Control device for controlling a pull-out of an electric connection cable from a cable roll

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control device (10) for controlling a pull-out of an electric connection cable (120) from a cable roll (1 10), having a guide means (20) with at least one winding contour (22) for guiding a control element (32) depending on the winding position of the cable roll (1 10), further having a latching element (42), wherein the guide means (20) has a free-running track (24) and at least one latching track (26) for guiding the latching element (42) and at least one latching switch (25) for guiding the latching element (42) out of the free-running track (24) into the latching track (26) and at least one free-running switch (23) for guiding the latching element (42) out of the latching track (26) into the free-running track (24), wherein furthermore the latching track (26) has at least one latching position (RP) with a latching stop (RA) for latching the latching element (42) for blocking the cable roll (1 10), wherein furthermore a control lever (30), which has the control element (32) and a contact portion (34), is mounted to be movable between at least one contact position (KP), in which the contact portion (34) is in contact with the latching element (42), and at least one release position (FP), in which the contact portion (34) releases the latching element (42), wherein furthermore the contact portion (34) has a contact contour (36).

Description

[0001] Control device for controlling the withdrawal of an electrical connecting cable from a cable reel

[0002] The present invention relates to a control device for controlling a pull-out of an electrical connecting cable from a cable reel, a winding device with such a control device and an adjustment method for adjusting a minimum pull-out length in such a control device.

[0003] It is well known that electrical connecting cables are used to electrically connect an electrical power source with an electrical consumer. For this purpose, different lengths must be bridged, so that electrical connecting cables of different lengths are used accordingly. In addition to simple electrical consumers, high-power consumers are also known, such as those used in high-voltage machines or for charging electric cars. For high power consumption of electrical connecting cables, the only storage solutions known to date are those that require the electrical connecting cable to be stowed manually. While so-called cable drums are known for simple electrical connecting cables, such as those used in normal electrical household appliances, this has not yet been used for high-voltage cables for electrical connecting cables.This is due to the risk that if the cable reel is not fully unwound, the remaining wound electrical connecting cable will develop an electrical coil functionality due to its wound arrangement. When current flows, an electrical coil causes the coil to heat up, either through inductance or ohmic resistance, thus heating the wound electrical connecting cable. The degree of heating depends on the amount of current and the duration of the current flow. Furthermore, the amount of heating depends on the number of windings the electrical connecting cable has in the partially unwound state.

[0004] With conventional electrical connection cables for charging electric vehicles, the high power consumption requires a correspondingly high current flow. Therefore, conventional electrical connection cables are not currently available on cable reels, as there is no guarantee that incorrect operation resulting from incomplete unwinding of the electrical connection cable from the cable reel can be ruled out. If an electrical connection with a partially wound electrical connection cable were to ensure a high power supply to an electrical consumer over an extended period, the high current flow of a power cable used as an electrical connection cable would lead to significant heating and, in particular, to a fire hazard.Therefore, no cable drums are currently available for electrical connecting cables for high-voltage applications and cumbersome, purely manual handling is necessary.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective and simple winding option for electrical connecting cables for high-voltage applications.

[0006] The above object is achieved by a control device having the features of claim 1, a winding device having the features of claim 15, and an adaptation method having the features of claim 17. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the control device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the winding device according to the invention and the adaptation method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0007] According to the invention, a control device is proposed for controlling the withdrawal of an electrical connecting cable from a cable reel. This is, in particular, an electrical connecting cable for high-current operation, which is characterized by a correspondingly large cable cross-section and adapted insulation. This control device has a guide means with at least one winding contour for guiding a control element depending on the winding position of the cable reel. Furthermore, a locking element is provided, wherein the guide means has a free-running track and at least one locking track for guiding the locking element. A locking switch serves to guide the locking element from the free-running track into the locking track, and furthermore, at least one free-running switch is provided for guiding the locking element from the locking track back into the free-running track.The locking track is further equipped with at least one locking position with a locking stop for locking the locking element to block the cable reel. Furthermore, the control device is designed with a control lever, which has the control element and a contact section and is mounted so as to be movable between at least one contact position, in which the contact section contacts the locking element, and at least one release position, in which the contact section releases the locking element. Furthermore, this contact section of the contact control lever has a contact contour, which, in at least one contact position, guides the locking element from the freewheeling track into the locking switch.

[0008] According to the invention, a control device can be used to mechanically track the winding situation on a cable reel and to take this into account for the use of the electrical connecting cable. The inventive mode of operation is briefly explained below using an example.

