Device for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle (1), comprising at least one photovoltaic module (9) arranged on a support (2) having an air chamber (6), the support (2) being adjustable between a rest position limited to a bearing receptacle (3) and an operating position protruding beyond the bearing receptacle (3). In order to enable a high energy supply capacity despite a lightweight and stable design, it is proposed that the air chamber (6) is delimited by two opposite chamber walls (11) which are connected to each other via multiple tension means (12) extending through the air chamber (6), and the support (2) is designed to be self-supporting due to the filled air chamber (6) in the operating position.

Description

[0001] Device for supplying electrical power to a vehicle

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The invention relates to a device for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle with at least one photovoltaic module arranged on a carrier having an air chamber, wherein the carrier is adjustable between a rest position limited to a bearing receptacle and an operating position projecting beyond the bearing receptacle.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] From DE102018219097A1, a device for supplying electrical power to a vehicle is known, which has a carrier comprising an air chamber on which several photovoltaic modules are arranged. By inflating the air chamber of the carrier, it can be moved from a rest position, in which the carrier is arranged in a bearing receptacle, to an operating position, in which the carrier projects beyond the bearing receptacle. In this way, an increase in the surface area of ​​the carrier usable for the photovoltaic modules can be achieved. However, a disadvantage of the device from DE102018219097A1 is that, in the operating position, the carrier acts as a cover, following the contours of the vehicle, so that, depending on the position of the sun, only a portion of the carrier surface can be used for power supply at any given time, while the other portion is located on the side facing away from the sun.The carrier, which forms a cover for the vehicle, results in a materially heavy construction. This necessitates stiffening through shape-memory polymer reinforcements to increase stability and also increases the effort required to adjust the carrier to its rest position. Illustration of the invention.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the objective of proposing an easy-to-use device for the electrical power supply of a vehicle, which, despite its lightweight and stable construction, has a high power supply performance.

[0007] The invention solves the stated problem by defining the air chamber as bounded by two opposing chamber walls connected to each other by several tension members running through the air chamber, and by making the support structure self-supporting in its operating position due to the filled air chamber. By providing the tension members, which secure the chamber walls (preferably at the bottom and top) against each other, the air chamber can be pressurized to a sufficiently high pressure without causing unwanted deformation, thus enabling the self-supporting design of the air chamber. A targeted arrangement, length, and orientation of the tension members allows for a predetermined shape of the support structure, enabling it to be designed for maximum light penetration.Since the tension members preferably have a low weight, combining them with high air chamber pressure creates a lightweight and stable support structure. This structure also allows for an operating position in which the support structure preferably projects laterally beyond the bearing surface, particularly beyond the vertically projected area of ​​the bearing surface, to increase its surface area. This is achieved without any parts of the support structure hanging down on the sun-facing sides of the vehicle and without the need for additional supports. Furthermore, the tension members connecting the chamber walls prevent relative movement between the chamber walls, even when the air chamber is deflated. This reduces undesirable tensile and compressive stresses on the photovoltaic modules mounted on the support structure and the associated electronics.Furthermore, the tensioning elements and chamber walls facilitate easier handling of the carrier, as they provide structure to the carrier even when empty, thus simplifying, for example, returning it to its rest position. The increased surface area in the carrier's operating position not only maximizes light penetration but also provides weather protection, such as hail protection. The carrier can offer sufficient protection if it extends far enough transversely to the vertical direction beyond the bearing surface to cover the vehicle's windows, particularly without exceeding the maximum permissible legal limits regarding its projection beyond the vehicle's outline. Specifically, a control unit, preferably remotely controlled, can be provided for adjusting the carrier between its rest and operating positions.In a preferred embodiment, the control unit can be connected to a weather service for reading weather data. This allows the adjustment to the operating position to be initiated when the sun is in a suitable position or when hail is imminent. The control unit can be connected to force and / or wind sensors, enabling the adjustment of the support to the rest position to be initiated when wind gusts exceeding a threshold are detected.

[0008] The device can be used to supply electrical power to a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, and more preferably an electric motor vehicle. In particular, the device can be used to charge the vehicle. For this purpose, the carrier is moved from its rest position, in which the air chamber of the carrier is deflated and confined to a bearing receptacle, preferably located within the bearing receptacle, to its expanded operating position, in which the air chamber of the carrier is inflated and projects beyond the bearing receptacle, preferably transversely to the vertical axis, by inflating the air chamber. Inflation can be carried out by a compressor which is fluidically connected to the air chamber. For powering the vehicle, the device can be connected to the vehicle via suitable current transformers.Alternatively or additionally, the device can be connected to the vehicle, for example via a charging socket, using a power supply connection, such as a charging plug. The power supply lines can run at least partially within the air chamber.

