in particular an asynchronous motor, or an AC motor. If the suspension element is a band, a rope, a belt or a chain, the suspension element can be wound up onto the reel, the drum or the bobbin and thus stored. If the suspension element is a chain, the chain can, for example, be actuated with the sprocket and stored in a container provided for this purpose. Depending on the design of the chain, the sprocket can be in the form of a capstan.The support means can thus be stored particularly compactly on the positioning unit. The adjustment drive or winch can have two or more reels, drums, bobbins, or sprockets, which can be driven jointly by an electric motor of the adjustment drive or each by its own electric motor.

[0014] The control device can be used to control the electric motor and / or regulate the speed of the electric motor. The control device can be formed from control and / or regulating electronics for the electric motor. In this case, it can be provided that the control and / or regulating electronics are integrated directly into the electric motor. When controlling the speed or acceleration of the electric motor, it can be provided that the charging contact is moved at least in sections at a constant speed. It can also be provided that a deceleration or acceleration of a movement of the charging contact is provided by controlling the speed of the electric motor before the contact position or the retracted position is reached. Optionally, it can also be provided that the adjustment drive is self-locking, depending on the type of electric motor and any gear used.The positioning device can then be easily moved into a desired position and fixed in place without any additional tools. Furthermore, the adjustment drive can have a buffer battery or energy storage device, which, in the event of a power failure or other malfunction, ensures automated retraction of the positioning device into the retracted position thanks to an emergency power supply from the buffer battery or energy storage device. The buffer battery or energy storage device can be integrated into the adjustment drive. Other suitable drives can also be provided in addition to the electric motor. The sensor device can be designed such that reaching the contact position can be detected by detecting a torque of the electric motor. Reaching the retracted position can also be detected by detecting the torque of the electric motor.To detect the torque, the sensor device can comprise a torque sensor. Alternatively, the sensor device can be formed from the control and / or regulating electronics for the electric motor. The sensor device can detect the torque of the electric motor, for example, via the energy consumed. Detection of the retracted position or contact position based on the torque of the electric motor can be achieved by detecting a relatively large detected torque in the retracted position and a relatively small detected torque in the contact position.

[0015] The sensor device can also be configured to detect when the retracted position has been reached. Upon reaching the retracted position or upon detection of the retracted position being reached, the adjustment drive can then be automatically shut off.

[0016] The sensor device can be designed such that reaching the contact position can be detected by detecting a tensile stress of the support means and / or a tensile force applied to the support means. During the movement of the positioning device between the retracted position and the contact position, a substantially constant tensile stress of the support means and / or a tensile force applied to the support means can be detected. When the contact position is reached, a reduction in the tensile stress of the support means or in the tensile force applied to the support means can be detected, based on which reduction the reaching of the contact position can be detected. This design of the sensor device can be provided in particular by a sensor device designed with a lever and a switching element, which is described below.The sensor device can have a lever whose position can be changed by pivoting, wherein the sensor device can have a switching element, in particular a push button, which can be actuated by means of the lever in a position-dependent manner, wherein the lever can be in a first position when the support means is substantially not under tensile stress, wherein the switching element can be actuated in the first position, wherein the lever can be outside the first position when the support means is under tensile stress, wherein the switching element cannot be actuated outside the first position. Accordingly, the sensor device can have a pivotable lever which can be pivoted by the action of the support means on the lever and can be changed by pivoting in a position of the lever. The position can depend on a tensile stress of the support means.If the support means is not under tensile stress, the lever can be in a first position in which the lever actuates a switching element of the sensor device. If the support means is under tensile stress, the lever can be outside the first position so that the lever cannot actuate the switching element. By actuating the switching element, reaching the contact position can be detected. Accordingly, the switching element can function as a limit switch. The switching element can be a pressure switch or a push button. The lever can be arranged on the winch, in particular underneath a drum of the winch. The winch can have a support on which the drum can be rotatably mounted. The support can have two, preferably plate-like, support parts, between which the drum can be arranged. The lever can be arranged on the support. In this case, the lever can be attached to a device on the winch orThe axle part of the sensor device can be pivotally mounted on the support. The axle part can connect the support parts to one another. The lever can have, preferably at one end, a roller over which the support means can be guided. The lever can have two lever parts. Furthermore, the lever can have an axle part connecting the lever parts to one another, on which the roller can be rotatably mounted. However, the roller is not required. Alternatively, a connecting part of the lever can be provided which connects the lever parts to one another, or the axle part can be provided without a roller arranged thereon, over which the support means can be guided. Furthermore, the sensor device can have a guide for guiding the lever.Each guide can have two, preferably rod-shaped, guide parts, which can each be pivotally mounted on an axle part of the lever connecting the lever parts to one another, and can each be displaceably mounted on a receiving part of the guide pivotally mounted on one of the support parts. The switching element can be arranged on the support, in particular on one of the support parts.