[0009] If the control device is attached to a winding device with a cable reel, this is preferably done in such a way that the guide means, in particular the winding contour, moves together with the cable reel. If a user now wishes to use the cable reel, they will unwind the electrical connection cable from the cable reel using a rotational movement, so that a movement of the electrical connection cable takes place along a pull-out direction. This sets the cable reel in rotation, which is reflected in a likewise rotating movement of the winding contour. The winding contour now moves, in particular relative to a named control element, so that the winding contour guides the control element through this relative movement and generates a movement of the control element.As will be explained later, the winding contour can, for example, have a spiral design, so that the control element is guided radially inwards, for example by the movement of the cable reel in a pull-out direction when unwinding the electrical connection cable. In one embodiment according to the invention, a control lever is provided which has this control element. The movement of the control element entrains this control lever through a fixed connection to the control lever, so that the control lever also moves accordingly and this movement is dependent on the rotation situation of the cable reel. In other words, as the electrical connection cable unwinds, the control lever performs a lever movement via the control element.

[0010] The lever movement of the control lever now serves to exert a mechanical effect on the locking element described above. As soon as the lever movement has progressed far enough through the control element, a first contact position is reached, i.e., contact is made between the contoured section of the control lever and the locking element. The contact contour of the contact section of the control lever is designed to force a movement of the locking element, namely from the freewheel track into the locking switch.

[0011] In other words, the locking element now moves freely in the freewheeling track, meaning it is not carried along by a locking switch, as long as it is moving in the freewheeling track. As soon as the locking element moves or is lifted above the contact contour, it is guided from the freewheeling track into the locking track upon reaching the locking switch. For further extension, the locking element remains in the locking track and is guided there, allowing the rotation of the cable reel and thus the rotation of the guide element.

[0012] As soon as the user has reached a desired extension length, which in this variant and example is greater than the minimum extension length, the extension direction is reversed to the retraction direction and the rotational direction of the cable reel is reversed by a retraction drive, e.g. via a mechanical spring device, and the electrical connecting cable is wound back onto the cable reel over a short distance. The reversal of the rotational direction of the cable reel leads to a reversal of the rotational direction of the guide means, so that the locking element is now guided in the locking track in the opposite direction. In this opposite direction, it is now possible for the locking element to enter the freewheel switch, wherein the locking position with the at least one locking stop is arranged within the freewheel switch.As soon as the freewheel switch is reached, the locking element leaves the locking track and enters the freewheel switch, where it enters the locking position at the locking stop. This leads to a mechanical locking, which prevents further retraction of the electrical connection cable, since rotation in the retraction direction for the cable reel is blocked in the locking position. In other words, the user can now see that at this point in time, the electrical connection cable can be used in its unrolled state without any retraction force for the desired electrical connection process, such as charging an electric vehicle. Once the charging process is complete, i.e. the service life of the electrical connection cable is over, the user can leave the locking position for the locking element again by briefly pulling on the electrical connection cable.The locking element will now continue along the freewheel switch and be guided back through the freewheel switch into the freewheel track. As it continues in the retraction direction, i.e., in relation to the extension direction of the opposite rotation of the cable reel and the opposite rotation, and thus of the guide element, the contact lever will also be guided back to its original release position via the control element's guide.

[0013] The process for pulling out and retracting the electrical connection cable was explained in more detail above. The mode of operation with regard to the desired protective function can be described as follows. The user of a control device according to the invention, or of a cable reel equipped with this, will pull the electrical connection cable for this high-current application from the cable reel when wishing to carry out a charging process on an electric vehicle. As long as the minimum extension length is not reached, the locking element is still in the free-running path, so that by releasing and ending the extension movement in such a too-short extension situation, an automatic retraction movement is carried out, i.e. the electrical connection cable is automatically and completely wound up again on the cable reel and is therefore not available for the electrical charging process.In order to start the electrical charging process, the user must extend the electrical connection cable at least far enough for the electrical connection cable to lock into place. This is only guaranteed, however, when the minimum extension length has been reached. This is achieved when the locking element, in its contact position, moves via the locking switch into the locking track via the contact lever, thus enabling the cable reel to be locked by the locking element locking into the locking position. It should also be noted that the minimum length can therefore be precisely defined by the control lever and, in particular, the contact contour. As will be explained later, adaptation to different required minimum extension lengths can be achieved, for example, by changing the contact contour, by changing the guide means, or by similar adaptation steps, for example by adjusting the control element.It should also be noted that the locking track itself allows for further extension of the electrical connection cable beyond the minimum extension length, up to a full extension. The minimum extension length is defined such that the remaining windings of the electrical connection cable on the cable reel have a reduced coiling effect to such an extent that heating and the risk of fire are eliminated. The minimum extension length can therefore also be understood as the maximum number of windings on the cable reel.