[0009] To achieve sufficient rigidity and self-supporting capacity of the support, the air chamber can be pressurized to 0.1–3.5 bar, preferably 0.3–1.5 bar, in the operating position. The chamber walls can be made of plastic, for example, PVC. The tensioning elements can also be made of plastic. The chamber walls can be spaced 1 to 15 cm apart. To protect the air chamber, the support can have a protective cover enclosing the air chamber. In a particularly simple embodiment, two or more air chambers can be provided, which are preferably independently inflatable. This facilitates guided adjustment between the rest position and the operating position. Preferably, several photovoltaic modules are arranged on the top surface of the support. These can, for example, be glued to the support or embedded within it.To ensure a uniform energy supply across the individual photovoltaic modules, it is proposed that several photovoltaic modules be provided, wherein, in the expanded operating position of the carrier, at least one group of the photovoltaic modules, preferably more than half of the photovoltaic modules, and more preferably all photovoltaic modules, lie in one plane. In this way, the photovoltaic modules experience the same light irradiance, which leads to an increase in energy supply efficiency.

[0010] In principle, various structures, such as connecting ribs or threads, can be used as tensile elements, as these allow for different shapes of the support. To achieve particularly high support stability, it is proposed that the air chamber be designed as a drop-stitch air chamber. This means that the chamber walls are connected to each other by a multitude of connecting threads or fibers as tensile elements. The large number of tensile elements allows for very precise shaping of the support and the application of higher inflation pressures, resulting in increased stiffness, without altering the desired shape or damaging the air chamber.

[0011] To improve handling, particularly when moving the carrier from the operating position to the rest position, a return element can be provided for this movement. In this way, the preferably foldable carrier can be automatically, at least partially, returned to its bearing position.

[0012] In principle, various components can be used as return elements that can position the portion of the beam extending beyond the bearing housing, including the deflated air chamber, within the bearing housing. Fine adjustment of the beam is achieved particularly through the use of controllable actuators and motors as return elements. If the return element is a preload element that applies a preload force to the beam in its operating position, a complex control system can be dispensed with. In this way, as the air chamber is deflated, the beam undergoes a movement towards the bearing housing due to the decreasing pressure, which counteracts the preload force. This can be facilitated by attaching the preload element to a folded section of the beam that protrudes from the bearing housing in its operating position.Suitable preloading elements include, for example, elastic tension members, spring hinges, springs, pneumatic cylinders and / or dampers.

[0013] To ensure a predetermined folding pattern for the beam, it is proposed that two prestressing elements, acting as restoring elements, be provided. These elements exert different prestressing forces on the beam in its operating position. As a result of these measures, when the air chamber is released, the adjustment process of the beam into its rest position is initiated by the prestressing element with the higher prestressing force, since initially the pressure-induced force exceeds the prestressing force of the element with the lower prestressing force. Only with further pressure release does the prestressing force of the element with the lower prestressing force then also exceed the pressure-induced force, allowing this element to also adjust the beam section by section.By appropriately arranging the prestressing elements on, for example, different folded sections of the beam that protrude from the bearing housing in the operating position, the beam can be folded in a predetermined manner.

[0014] To predetermine a folding pattern independently of the specified pressure-induced force when the air chamber is released, at least two return elements can be provided, which can be controlled in groups to return the beam from the operating position to the rest position. Actuators can be used for this purpose, for example, which either function as return elements and / or block the return of the prestressing elements.

[0015] The adjustment of the beam from the operating position to the rest position is further improved by the beam having at least one folding bend. The folding bend(s) can run parallel and / or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the beam. These folding bends define a specific folding pattern, thus preventing incorrect folding that could damage the photovoltaic modules or electronics. The folding bends can be defined by weakening the beam. Alternatively or additionally, the folding bends can be formed by a multi-part design of the beam and / or the chamber walls, with the folding bends being formed by the joints of the adjacent beam sections or chamber walls. The folding bends can also be formed by providing multiple air chambers, with the folding bends being formed by the boundary regions of adjacent air chambers. The air chamber can be free of tension members in the area of ​​the folding bends.