[0017] Before reaching the contact position, in particular during a movement of the positioning device between the retracted position and the contact position, the lever can be held outside the first position, in particular in a second position, by means of the support means under tensile stress, wherein the lever can be pivoted from outside the first position, in particular the second position, into the first position after reaching the contact position as a result of a reduction in the tensile stress of the support means. The positioning device can be moved from the retracted position into the contact position by releasing the support means, wherein during the movement of the positioning device between the retracted position and the contact position, the lever can be held outside the first position, in particular in a second position, by means of the support means under tensile stress.In this case, a force holding the lever outside the first position, in particular in the second position, can be exerted on the lever by means of the support means under tensile stress. The support means under tensile stress can be tensioned against the roller and thus hold the lever outside the first position, in particular in the second position. As soon as the positioning device reaches the contact position, the tensile stress of the support means can begin to decrease as the release of the support means continues. As a result of the reduction in the tensile stress of the support means, which leads to a reduction in the force exerted on the lever by the support means, the lever can be pivoted from outside the first position, in particular the second position, into the first position, in particular under the influence of a weight force acting on the lever.When the traction device is no longer under tension, the lever can be in the first position. Therefore, the lever can be in the first position when the traction device is free of tensile stress when the positioning device is in the contact position. A contact force can then be generated solely by the weight of at least the positioning device and the charging contact.

[0018] The lever can be designed with a curved section for position-dependent actuation of the switching element. The lever can have or form the curved section at another end. The curved section can be designed in the form of a cam disk or a cam plate. The lever can be pivotally mounted with the curved section on the axle part of the sensor device. The curved section can be formed by one of the lever parts.

[0019] The sensor device can have a further switching element, in particular a push button, which can be actuated by means of the lever in a position-dependent manner, wherein the lever can be in a third position in the retracted position, wherein the further switching element can be actuated in the third position. By actuating the further switching element, reaching the retracted position can be detected. Accordingly, the further switching element can function as a further limit switch. The further switching element can be a pressure switch or a push button. Outside of the third position, when the positioning device is not in the retracted position, the further switching element cannot be actuated. Outside of the first position and the third position, in particular in the second position, neither the switching element nor the further switching element can be actuated.Viewed in a pivoting direction of the lever, the lever can be pivoted from the third position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

[0020] The lever can be held in the third position in the retracted position by means of a holding body provided in an end section of the support means on the support means, in particular from below, which can be placed against the lever. The holding body can exert a force on the lever that holds the lever in the third position. The lever can have a further roller arranged next to the roller, wherein the support means can be guided between the roller and the further roller. The further roller can be arranged on a further axle part of the lever that connects the lever parts to one another. However, the further roller is not required. Alternatively, a further connecting part of the lever that connects the lever parts to one another, or the further axle part can be provided without a further roller arranged thereon. The size of a gap between the roller or the connecting part and the further roller orThe further connecting part can be dimensioned such that the holding body cannot traverse the gap when the support means is wound up, so that in the retracted position the holding body resting against the lever from below can hold the lever in the third position. The holding body can be arranged on the support means. The holding body can then be designed, for example, as a bolt, for example made of plastic or metal. Alternatively, the support means can form the holding body. The holding body can then be designed, for example, as a thickened portion. The lever can be designed with a further curved section for position-dependent actuation of the further switching element. The lever can have or form the further curved section at another end. The further curved section can be designed in the manner of a cam disk or link disk. The lever can be pivotally mounted on the axle part with the further curved section.The further curved section can be formed by the other of the lever parts. Thus, one lever part can form the curved section, and the other lever part can form the further curved section.