[0014] A control device according to the invention now ensures that locking in the locking position is only possible when the electrical connection cable has exceeded the minimum extension length and the locking element has thus been raised from the free-running track into the locking track. This ensures that a simple mechanical safety option is available that indicates to the user that use can be carried out safely, namely precisely when the cable reel has locked into place. If locking does not occur, the cable reel's retraction mechanism will completely rewind the electrical connection cable and, from a mechanical point of view, it is not possible to plug it into a charging port of an electric vehicle because the connection cable is subject to the pull-in tension of the cable reel during any attempt to plug it in.This results in intuitive operation and a high level of security against misuse due to insufficiently unwound electrical connection cables. Thus, the advantage and convenience of a cable reel as a storage option for high-voltage applications for electrical connection cables can also be achieved. Naturally, a control device according to the invention can be used for any type of high-voltage application. Even though the application for vehicle charging cables is particularly advantageous, other high-voltage applications, such as those in construction companies or on construction sites, also offer the same advantages as those explained here in the example for the application for electric vehicle charging cables.

[0015] It can be advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, the locking element is arranged on a locking lever which is mounted so as to be movable between at least one free-running position with the locking element in the free-running track and at least one locking position with the locking element in the locking track. While other mounting options for the locking element are also conceivable in principle, the design on a locking lever is a particularly simple solution since it defines, in particular, precisely predetermined lever kinematics. The locking lever can, for example, be mounted in a housing of the cable reel. This preferably provides a similar mounting to that for the control lever and for the rotation of the cable reel and / or for a rotation of the guide means.In other words, it is now possible for the locking lever to be lifted from the freewheel position to the locking position, and the lifting takes place through the guide with the help of the freewheel track, the locking switch, the locking track, the freewheel switch and in particular through the influence of the contact contour of the control lever.

[0016] It is further advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, the guide means has a guide disk which has the winding contour, the free-running track and / or the locking track, and in particular has a central guide bearing axis for rotational mounting for rotation together with the cable reel. This is a particularly simple and cost-effective solution, since the guide means can be designed to be particularly flat in a disk-like manner. Such a design of the guide means can, for example, be applied or placed laterally onto the cable reel, so that a simple force-fitting connection, in particular in a planar manner, is possible between the guide means and the cable reel. It is particularly preferred if the said guide bearing axis is designed coaxially with the rotation axis of the cable reel, for the said joint rotation of the guide means and the cable reel.The disc-like design, and in particular the integration of the winding contour, freewheel track, and locking track into a common guide disc, results in a particularly flat design, which is capable of reducing the space required for the lateral structure of a cable reel. The bearings of the individual levers, in particular the control lever and a locking lever, can be provided in a housing of the control device and / or the winding device, for example, independently of the bearings of the movable guide disc.

[0017] It can also be advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, the winding contour is spiral or substantially spiral in shape, for a movement of the control element towards a guide bearing axis of the guide means when the cable reel rotates in a pull-out direction. Of course, other movements are also conceivable, depending on the arrangement of the control lever and the geometric design of the winding contour. However, a spiral arrangement forms a particularly simple gear ratio, which allows the rotational movement of the cable reel to be converted into a defined lever movement of the control lever and, in particular, to precisely and predefinedly specify the individual relative positionings in the release position and in the at least one contact position to the locking element in order to achieve the desired effect with regard to the predefined minimum pull-out length of the electrical connecting cable.The winding contour can have a one-sided or even a two-sided end stop, but can also generally form a freewheel in both directions. A freewheel is preferred, particularly in the direction of the extension position, to effectively prevent unwanted blocking. The pitch of such a spiral-shaped winding contour is preferably constant or essentially constant, so that a constant or essentially constant movement of the control lever can be achieved by moving with the control element.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, the guide means has a connecting section for a force-locking connection to the cable reel, for joint rotation of the guide means with the cable reel in the extension direction and in the retraction direction. The force-transmitting, in particular force-locking, connection to the cable reel is thus bidirectional, so that the rotation of the cable reel preferably results directly in a rotation of the guide means. For example, the rear side of the guide means, i.e. on the surface oriented opposite to the winding contour, can have a corresponding flat connection to the cable reel in order to provide this embodiment. This is a very simple and cost-effective movement coupling, which in particular entails very little installation space requirement.