[0016] To protect the photovoltaic modules despite the compact foldability of the support structure, it is proposed that several photovoltaic modules be provided, arranged in one or more longitudinal and / or transverse rows on the support to form fold creases. The fold creases can thus run between the photovoltaic modules. Preferably, at least one lateral edge of adjacent photovoltaic modules lies in a common alignment line that runs parallel to the fold crease. Preferably, the photovoltaic modules are arranged in a grid. To further improve the formation of fold creases and simultaneously provide additional protection for the photovoltaic modules, the photovoltaic modules can have a reinforcing layer that runs between the photovoltaic module and the support structure.Preferably, each photovoltaic module has a reinforcing layer whose vertically projected area is greater than or equal to the vertically projected area of ​​the photovoltaic module. In this way, the edges of the reinforcing layers can define the fold lines, thus avoiding bending stress on the photovoltaic modules. The reinforcing layer can be made of plastic or composite materials.

[0017] A simple carrier design, offering advantages both in terms of aligning the photovoltaic modules for maximizing light penetration and in terms of ease of adjustment between the rest and operating positions, is achieved by the carrier running in a single plane in its operating position. In particular, the carrier can be designed as a plate in its operating position. The tensioning elements can then maintain a constant perpendicular distance between the chamber walls when the air chamber is filled. In this way, the photovoltaic modules, when appropriately mounted on the carrier's top surface, experience nearly identical irradiation conditions. Furthermore, the retraction distance of the carrier's protruding parts is reduced. The bearing can be designed in various ways and positioned in different locations. Advantageous designs result when the bearing is located in the roof area of ​​a vehicle.The mounting point can be formed by a roof box. The mounting point can also be formed by the vehicle roof.

[0018] The invention thus also relates to a roof box with a device according to the invention, wherein the support is adjustable between a rest position, in which the support is arranged in the roof box, and an operating position, in which the support projects beyond the roof box. The roof box may have connections for roof racks of a vehicle.

[0019] The invention also relates to a vehicle with a roof having a bearing receptacle and with a device according to the invention, wherein the support is adjustable between a rest position, in which the support is arranged in the bearing receptacle, and an operating position, in which the support projects beyond the bearing receptacle. For comprehensive protection of the vehicle, the support can project beyond the vehicle roof, in particular beyond the vehicle windows, in the operating position.

[0020] To ensure that the device can be used even under adverse weather conditions and provides sufficient stability, it is proposed that a supporting wall, preferably the top-side supporting wall of the beam, be equipped with a reinforcing element. The reinforcing element can, for example, be one or more fibers incorporated into the supporting wall or composite material layers bonded to the supporting wall.

[0021] To simplify both the flexibility of the support structure with regard to its operating position and the adjustment between the rest and operating positions, the structure can comprise several support elements, each with at least one air chamber. Each air chamber can be bounded by two opposing chamber walls connected to each other by several tension members running through the air chamber. Preferably, the support elements are self-supporting in the operating position due to the inflated air chamber. This allows the support elements to be inflated and adjusted independently of one another, so that only a portion of the structure can be used for energy supply. In the operating position, the support elements can lie in a single plane. Preferably, at least two support elements are pivotable relative to each other, which further simplifies adjustability.

[0022] To allow the carrier to be brought into its operating position independently of the inflation process, it is proposed that an adjusting element be provided to move the carrier between the operating and rest positions. This can be achieved, for example, by an electromechanical and / or electrohydraulic adjusting hinge. The hinge arms of the adjusting hinge can be connected to the carrier, for example, by bonding. In an embodiment of a carrier with multiple carrier elements, each hinge arm can be connected to a carrier element, so that adjacent carrier elements are pivotally connected to each other via the adjusting hinge. The carrier or the carrier elements can have recesses for the adjusting hinge so that it can be arranged centrally within the carrier, resulting in favorable force distribution during pivoting.

[0023] To protect the support structure, the bearing housing can be arranged in a shell with two pivoting flaps. The flaps can be positioned between a closed position, in which they enclose the support structure within the shell, and an open position, in which they are located on the side of the support structure facing away from the photovoltaic module. Preferably, the flaps are pivotable on opposite sides of the bearing housing. While the flaps protect the support structure from external influences in the closed position, they can also protect it from damage caused by excessive bending stress in the open position and in the support structure's operating position, by acting as stops for the support structure.This can be achieved in particular by ensuring that the stop of the shell flap closest to the support is located no more than 5 cm from the side of the support facing away from the photovoltaic module when the support is in its horizontal operating position. In a preferred embodiment, the stop of the shell flap closest to the support can touch the side of the support facing away from the photovoltaic module, thereby providing support to the essentially self-supporting support and allowing the surface area of ​​the support to be designed more robustly.