[0021] The sensor device can have a position sensor or displacement sensor with which a position of the charging contact can be determined, and / or a force sensor with which a contact force and / or tensile force can be determined. Furthermore, the adjusting drive and / or the positioning device can have a position sensor or displacement sensor with which a position of the charging contact can be determined, and / or a force sensor with which a contact force and / or tensile force can be determined. This makes it possible to limit a contact force, wherein the limitation can be achieved by switching off the adjusting drive when a certain force or tensile force or tensile stress in the support means is reached. A time-based switch-off can also be provided. At the same time, the determined force or tensile force orThe tensile stress in the support means must be dimensioned such that any movement, in particular any sinking movement, of the vehicle, particularly during charging, can be compensated by the support means. By limiting the contact force, any damage to the positioning unit or the charging contact surface can be easily prevented. Optionally or additionally, an incremental encoder or absolute encoder can be used as a position sensor. It is then also possible to always determine an exact working position of the positioning device. The sensor device or positioning device can also have limit switches that can be actuated depending on the position and / or pressure switches that can be actuated depending on the force. A pressure switch can be arranged directly on the charging contact. Depending on the design of the sensor device or positioning device, the sensors in question can also be arranged on joints or bearings of the positioning device.

[0022] The positioning device can be an articulated arm device. This makes it possible to guide the charging contact along a predetermined path from the retracted position to the contact position and back. In principle, the positioning device can also be constructed from telescopic guide elements.

[0023] The articulated arm device can be designed as a single-arm system or as a scissor system, preferably with a parallelogram guide, or as a pantograph. Thus, the articulated arm system can enable parallel movement of the charging contact from a retracted position of the charging contact to the contact position on the charging contact surface of the vehicle.

[0024] The positioning unit can have a support frame for fastening the positioning device above a vehicle, wherein the adjustment drive can be arranged on the support frame. The support frame can be designed such that it can be easily attached to a mast or a ceiling structure of a building. The adjustment drive can therefore also be connected to the support frame. Since the adjustment drive acts on the positioning device solely via the support means, it can also be provided that the adjustment drive is arranged independently of the support frame, directly on a mast or a building.

[0025] The positioning unit can have a contact device with two charging contact carriers with at least two charging contacts arranged thereon, wherein the charging contacts can be connected to one another via a parallel linkage of the contact device with two parallel connecting rods and with two parallel supporting rods, wherein the supporting rods can each be connected to the connecting rods in one of two parallel planes of movement via spaced-apart connecting joints and can form a parallelogram with the connecting rods. With such a positioning unit, at least four or more charging contacts can each be moved onto a charging contact surface of a vehicle and electrically contacted with this. Furthermore, it is possible to distribute or form the contact force evenly on the respective charging contact surfaces.The contact device can be arranged at a lower end of the positioning device such that the contact device is held substantially centrally or at a center of gravity. The parallel linkage can be formed from comparatively long connecting rods and short support rods, which are arranged vertically and connected to the connecting rods via the connecting joints. The connecting rods can thus be inclined relative to a horizontal plane, wherein the support rods can always be arranged vertically within the two parallel planes of movement. If the connecting joints are arranged coaxially to the support joints, a uniform force distribution from a contact force exerted centrally on the contact device to the two support rods always results, regardless of the inclination of the connecting rods.Due to the symmetrical design of the contact device, the center of gravity of the contact device can then be positioned almost centrally, resulting in an even distribution of the contact force across the charging contacts.

[0026] The connecting rods can be connected to a lower end of the positioning device in a support plane running parallel and centrally to the planes of movement via two spaced-apart support joints, wherein the charging contact supports can each be connected to the support rod via a rotary joint, wherein the rotary joints can be arranged orthogonally relative to the connecting joints, wherein the charging contact supports can each hold the charging contacts coaxially relative to the rotary joints. The charging contact supports can each be arranged on the support rods via the rotary joint. Since the charging contacts on the respective charging contact support are also arranged coaxially relative to the rotary joint, the contact force can be distributed proportionally between the two charging contacts arranged on the charging contact support via the support rods or the rotary joint.If the swivel joints are arranged orthogonally relative to the connecting joints, it is possible to adapt the charging contacts to a transverse and longitudinal inclination of a vehicle in terms of their height relative to the vehicle and at the same time to achieve secure contact of the respective charging contact surfaces of the vehicle with a substantially equal or proportional contact force using simple means.

[0027] Further advantageous embodiments of the positioning unit emerge from the description of features of the subclaims referring back to method claim 19.

[0028] In the method according to the invention for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, an electrical charging contact of the positioning unit is moved above a vehicle relative to a charging contact surface of the vehicle by means of a positioning unit of the charging station and contacted therewith, wherein a positioning device of the positioning unit is driven by a drive device of the positioning unit, wherein the charging contact is positioned by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, wherein a tensile force is transmitted to the positioning device by means of at least one support means of an adjustment drive of the drive device coupled to the positioning device in such a way thatthat the positioning device is moved between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjustment drive, wherein reaching the contact position is detected by means of at least one sensor device, wherein the adjustment drive is controlled by means of a control device of the positioning unit after reaching the contact position to form a defined sag of the support means and / or a defined tensile stress of the support means. For the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the description of the advantages of the positioning unit according to the invention.