[0019] A further advantage can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the free-running track and / or the locking track are circular or substantially circular, wherein, with respect to a guide bearing axis of the guide means, the free-running track is preferably arranged radially outside the winding contour, and / or the locking track is arranged radially outside the free-running track. This allows the free-running track, the locking track, and the winding contour to be arranged in a common plane, so that the entire embodiment of such a disc-shaped guide means is even more compact and, in particular, can be placed flatter laterally on the cable reel. The circular design offers advantages for even simpler and more precise prediction and control of the movements of the control element and the locking element.This applies in particular if a central axis is provided for all circular configurations, or a center of curvature which coincides or substantially coincides with the guide bearing axis of the guide means.

[0020] Further advantages are achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the locking stop is formed in the at least one freewheel switch. While, in principle, a locking stop with the locking position is also possible separately from the freewheel switch, integration into the freewheel switch brings great advantages in terms of the compactness of the control device. For example, the freewheel switch is now designed in two parts, so that a first section of the freewheel switch serves to guide the locking element from the locking track into the freewheel switch and, in this freewheel switch, into the locking position to the locking stop. The locking stop serves to create the described blocking of further retraction of the electrical connecting means over the cable reel.The freewheel switch is preferably equipped with two different directions of movement, namely a first direction of movement from the locking track to the locking position, whereby this direction of movement is accompanied by a rotation of the cable reel in the retraction direction. This direction of movement is terminated when the locking element reaches the locking position at the locking stop, so that no further movement of the locking element and the guide means in a retraction direction of the cable reel is possible.The second section of the freewheel switch, leading from the locking position, is now again aligned with the extension direction of the electrical connecting cable. Tightening the electrical connecting cable causes the guide element to rotate in the extension direction along with the cable reel, thus removing the locking element from the locking position and from the locking stop. This second section of the freewheel switch guides the locking element back into the freewheel track. This provides a very simple movement guide for the locking element, and thus a compact and, above all, very error-free control of the movement between the locking track, the locking position, and the freewheel track.

[0021] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the locking element is subjected to a preload force in the direction of the freewheel track and / or a control lever is subjected to a preload force in the direction of the release position. The locking element can thereby bring about this preload in the direction of the freewheel track in a radial manner, similarly to the way in which a preload force can be provided for the control lever. In both cases, the preload allows greater independence in the design of the winding device and the cable reel and, in particular, independence with regard to the direction of gravity during use. This ensures that inclined installations, unexpected alignments of the direction of gravity, or centrifugal forces during operation and rotation of the cable reel do not undesirably impair the described function.Rather, the preload forces serve to ensure precise guidance under a wider range of application situations and with greater reliability. Additionally or alternatively, additional preload elements can be provided to apply a preload force to the control element and / or the locking element in the axial direction, particularly relative to a guide bearing axis, on the corresponding surface or raceway surface of the freewheel track, the locking track, and / or the winding contour.

[0022] It can also be advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, the freewheel track has, relative to a guide bearing axis of the guide means, a radially inner inner partial freewheel track and a radially outer outer partial freewheel track, which are designed in the radial direction, in particular without separation or essentially without separation. A particularly simple embodiment of this variant is achieved in that the freewheel track is, for example, twice or essentially twice as wide in the radial direction as the corresponding outer diameter of the control element. This allows the locking lever and thus the locking element to be moved on the inner partial freewheel track, in particular by preloading the locking lever and thus the locking element, as long as no other force deflects the locking element.When the cable reel moves in the extension direction, the contact position is reached in the manner described, in which contact is made between the contact section of the control lever and the locking element. Because the freewheel track is now designed with a wide width, the locking element can move within the freewheel track from the inner partial freewheel track to the outer partial freewheel track. In addition to their radial positioning on the guide bearing axis, these differ in particular in that the locking switch is now activated in the outer partial freewheel track. For example, geometric recesses, guide contours, the ramps and non-return walls described later, or similar elements can protrude into the outer partial freewheel track in order to force interaction with the locking element when the locking switch is reached.This ensures that the locking element is only inserted into the locking switch when the locking element is located in the outer partial freewheel track. This also makes it possible to ensure a certain degree of variability between the positioning of the locking element and the rotational position of the winding element in order to enable jam-free transfer from the freewheel track to the locking track. A further advantage is provided if, in a control device according to the invention, the locking switch, the freewheel switch and / or the locking position each have a guide ramp with a non-return wall which lifts the locking element over the non-return wall when guided over the guide ramp along a guide bearing axis of the guide means. In other words, the combination of ramp and non-return wall is a geometrically safe and particularly simple way of creating a one-way street in the respective switch for compensation.This ensures that the described function is only carried out in the desired activation direction for the respective switch. If the locking element is guided along the switch in the opposite direction to this activation direction, it is lifted over the non-return wall with the help of the ramp, so that there is no effect for introducing the locking element into the respective switch. When operated in the activation direction, i.e. along the extension direction for the non-return switch and along the retraction direction for the free-running switch, the locking element strikes the respective non-return wall and is introduced into the corresponding switch by this activation. The individual ramps are preferably identical or essentially identical and preferably have the same or essentially identical ramp height in order to ensure the same functionality for all switch sections.