[0024] To further improve the energy efficiency of the device, the support structure can be equipped with a single- or multi-axis tracking system for pivoting it into its operating position from a horizontal plane. This allows the photovoltaic modules to follow the sun's path throughout the day by pivoting the support structure. For this purpose, the control unit can be connected to a light sensor that detects the intensity of the sunlight and controls the tracking system based on the sensor data. The tracking system can be connected to the underside of the support structure via a force transmission element, such as a frame, enabling the support structure to be pivoted by the tracking system.

[0025] Brief description of the invention

[0026] The invention is illustrated in the drawing as an example. It shows

[0027] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the device according to the invention, wherein the carrier is in the rest position,

[0028] Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the device according to the invention from Fig. 1 on a larger scale, with the support in the operating position; Fig. 3 is a top view of a device according to the invention, with the support in the operating position.

[0029] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein the carrier is in the operating position,

[0030] Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein the carrier is in the operating position,

[0031] Fig. 6 shows a detailed view of the actuating element indicated in Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale.

[0032] Fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of the embodiment according to Fig. 5, with the carrier in the operating position and

[0033] Fig. 8 shows a schematic front view of another embodiment.

[0034] Ways to implement the invention

[0035] An inventive device for supplying electrical power to a vehicle 1 has a support 2 that is adjustable between a rest position shown in Fig. 1 and an operating position shown in Fig. 2. In the rest position, the support 2 is limited to a mounting 3, for example, a roof box 5 or the roof of a motor vehicle. This means that the support 2 does not project beyond the edges of the mounting 3 transversely to the vertical direction or vertical axis 4. In the operating position, the support 2 projects beyond the mounting 3, particularly transversely to the vertical direction or vertical axis 4. The adjustment is achieved by inflating and deflating an air chamber 6 of the support 2, which can be accomplished, for example, by a compressor 8 controlled by a control unit 7 (Fig. 4). The air chamber 6 is thus deflated in the rest position of the support 2 and inflated in the operating position of the support 2.In the operating position, photovoltaic modules 9, which are arranged on the support 2, are oriented to receive light, so that the energy thus generated can be used to power the vehicle 1, for example, for charging with a charging plug 10. The air chamber 6 has two opposing chamber walls 11, in particular a top-side and a bottom-side chamber wall 11, which are connected to each other by several tension members 12 running through the air chamber 6. The air chamber 6 is designed such that the support 2 is self-supporting in the operating position due to the gas filling.

[0036] Figure 1 shows that charging can be carried out via a charging plug 10. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle 1 can also be supplied with energy via internal vehicle power supply lines without requiring a separate charging plug 10.

[0037] As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the air chamber 11 can be designed as a drop-stitch air chamber, which is illustrated by the large number of tensile elements 12.

[0038] To facilitate the adjustment of the support 2 from the operating position to the rest position, return elements 13 can be provided. These can, for example, be preload elements indicated in Fig. 2, which apply a preload force to the support 2 in the operating position. Another variant is achieved by actuators illustrated in Fig. 4, which can be controlled by the control unit 7. Preferably, the return elements 13 are attached to the part of the support 2 that projects beyond the bearing receptacle 3, i.e., the folding area.

[0039] To predefine a sequence for adjusting the carrier 2 from the operating position to the rest position, the restoring elements 13 can act on the carrier 2 with a time delay. In the case of prestressing elements, this can alternatively be achieved by having them exert different prestressing forces on the carrier 2 in the operating position. In this way, the restoring process of the prestressing element with the higher prestressing force is initiated earlier when the air chamber is released. In the case of controllable actuators, a similar result can be achieved by group-wise, consecutive control by the control unit 7. Advantageous conditions with regard to both energy supply efficiency and adjustment result from the fact that the carrier 2 runs in a plane in the expanded operating position, preferably in a plate-like form.This also allows the photovoltaic modules 9 to be easily aligned in one plane, so that they experience the same irradiation conditions.