[0029] During the movement of the positioning device from the retracted position to the contact position, the positioning device and the electrical charging contact arranged thereon can be moved downwards by means of the adjustment drive by releasing the support means until the electrical charging contact is applied, wherein after reaching the contact position or after detection of reaching the contact position by means of the sensor device by means of the adjustment drive, preferably after a time specification and / or a length specification by the control device, the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means can be formed by continuing the release of the support means. Once the defined passage of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means has been formed, the support means can be stopped.Preferably, the continuation of the release of the support means to form the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means can follow the release of the support means to move the positioning device from the retracted position to the contact position without stopping the support means. However, it is also conceivable that the support means is temporarily stopped after the release of the support means to move the positioning device from the retracted position to the contact position before the support means is further released to form the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means. The contact position and / or a contact force can be formed independently of a relative distance of the loading contact surface of the vehicle below the positioning unit to the retracted position of the positioning unit.This makes it possible to connect vehicles of different heights relative to the roadway with the positioning unit. The vehicle's charging contact surface can preferably be arranged on a vehicle roof or at another suitable location on the top of the vehicle.

[0030] In the contact position, the electrically conductive connection can be formed without interruption during a change in the relative distance of the charging contact surface of the vehicle below the positioning unit to the retracted position of the positioning unit, in particular as a result of lowering the vehicle. A change in the relative distance of the charging contact surface also results in a change in the distance of the charging contact surface to a roadway. A change in the relative distance can be caused by lowering the vehicle via a chassis or by loading the vehicle. Because the support means sags somewhat in the contact position or has a defined sag and / or a defined tensile stress, a movement of the vehicle can be compensated within limits without interrupting the electrically conductive connection.

[0031] In the contact position, a constant contact force can be generated during a change in the relative distance between the charging contact surface of the vehicle below the positioning unit and the retracted position of the positioning unit, in particular as a result of lowering the vehicle. Because the contact force can be generated essentially by the weight of the positioning device and the charging contact(s) and any contact device present, the contact force can be generated essentially constantly, even if the relative distance changes. Because the support means sags somewhat in the contact position or has a defined sag and / or a defined tensile stress, a movement of the vehicle can be compensated within limits without the contact force changing.

[0032] Further advantageous embodiments of the method emerge from the description of features of the subclaims referring back to device claim 1.

[0033] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] They show:

[0035] Fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a positioning unit in a first working position;

[0036] Fig. 2 is a side view of the positioning unit shown in Fig. 1 in a second working position;

[0037] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a contact device of a second embodiment of a positioning unit;

[0038] Fig. 4 is a partial view of a drive device equipped with two sensor devices of a third embodiment of a positioning unit from one side;

[0039] Fig. 5 is a partial rear view of the drive device shown in Fig. 4 equipped with the two sensor devices;

[0040] Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of a sensor device shown on the left in Fig. 5 in a region of two switching elements of the sensor device, taken diagonally from the rear left; Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the sensor device shown on the left in Fig. 5 in the region of the two switching elements, taken diagonally from the rear right.

[0041] 1 and 2 show a positioning unit 10 for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station (not shown in detail here) and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, located below the positioning unit 10, also not shown in detail. With the positioning unit 10, four electrical charging contacts 11 of the positioning unit 10, which are arranged here on a contact device 12 of the positioning unit 10, can be moved relative to charging contact surfaces 13 on a roof of the vehicle and contacted therewith. The positioning unit 10 comprises a positioning device 14 and a drive device 15 for driving the positioning device 14. The charging contacts 11 are positioned by means of the positioning device 14 between a retracted position or rest position shown in Fig. 1 for storing the charging contacts 11 and a contact position shown in Fig. 2 for power transmission.

[0042] The drive device 15 has an adjustment drive 16 with a support means 17 coupled to the positioning device 14. The adjustment drive 16 is formed by a winch 19 equipped with an electric motor 18, wherein the support means 17 is formed by a cable 20 which can be raised or lowered with the winch 19. The positioning unit 10 further comprises a control device for controlling and regulating the electric motor 18, which is not shown in detail here. The positioning device 14 is further formed by an articulated arm device 21, essentially consisting of two articulated arms 22 and 23. The contact device 12 and the support means 17 are fastened to a lower end 24 of the positioning device 14. The positioning unit 10 further has a holding frame 25 for fastening the positioning device 14 to a mast (not shown here) or to a ceiling of a hall or the like.The winch 19 is attached to the holding frame 25.