[0023] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the contact contour of the control lever and / or the position of the control element on the control lever are adjustable. The adjustability can be ensured, for example, by simple replacement, but also by flexible adjustment of the relative positions. For example, it is conceivable for the control element to be fastened to the control lever in an elongated hole, whereby the desired relative position on the control lever can be fixed in the elongated hole, for example using a locking screw. Because the control lever with its contour section now precisely defines the extension position at which the cable reel is lifted into the locking track for the locking element, a variation in the minimum extension lengths can be ensured by varying the contour section and / or the position of the control element.This makes it particularly easy and cost-effective to adapt one and the same control device for different minimum extension lengths and thus to different cable reels and / or different lengths of the electrical connecting cables, so that for all different embodiments there is a possibility of always achieving the desired minimum extension length for protection against undesired inductive heating.

[0024] It is also advantageous if, in a control device according to the invention, a sensor device is arranged in the locking position for detecting the locking of the locking element in the locking position. For example, magnetic detection can be provided, for example using a Hall sensor. Optical detection, light barriers, or electrical detection are also conceivable in principle. Of course, the sensor device can also have a mechanical switch to provide mechanical switching for this detection. In addition to simple sensory detection, i.e., detecting when the locking position has been reached and the possibility of using this detection information in the form of a sensor signal for further monitoring the current flow in the electrical connecting cable, direct monitoring is also possible.If the sensor device is designed as a mechanical switch, for example, this mechanical switch can not only detect when the locking position has been reached, but also, by activating the mechanical switch, enable the flow of current through the electrical connecting cable only when the locking position has actually been reached. In addition to the basic protection against inductive heating if the minimum extension length for the electrical connecting cable is not fully reached, safety is further enhanced here by ensuring that the electrical connection, and thus the flow of current, is only initiated when the locking position has been reached and assumed, thus ensuring that the minimum extension length has actually been reached with 100% certainty.

[0025] A further advantage can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the contact section has a wedge-shaped contour at least in sections, in particular with a steep lifting section and a flat following section. This two-part contact contour means that, particularly in the already explained embodiment with a wide freewheel track, the first lifting section leads to the locking element being guided from the inner partial freewheel track into the outer partial freewheel track. The somewhat flatter following section then holds the locking element in this outer partial freewheel track via the further rotation of the guide means and the cable reel, and the control lever can continue to move. As soon as the locking element reaches the next locking switch in this held and guided outer partial freewheel track, the locking element is guided outwards through the locking switch into the locking track in the manner described.Conversely, this flat following section of the contact contour takes up the locking element when the locking element is returned from the locking position via the freewheel switch, so that it does not hit the inner wall of the freewheel track with accelerated movement, especially when it is under preload, but rather is guided slowly and in a defined manner back into the inner partial freewheel track via the contour section and the control lever, first via the following section and then via the lifting section, and there is slowly and wear-free placed against the inner wall of the freewheel track.

[0026] A further advantage can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the guide means has at least two locking switches, at least two locking positions, and / or at least two free-running switches. Preferably, the same number of locking switches, locking positions, and free-running switches is provided, wherein these are, in particular, evenly distributed over the circumference. A larger number of locking switches, free-running switches, and locking positions results in the respective return movement for activating the locking mechanism and reaching the locking position requiring a smaller angle of rotation of the cable reel, thus further facilitating the usability of the winding device for the user from a comfort perspective.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a winding device for winding and unwinding an electrical connecting cable. Such a winding device comprises a rotatably mounted cable reel for winding the connecting cable in a retraction direction and unwinding the connecting cable in a withdrawal direction. Furthermore, a retraction device is provided for applying a retraction force to the cable reel in the retraction direction and a control device according to the present invention for controlling the withdrawal of the connecting cable until it locks into a minimum withdrawal position. Thus, a winding device according to the invention offers the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a control device according to the invention.

[0028] It can be advantageous if, in a winding device according to the invention, the locking element has an electrical connection element for forming an electrically conductive connection between the connecting cable and a connection terminal of the winding device in the locking position. This is designed in addition to or as an alternative to the sensor device explained, but can also be part of this sensor device in the manner explained. In particular, the locking element itself then serves as an electrical connector and thus as an electrical switch to only release the flow of current through the electrical connecting cable when the locking position has actually been assumed.