[0040] Figure 3 shows that several photovoltaic modules 9 are arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows on the support 2. The photovoltaic modules are accordingly arranged in a grid. This creates fold creases 14 between the photovoltaic modules 9, so that when the support 2 is returned to its rest position, it folds at these fold creases 14 and not in the area of ​​the photovoltaic modules 9. The fold creases 14 can run parallel and / or transversely to the longitudinal axis 15 of the support.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows another possibility of designing the fold creases 14, namely by notches in the support 2 and / or by providing several air chambers 6.

[0042] Figure 4 shows that the support 2 can have a protective cover 16 for the air chambers 6. The air chambers 6 can be filled and emptied independently of each other by the compressor 8. For this purpose, the compressor 8 can be connected to the control unit 7 via a signal. The photovoltaic modules 9 can be embedded in the protective cover 16. The generated energy can be carried via power supply lines to current transformers, which, for clarity, are shown enclosed by the control unit 7 in Figure 4.

[0043] Figure 5 shows that the top-side support wall 17 of the support 2 is equipped with several reinforcing elements 18, which in this case are formed by composite material layers bonded to the support wall 17. The photovoltaic modules 9 can be arranged on the reinforcing elements 18, thereby stiffening the photovoltaic modules 9. Favorable adjustment conditions result when the support 2 comprises several support elements 19, preferably pivotable relative to one another, which can be inflatable independently of each other. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the pivoting between the operating position and the rest position can be effected by means of an adjusting element 20, which can be an adjusting hinge. At least one hinge leg 21 of the adjusting element 20 can be connected to a support element 19, so that adjacent support elements 19 are pivotally connected to one another via the adjusting hinge.The support 2 or the support elements 19 can form recesses 21 for the actuating element 20, in which the actuating element 20 is arranged at least sectionally.

[0044] Figure 7 shows that the bearing receptacle 3 can be arranged in a shell 22 with two pivotable shell flaps 23. The shell flaps 23 can be moved between a closed position (not shown) and an open position (shown in Figure 7). In the closed position, the shell flaps 23 enclose the support 2 in the shell 22 and thus also close the bearing receptacle 3. In the open position, the shell flaps 23 are pivoted out and arranged on the side 24 of the support 2 facing away from the photovoltaic module 9. Preferably, the stop 25 of the shell flap 23 closest to the support 2 is located at most 5 cm away from the side 24 of the support 2 facing away from the photovoltaic module 9, so that excessive bending of the support can be prevented in the event of external forces.

[0045] Fig. 8 shows that the support 2 in its operating position can be pivoted from a horizontal plane via a tracking mechanism 26, allowing the photovoltaic modules 9 to follow the sun's path throughout the day. For optimal alignment, a light sensor 27, connected to the control unit 7, can be provided to measure the intensity of the solar radiation.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle (1) with at least one photovoltaic module (9) arranged on a carrier (2) having an air chamber (6), wherein the carrier (2) is adjustable between a rest position limited to a bearing receptacle (3) and an operating position projecting beyond the bearing receptacle (3), characterized in that the air chamber (6) is bounded by two opposing chamber walls (11) which are connected to each other by several tension elements (12) running through the air chamber (6), and that the carrier (2) is self-supporting in the operating position due to the filled air chamber (6).

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the air chamber (6) is designed as a drop-stitch air chamber.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a return element (13) is provided for adjusting the carrier (2) from the operating position to the rest position.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the return element (13) is a pretensioning element which applies a pretensioning force to the carrier (2) in the operating position.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that two preload elements acting as restoring elements (13) are provided which have a different preload force acting on the carrier (2) in the operating position.

6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least two reset elements (13) are provided which can be controlled in groups to reset the carrier (2) from the operating position to the rest position.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support (2) has at least one folding bend (14) running parallel and / or transversely to a longitudinal axis (15) of the support.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that several photovoltaic modules (9) are provided which are arranged in one or more longitudinal and / or transverse rows on the support (2) to form fold creases (14).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrier (2) runs in a plane in the operating position.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a support wall (17) of the support (2) is equipped with a reinforcing element (18).

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support (2) comprises several support elements (19) each with at least one air chamber (6) of its own.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an adjusting element (20) is provided for adjusting the carrier (2) between the operating position and the rest position.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the actuating element (20) comprises an electromechanical and / or electrohydraulic actuating hinge.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the bearing receptacle (3) is arranged in a shell (22) with two pivotable shell flaps (23).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the shell flaps (23) are displaceable between a closed position in which the shell flaps (23) enclose the carrier (2) in the shell (3) and an open position in which the shell flaps (23) are arranged on the side (24) of the carrier (2) facing away from the photovoltaic module (9).

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