[0043] By actuating the electric motor 18, the support means 17 can now be wound up or released with the winch 19, so that a length of the support means 17 released by the winch 19 can be varied. Accordingly, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the contact device 12 with the charging contacts 11 can be raised into the retracted position or lowered into the contact position. A weight force of the positioning device 14 or the contact device 12 and the charging contacts 11 causes a tensile force in the support means 17, which essentially counteracts and corresponds to the adjusting force that must be applied by the electric motor 18 to raise the charging contacts 11. If the charging contacts 11 rest on the charging contact surfaces 13 and the support means 17 is unloaded, ieIf no tensile force is transmitted via the support means 17 or if the support means 17 sags somewhat, the weight force acts as a contact force on the charging contact surfaces 13, wherein the weight force is distributed proportionally between the respective charging contacts 11. The positioning unit 10 further comprises a sensor device (not shown here) by means of which reaching the contact position can be detected, wherein the electric motor 18 can be controlled by means of the control device after reaching the contact position in order to form a defined sag of the support means 17 and / or a defined tensile stress of the support means 17. This can be achieved in that the sensor device directly or indirectly detects the tensile force or tensile stress in the support means 17.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows a contact device 26, such as can also be used with the previously described positioning unit. The contact device 26 has two charging contact carriers 27, to whose distal ends 28 contact strips 29 are attached, thus forming the charging contacts 11. The essentially arcuate or O-shaped charging contact carriers 27 are connected to a parallel linkage 30 of the contact device 26, formed from connecting rods 31 and vertically arranged support rods 32. The connecting rods 31 are movably connected to the support rods 32 via connecting joints 33, wherein the charging contact carriers 27 are each movably connected to the support rod 32 via a pivot joint 34. Furthermore, support joints 35 movably connect a lower end 36 of a positioning device (not shown in detail here) to the connecting rods 31.

[0045] A summary of Figs. 4 to 7 shows a drive device 37 of a positioning unit (not shown here), which serves to form an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station (not shown here) and a vehicle (not shown here). By means of the positioning unit, an electrical charging contact (not shown here) of the positioning unit can be moved relative to a charging contact surface (not shown here) of the vehicle and contacted therewith.

[0046] In the following, objects with the same function or construction are generally designated by the same reference symbol for the sake of clarity. In Figs. 4 to 7, for the sake of clarity, only one of the objects with the same function or construction is designated by a reference symbol.

[0047] The drive device 37 serves to drive a positioning device (not shown here) of the positioning unit, wherein the charging contact can be positioned by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption. The drive device 37 has an adjustment drive 38 with two support means 39, each designed as a belt, coupled to the positioning device, wherein a tensile force can be transmitted to the positioning device by means of the support means 39 such that the positioning device can be moved between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjustment drive 38. The adjustment drive 38 is formed by a winch 41 designed with an electric motor 40. The winch 41 has two drums 42 that can be driven jointly by means of the electric motor 40, wherein each drum 42 is assigned to a support means 39.Each drum 42 is rotatably mounted on a respective support 43 of the winch 41. The drums 42 are arranged together on a shaft 44 of the winch 41, which can be driven by the electric motor 40, the shaft 44 being rotatably mounted on the supports 43. Each drum 42 is arranged between two plate-like support parts 45, 46 of the respective support 43. The winch 41 is or the supports 43 or the support parts 45, 46 are arranged on a frame 47 of the positioning unit. The supports 43 or support parts 45, 46 are each arranged on two elongated or rod-like frame parts 48, 49 of the frame 47 and are each arranged between the frame parts 48, 49. The frame 47 can be part of a holding frame for fastening the positioning device above the vehicle or can form the holding frame.Furthermore, the winch 41 has a pressure roller 50 for each support element 39, which ensures, in particular, that the respective support element 39 is wound neatly when wound onto the respective drum 42. The pressure rollers 50 are arranged on the frame part 48.