[0029] A further subject of the present invention is an adjustment method for adjusting a minimum extension length in a control device according to the present invention and / or in a winding device according to the present invention, comprising the following steps:

[0030] - Changing the arrangement of the control element on the control lever and / or

[0031] - Changing the contact contour on the control lever and / or

[0032] - Changing a control lever bearing axis of the control lever and / or

[0033] - Changing the winding contour of the guide means.

[0034] The adaptation variants mentioned are listed as a non-exhaustive list. An adaptation method according to the invention offers the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a winding device according to the invention and a control device according to the invention. Of course, the individual steps can also be freely combined with one another to ensure even greater adaptability.

[0035] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show schematically:

[0036] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a control device according to the invention with the electrical connection cable fully wound up,

[0037] Fig. 2 the embodiment of Figure 1 during an extension movement,

[0038] Fig. 3 the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 during the further extension movement,

[0039] Fig. 4 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 during the further extension movement,

[0040] Fig. 5 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 during the further extension movement,

[0041] Fig. 6 the embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 during the further extension movement,

[0042] Fig. 7 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 during

[0043] resting process,

[0044] Fig. 8 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 during

[0045] Locking process in another position,

[0046] Fig. 9 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 in the locking position,

[0047] Fig. 10 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9 when leaving the

[0048] locking position,

[0049] Fig. 1 1 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 10 after leaving the locking position, Fig. 12 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 1 1 during a retraction movement,

[0050] Fig. 13 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 12 during the further retraction movement,

[0051] Fig. 14 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 13 during the further retraction movement,

[0052] Fig. 15 the embodiment of Figures 1 to 14 in an isometric view,

[0053] Fig. 16 shows a variant of the control lever for an embodiment of Figures 1 to 15,

[0054] Fig. 17 shows a further variant of the control lever for the embodiment of Figures 1 to 15.

[0055] The following briefly explains the extension movement, the locking movement, and the retraction movement of a control device 10 on a winding device 100. The individual movement situations are illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 14 and are explained in more detail below.

[0056] Figure 1 shows the starting situation when the user of such a winding device 100 wishes to unwind the electrical connection cable 120 for use from the cable reel 110. To do so, they pull the electrical connection cable 120 along the extension direction AR, causing the cable reel 110 to rotate clockwise as shown in Figure 1. This rotation of the cable reel 110, due to the direct, force-locking connection to the guide disc 21 of the guide means 20, leads to a rotation of this guide disc 21 about the guide bearing axis FLA. When this rotation begins, the spiral winding contour 22 also rotates clockwise accordingly.

[0057] Attached to the control lever 30 is a control element 32 in the form of a pin-shaped extension, which engages in the spiral winding contour 22. This results in the control lever 30 moving to the right from the starting position shown in Figure 1 about the control lever bearing axis KLA, which may be mounted in a housing (not shown).

[0058] Figure 2 shows a state during the extension movement of the electrical connecting cable 120. Here, the control element 32 has now completed slightly more than one complete spiral revolution due to a rotation of the cable reel 110 and thus also of the guide means 20 by a full revolution, so that the control lever 30 has accordingly moved to the right about the control lever bearing axis KLA. During this rotational movement, the locking element 42 on the locking lever 40 is located in the freewheel track 24 and there in the inner partial freewheel track 24a. This is based in particular on the fact that the locking lever 40 is subjected to a preload force in the radial direction, which preloads the locking element 42 against the inner wall of the inner partial freewheel track 24a.

[0059] If a further extension movement of the electrical connecting cable 120 now occurs along the extension direction AR, this relative movement continues, and the control element 32 is further guided along the spiral winding contour 22. This also moves the control lever 30 further to the right, resulting in a situation as shown in Figure 3. The control lever 30 is equipped with a contact section 34 having a contact contour 36. In the situation shown in Figure 3, a lifting section 36a is now in contact with the locking element 42 and begins to lift it, i.e., to lift it off the inner wall of the freewheel track 24.If the user continues to pull out the electrical connecting cable 120 along the pull-out direction AR, this leads in the same way to a continued rotational movement of the guide means 20, a corresponding guided movement of the control element 32 in the spiral winding contour 22 and thus to a movement of the control lever 30 to the right.

[0060] Figure 4 shows the further course of this movement, so that the locking element 42 has now left the lifting section 36a on the contact contour 36 and reached the subsequent section 36b. Here, the locking element 42 has now been raised into the outer partial freewheel track 24b. In this outer partial freewheel track 24b, according to Figure 4, during the further extension movement along the extension direction AR, the locking element 42 comes into contact with a non-return wall 52 of the guide ramp 50. This results in this non-return wall 52 now introducing the locking element 42 into the locking switch 25 during the further movement in the rotational direction along the extension direction AR, as shown in Figure 5.