[0048] Furthermore, the positioning unit has a sensor device 51 for each support means 39. The sensor devices 51 are arranged on the winch 41. Each sensor device 51 is arranged on one of the supports 43. Each sensor device 51 has a lever 52 whose position can be changed by pivoting, wherein each sensor device 51 has a switching element 53 designed as a push button, which can be actuated by means of the respective lever 52 depending on the position, wherein the respective lever 52, when the respective support means 39 is not under tensile stress, is in a position spatially viewed at the front in Fig. 4 or in Fig.5 is in the first position shown on the right, wherein in the first position the respective switching element 53 is actuated, wherein the respective lever 52, when the respective support means 39 is under tensile stress, is outside the first position, in particular in a second position not shown here, wherein outside the first position the respective switching element 53 is not actuated. Before reaching the contact position, when the positioning device or the charging contact moves between the retracted position and the contact position, the respective lever 52 can be held in the second position by means of the respective support means 39 which is under tensile stress. The respective support means 39 exerts a force holding the respective lever 52 in the second position.After reaching the contact position, the respective lever 52 can be pivoted from the second position into the first position as a result of a reduction in the tensile stress of the respective support means 39. Since the force acting on the respective lever 52 decreases with the reduction in the tensile stress of the respective support means 39, the respective lever 52 can be pivoted from the second position into the first position, in particular under the influence of a weight force acting on the respective lever 52, when the force falls below the weight force. Furthermore, each sensor device 51 has a further switching element 54 which can be actuated by means of the respective lever 52 in a position dependent on the position, wherein the respective lever 52 is in the retracted position in a spatially rearward position in Fig. 4 or in Fig.5 is in the third position shown on the left, wherein in the third position the respective further switching element 54 is actuated, wherein outside the third position the respective further switching element 54 is not actuated. In this case, the respective lever 52 is held in the third position in the retracted position by means of a respective holding body 56 designed as a bolt, which is provided in an end section 55 of the respective support means 39 on the respective support means 39 and can be placed against the respective lever 52 from below in the retracted position. In the retracted position, the respective holding body 56 exerts a force which holds the respective lever 52 in the third position. In Fig. 4, viewed spatially at the front, a support means 57a or 58a is also shown, which is intended to clarify how the support means 39 would run in the second or third position of the lever 52. In Fig. 4, spatially viewed at the rear, there is also a support means 57b or58b, which is intended to illustrate how the support means 39 would extend in the first and second positions of the lever 52. The fact that the levers 52 are shown in different positions in Figs. 4 and 5 serves to clarify the functioning of the sensor devices 51. During normal operation of the positioning unit, the levers 52 are essentially in the same position at the same time.

[0049] Each lever 52 is pivotally mounted below the respective drum 42 on one of the supports 43. Each lever 52 has two lever parts 59, 60, each of which forms a curved section 61, 62 at one end. The respective curved section 61 serves for the position-dependent actuation of the respective switching element 53, while the respective other curved section 62 serves for the position-dependent actuation of the respective further switching element 54. The respective switching element 53 is arranged on a respective support part 45, and the respective further switching element 54 is arranged on a respective other support part 46. The lever parts 59, 60 of the respective lever 52 are pivotally mounted on an axle part 63 of the sensor device 51, which axle part connects the respective support parts 45, 46, by means of the cam sections 61, 62. The cam sections 61, 62 are rotatable on the respective axle part 63 when the respective lever 52 is pivoted.At the other end, the respective lever 52 has two rollers 64, 65 arranged side by side between the respective lever parts 59, 60, between which the respective support means 39 is guided. The size of a gap (not shown here) between the respective rollers 64, 65 is dimensioned such that the respective holding body 56 cannot traverse the respective gap, so that in the retracted position, the respective holding body 56 resting against the respective lever 52 from below holds the respective lever 52 in the third position. Each roller 64, 65 is arranged on an axle part 66, 67 of the respective lever 52 that connects the respective lever parts 59, 60 to one another. Furthermore, each sensor device 51 has a guide 68 for guiding the respective lever 52.Each guide 68 has two rod-like guide parts 69, 70, which are each pivotably arranged on one of the axle parts 67 of the respective lever 52 and, on the other hand, are displaceably mounted on a receiving part 71, 72 of the respective guide 68, which is pivotably arranged on one of the support parts 45, 46 of the respective support 43.

[0050] By means of the sensor devices 51, reaching the contact position and the retracted position can be detected. Furthermore, the positioning unit has a control device (not shown here), by means of which, in particular, the adjustment drive 38 can be controlled after reaching the contact position to form a defined sag of the support means 39.

[0051] The operation of the sensor devices 51 is preferably as follows.