[0061] Upon further extension, this locking switch 25 now guides the locking element 42 into the locking track 26, as shown in Figure 6. In this position, two things can now happen.

[0062] According to Figure 6, the electrical connection cable 120 can be further extended along the extension direction AR. At any time, even before the electrical connection cable 120 has been fully extended, the user can decide that the extended length is now sufficient for them and the desired charging process, for example, because they have reached the charging port of the electric car. At this point, they stop extending along the extension direction AR, and a retraction device of the winding device 100 will now actively and forcefully retract the connecting cable 120 in the reverse direction of rotation. This situation is shown in Figure 7, in which the electrical connection cable 120 is wound along the retraction direction ER until the locking element 42, according to Figure 7, reaches the anti-reverse wall 52 on the guide ramp 50 at the entrance to the freewheel switch 23 in the locking track 26.

[0063] Rotating along the retraction direction ER, the guide element 42 is now introduced into the freewheel surface 23 by this backstop wall 52 and there raised via a further guide ramp 50 according to Figure 8 and over an additional backstop wall 52 and transferred to the locking position RP at the locking stop RA according to Figure 9. Here, it can be clearly seen that, despite the application of a retraction force in the retraction direction ER, no further rotation in the retraction direction ER can take place, since the locked locking element 42 at the locking stop RA blocks or prevents further rotation in this retraction direction. In this situation, i.e. in the locked state, it is ensured, in particular by a sensor or a switching mechanism, that the current flow through the electrical connecting cable 120 is only released when this position is reached.However, it is fundamentally also possible that, regardless of a sensor system, the electrical connecting cable 120 is always live and the safety function is only ensured in the manner according to the invention by locking or lack of locking without a minimum extension length.

[0064] Once the charging process has been completed and use is to be terminated, the user can now release the locking mechanism by pulling on the connecting cable 120 again in the extension direction AR, as shown in Figure 10, until the locking element 42 is now guided over a further non-return wall 52 in the freewheel switch 23, leaves it and, as shown in Figure 11, re-enters the outer partial freewheel track 24b of the freewheel track 24.In this situation, it is also clearly visible that the contact contour 36 of the control lever 30 receives the locking element 42 and, during the further automatic retraction direction ER that now occurs, slowly places the locking element 42 again in Figure 13 on the inner wall of the inner partial freewheel track 24a of the freewheel track 24 via the following section 36b and the lifting section 36a, whereby the unwinding process in the retraction direction ER for the electrical connecting cable 120 can be ended by further back rotation to the end position according to Figure 14.

[0065] Figure 15 shows the control element 10 in the disc-shaped representation according to Figures 1 to 14 in an isometric view. Here, the individual levers, their loads, and especially the correlation of the guide ramps 50 and the anti-return walls 52 are clearly visible. The locking positions RA are also equipped with sensor devices 60, which, for example, using a Hall sensor, can detect the locking with the positioning of the locking element 42 in the locking position RP.

[0066] Figures 16 and 17 show variants in which a different control lever 30, each with a different contact contour 36, is provided on the same winding disc 21. This results in a different guiding function and, in particular, the lifting into the outer partial freewheel track 24a occurs at different rotation times, so that the transfer into the locking track is also ensured at other rotation times, which correlate with different minimum extension lengths.

[0067] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples. Of course, the individual embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided that this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0068] List of reference symbols