[0052] In the retracted position, the levers 52 are in the third position and actuate the further switching elements 54. By releasing the support means 39 by means of the electric motor 40 or the winch 41, the positioning device and the electrical charging contact arranged thereon are moved downwards. By releasing the support means 39, the holding bodies 56, which in the retracted position rest against the levers 51 from below, move downwards, as a result of which the levers 52 are pivoted in a pivoting direction 73 from the third position into the second position, in which the switching elements 53 and the further switching elements 54 are not actuated. Since the support means 39 are under tensile stress when the positioning device moves between the retracted position and the contact position, the levers 52 are held in the second position by means of the tension means 39 tensioned against the levers 52 or the rollers 64. When the contact position is reached orBy continuing to release the support means 39 after reaching the contact position, the tensile stress on the support means 39 begins to decrease, as a result of which the levers 52 are pivoted from the second position toward the first position, viewed in the pivoting direction 73. When the support means 39 are essentially free of tensile stress, the levers 52 are in the first position, in which the switching elements 53 are actuated. A contact force is then formed solely by a weight force of at least the positioning device and the charging contact. As a result of the actuation of the switching elements 53, the sensor devices 51 or switching elements 53 each transmit a signal to the control device, which signal contains information that the contact position has been reached.In response to the signals, the control device controls the electric motor 40 to create a defined sag in the support means 39 after a time specified by the control device. The release of the support means 39 is continued for a time period specified by the control device. In this case, sagging sections of the support means 39, not shown here, having a defined length are formed. After the time period has elapsed, the support means 39 are stopped by stopping the electric motor 40. Charging of an energy storage device (not shown here) of the vehicle can be initiated immediately after the contact position is reached or after the sag in the support means 39 has developed.

[0053] After charging, the above process can be carried out in reverse, so to speak. In the contact position, the levers 52 are in the first position and actuate the switching elements 53. By winding up the support means 39 by means of the electric motor 40 or the winch 41, the sagging sections of the support means 39, which have the defined length, are initially reduced. Subsequently, due to the tensile force acting on the support means 39 during winding up, the tensile stress on the support means 39 increases increasingly, as a result of which the levers 52 are pivoted from the first position to the second position, viewed opposite to the pivoting direction 73. Subsequently, the positioning device or the charging contact leaves the contact position, wherein the positioning device and the electrical charging contact arranged thereon are moved upwards by the electric motor 40.Since the support means 39 are under tensile stress when the positioning device moves between the contact position and the retracted position, the levers 51 are held in the second position by means of the tension means 39 tensioned against the levers 52 or the rollers 64. As the support means 39 are wound up, the holding bodies 56 provided on the support means 39 also move upwards. When the holding bodies 56 come to rest from below on the levers 62 between the rollers 64 and the further rollers 65, the levers 52 are pivoted from the second position into the third position, viewed against the pivoting direction 73. When the levers 52 are in the third position, the positioning device is in the retracted position. When the levers 52 are pivoted from the second position into the third position, the further switching elements 54 are actuated. As a result of the actuation of the further switching elements 54, the sensor devices 51 orEach further switch 54 sends a further signal to the control device, which contains information that the retracted position has been reached. In response to the further signals, the control device controls the electric motor 40 to stop the electric motor 40 to stop the support means 39.

[0054] The features shown in Figs. 1 to 7 can be combined with each other in any meaningful way.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Positioning unit (10) for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, wherein the positioning unit is designed to be arranged above a vehicle, wherein by means of the positioning unit an electrical charging contact (11) of the positioning unit is movable relative to a charging contact surface (13) of the vehicle and can be contacted therewith, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning device (14) and a drive device (15, 37) for driving the positioning device, wherein the charging contact is positionable by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, wherein the drive device has an adjustment drive (16, 38) with at least one support means (17, 39) coupled to the positioning device,wherein a tensile force can be transmitted to the positioning device by means of the support means, such that the positioning device can be moved between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjusting drive, characterized in that that at least one sensor device (51) is provided which is at least designed to detect reaching of the contact position, wherein the positioning unit has a control device by means of which the adjustment drive can be controlled after reaching the contact position to form a defined sag of the support means and / or a defined tensile stress of the support means.

2. Positioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (17, 39) is at least a band, a rope (20), a belt or a chain.

3. Positioning unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a weight force of at least the positioning device (14) and the charging contact (11) forms an adjusting force counteracting the tensile force, wherein a contact force on the charging contact surface (13) can be formed by means of the weight force.

4. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment drive (16, 38) is designed with a winch (19, 41) for actuating the support means (17, 39).

5. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting drive (16, 38) has an electric motor (18, 40) by means of which at least one reel, a drum (42), a bobbin or a sprocket of the adjusting drive can be driven.

6. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (51) is further configured to detect reaching of the retraction position.

7. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (51) is designed such that the reaching of the contact position can be detected by detecting a tensile stress of the support means (17, 39) and / or by detecting a tensile force applied to the support means.

8. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (51) has a lever (52) whose position can be changed by pivoting, wherein the sensor device has a switching element (53), in particular a push button, which can be actuated by means of the lever in a position-dependent manner, wherein the lever, when the support means (17, 39) is essentially not under tensile stress, is in a first position, wherein in the first position the switching element is actuated, wherein when the support means is under tensile stress, the lever is outside the first position, wherein outside the first position the switching element is not actuated.

9. Positioning unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the lever (52) is held outside the first position, in particular in a second position, by means of the support means (17, 39) under tension before reaching the contact position, in particular during a movement of the positioning device (14) between the retracted position and the contact position, wherein the After reaching the contact position, the lever can be pivoted from outside the first position, in particular the second position, into the first position as a result of a reduction in the tensile stress of the support means.

10. Positioning unit according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the lever (52) is designed with a curved section (61) for position-dependent actuation of the switching element (53).

11. Positioning unit according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the sensor device (51) has a further switching element (54), in particular a push button, which can be actuated by means of the lever in a position-dependent manner, wherein the lever is in a third position in the retracted position, wherein the further switching element is actuated in the third position.

12. Positioning unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the lever (52) can be held in the third position in the retracted position by means of a holding body (56) provided in an end section (55) of the support means (17, 39) on the support means, in particular from below, which can be placed on the lever.

13. Positioning unit according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the lever (52) is designed with a further curved section (62) for position-dependent actuation of the further switching element (54).

14. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning device (14) forms an articulated arm device (21).

15. Positioning unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the articulated arm device (21) is designed as a single-arm system or as a scissor system, preferably with a parallelogram guide, or as a pantograph.

16. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning unit (10) has a holding frame (25) for fastening the positioning device (14) above a vehicle, wherein the adjustment drive (16, 38) is arranged on the holding frame.

17. Positioning unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning unit (10) has a contact device (12, 26) with two charging contact carriers (27) with at least two charging contacts (11) arranged thereon, wherein the charging contacts are connected to one another via a parallel linkage (30) of the contact device with two parallel connecting rods (31) and with two parallel support rods (32), wherein the support rods are each connected to the connecting rods in one of two parallel planes of movement via spaced-apart connecting joints (33) and form a parallelogram with the connecting rods.

18. Positioning unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the connecting rods (31) are connected to a lower end (24, 36) of the positioning device (14) in a support plane running parallel and centrically to the planes of movement via two spaced-apart support joints (35), wherein the charging contact carriers (27) are each connected to the support rod (32) via a rotary joint (34), wherein the rotary joints are arranged orthogonally relative to the connecting joints (33), wherein the charging contact carriers each hold the charging contacts (11) coaxially relative to the rotary joint.

19. A method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a stationary charging station and a vehicle, in particular an electric bus or the like, wherein, by means of a positioning unit (10) of the charging station, an electrical charging contact (11) of the positioning unit is moved above a vehicle relative to a charging contact surface (13) of the vehicle and contacted therewith, wherein a positioning device (14) of the positioning unit is driven by a drive device (15, 37) of the positioning unit, wherein the charging contact is positioned by means of the positioning device between a contact position for power transmission and a retracted position for power interruption, wherein a tensile force is transmitted to the positioning device by means of at least one support means (17, 39) of an adjustment drive (16, 38) of the drive device coupled to the positioning device in such a way thatthat the positioning device is moved between the contact position and the retracted position by means of the adjusting drive, characterized in that reaching the contact position is detected by means of at least one sensor device (51), wherein by means of a control device of the positioning unit the adjusting drive is stopped after reaching, the contact position is controlled to form a defined sag of the support element and / or a defined tensile stress of the support element.

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that during the movement of the positioning device (14) from the retracted position to the contact position, the positioning device and the electrical charging contact (11) arranged thereon are moved downwards by means of the adjusting drive (16, 38) by releasing the support means (17, 39) until the electrical charging contact is applied to the charging contact surface (13), wherein after the contact position has been reached by means of the adjusting drive, preferably after a time specification and / or a length specification by the control device, the defined sag of the support means and / or the defined tensile stress of the support means is formed by continuing to release the support means.

21. Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that in the contact position during a change in a relative distance of the charging contact surface (13) of the vehicle below the positioning unit (10) to the retracted position of the positioning unit, in particular as a result of a lowering of the vehicle, the electrically conductive connection is formed without interruption.

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