[0069] 10 Control device

[0070] 20 leadership tools

[0071] 21 Guide disc

[0072] 22 Winding contour

[0073] 23 Freewheel switch

[0074] 24 free-running track

[0075] 24a Indoor partial freewheel track

[0076] 24b Outdoor partial freewheel track

[0077] 25 locking switch

[0078] 26 Rest area

[0079] 30 control levers

[0080] 32 Control element

[0081] 34 Contact section

[0082] 36 Contact contour

[0083] 36a Lifting section

[0084] 36b Subsequent section

[0085] 40 locking levers

[0086] 42 locking element

[0087] 50 guide ramp

[0088] 52 Backflow prevention wall

[0089] 60 sensor device

[0090] 100 winding device

[0091] 110 cable reel

[0092] 120 connecting cables

[0093] RP locking position

[0094] RA locking stop

[0095] KP contact position

[0096] FP release position

[0097] FS freewheel position

[0098] RS locking position FLA guide bearing axis

[0099] KLA control lever bearing axis

[0100] AR extension direction

[0101] ER feed direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Control device (10) for controlling the withdrawal of an electrical connecting cable (120) from a cable reel (110), comprising a guide means (20) with at least one winding contour (22) for guiding a control element (32) depending on the winding position of the cable reel (110), further comprising a locking element (42), wherein the guide means (20) has a free-running track (24) and at least one locking track (26) for guiding the locking element (42) as well as at least one locking switch (25) for guiding the locking element (42) from the free-running track (24) into the locking track (26) and at least one free-running switch (23) for guiding the locking element (42) from the locking track (26) into the free-running track (24), wherein the locking track (26) further comprises at least one locking position (RP) with a locking stop (RA) for locking the locking element (42) to block the Cable reel (1 10), further comprising a control lever (30),which has the control element (32) and a contact section (34), movable between at least one contact position (KP), in which the contact section (34) contacts the locking element (42), and at least one release position (FP), in which the contact section (34) releases the locking element (42), wherein the contact section (34) further has a contact contour (36) which, in at least one contact position (KP), guides the locking element (42) from the freewheel track (24) into the locking switch (25).

2. Control device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (42) is arranged on a locking lever (40) which is mounted so as to be movable between at least one free-running position (FS) with the locking element (42) in the free-running track (24) and at least one locking position (RS) with the locking element (42) in the locking track (26).

3. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide means (20) has a guide disc (21) which has the winding contour (22), the free-running track (24) and / or the locking track (26) and in particular has a central guide bearing axis (FLA) for a rotary bearing for rotation together with the cable reel (110).

4. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding contour (22) is spiral-shaped or substantially spiral-shaped for a movement of the control element (32) towards a guide bearing axis (FLA) of the guide means (20) during a rotation of the cable reel (110) in a pull-out direction (AR).

5. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide means (20) has a connecting section for a non-positive connection to the cable reel (110) for a common rotation of the guide means (20) with the cable reel (110) in the extension direction (AR) and in the retraction direction (ER).

6. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the freewheeling track (24) and / or the locking track (26) are circular or substantially circular, wherein, with respect to a guide bearing axis (FLA) of the guide means (20), the freewheeling track (24) is preferably arranged radially outside the winding contour (22) and / or the locking track (26) is arranged radially outside the freewheeling track (24).

7. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking stop (RA) is formed in the at least one freewheel switch (23).

8. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (42) is subjected to a prestressing force in the direction of the freewheel track (24) and / or a control lever (30) is subjected to a prestressing force in the direction of the release position (FP).

9. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the freewheel track (24) has a radially inner inner partial freewheel track (24a) and a radially outer outer partial freewheel track (24b) relative to a guide bearing axis (FLA) of the guide means (20). which are designed in particular to be free of separation or essentially free of separation in the radial direction.

10. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking switch (25), the free-wheel switch (23) and / or the locking position (RP) each have a guide ramp (50) with a return safety wall (52) which lifts the locking element (42) over the return safety wall (52) when guided over the guide ramp (50) along a guide bearing axis (FLA) of the guide means (20).

11. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact contour (36) of the control lever (30) and / or the position of the control element (32) on the control lever (30) are adjustable.

12. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor device (60) is arranged in the locking position (RP) for detecting the locking of the locking element (42) in the locking position (RP).

13. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact section (34) as a contact contour (36) has at least in sections a wedge-shaped contour, in particular with a steep lifting section (36a) and a flat following section (36b).

14. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide means (20) has at least two locking switches (25), at least two locking positions (RP) and / or at least two free-running switches (23).

15. Winding device (100) for winding and unwinding an electrical connecting cable (120), comprising a rotatably mounted cable reel (110) for winding the connecting cable (120) in a pulling-in direction (ER) and unwinding the connecting cable (120) in a pulling-out direction (AR), further comprising a pulling-in device for applying a pulling-in force to the cable reel (110) in the pulling-in direction (ER) and a control device (10) with the features of one of claims 1 to M, a control of the pulling-out of the connecting cable (120) until it locks in a minimum pull-out position.

16. Winding device (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that the locking element (42) has an electrical connecting element for forming an electrically conductive connection between the connecting cable (120) and a connecting terminal of the winding device (100) in the locking position (RP).

17. Adjustment method for adjusting a minimum extension length in a control device (10) having the features of one of claims 1 to 14 and / or in a winding device (100) having the features of one of claims 15 or 16, comprising the following steps: - Changing the arrangement of the control element (32) on the control lever (30) and / or, - Changing the contact contour (36) on the control lever (30) and / or, - Changing a control lever bearing axis (KLA) of the control lever (30) and / or, Changing the winding contour (22) of the guide means (20).

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