Charging connection device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A charging connection device, having a charging recess which is fixed to the vehicle in the ready-to-use state and surrounds a charging connection point, and having a closing flap which can be transferred, relative to the charging recess, between a closed position and an open position, the closing flap comprising a flap support and a cover which is held on the outside of the flap support, and having a drive system which drives the closing flap in the direction of the open position for an opening movement and / or in the direction of the closed position for a closing movement, the drive system comprising a switching arrangement which can be activated by a movement of the closing flap, is known. According to the invention, the cover is mounted so as to be movable to a limited extent relative to the flap support, and, in the closed position of the closing flap, the cover and the switching arrangement are spatially associated with one another in such a way that a movement of the cover leads to mechanical contact with the switching arrangement, which triggers an activation of the switching arrangement. The invention further relates to a use of the device for passenger cars having an electric traction drive.

Description

[0001] Charging port for a motor vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a charging connection device for a motor vehicle, comprising a vehicle-mounted charging recess in its ready-to-use state, which surrounds a charging connection, and a closing flap which is displaceable relative to the charging recess between a closed position and an open position, wherein the closing flap has a flap carrier and a cover held on the outside of the flap carrier, and a drive system which drives the closing flap for an opening movement in the direction of the opening position and / or for a closing movement in the direction of the closed position, wherein the drive system has a switching arrangement which can be activated by a movement of the closing flap.

[0003] Such a charging connection device is known from DE 10 2022 209 940 A1. The known charging connection device is designed to provide access to an electric charging port of a motor vehicle. A charging recess is provided in a cutout in the vehicle body. The charging recess encloses an electric charging port. The charging recess can be closed by a flap, which is movably mounted on the vehicle side of the charging recess between an open position (releasing the charging recess) and a closed position (closing the charging recess). An electric drive system is provided for moving the flap between the closed and open positions, which can be activated by means of a switch arrangement. The switch arrangement is designed as a movable switching element and is fixed to the vehicle in the area of ​​the charging recess.The closing flap has an integrally molded actuating finger that interacts with the movable switching element. The closing flap consists of a flap carrier and an externally positioned cover plate, with the actuating finger molded onto the flap carrier. The cover plate is rigidly connected to the flap carrier.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a charging connection device of the type mentioned above which enables a reliable opening or closing process of the closing flap, independent of temperature.

[0005] This problem is solved by mounting the shutter so that it can move with limited movement relative to the flap carrier, and by spatially aligning the shutter and the switching arrangement in the closed position of the shutter such that movement of the shutter results in mechanical contact with the switching arrangement, triggering its activation. According to the invention, to open the shutter, pressure is manually applied to the shutter in its closed position, thereby activating the switching arrangement, which then sends a corresponding signal to the drive system to actuate the shutter for an opening movement. Because only the shutter needs to be moved manually, the operating forces required by an operator are significantly reduced compared to the prior art.Since the cover is relatively lightweight compared to the overall closing flap, comparatively low actuation forces are sufficient to activate the switching mechanism. The cover can be applied externally at various positions distributed across its surface without any significant increase in the actuation forces. Furthermore, the actuation forces remain essentially constant regardless of ambient temperature. Advantageously, the actuation force applied by a single operator remains largely constant over a wide temperature range, from very low to very high temperatures. The flap carrier itself is not moved during this actuation and remains in the closed position, resting on an edge of the loading trough. The solution according to the invention is suitable for all types of motor vehicles.The solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous for motor vehicles with electric charging ports, preferably for passenger cars with electric charging ports. An electric charging port serves to charge a vehicle battery, which powers the vehicle's drive system. Electricity is supplied to the electric charging port of the charging device via a charging cable from a stationary charging station. Alternatively, the solution according to the invention can also be used for motor vehicles in which energy is charged in the form of fuel by inserting a refueling nozzle of a refueling hose into a charging port in the form of a vehicle-side fuel filler neck. Here, too, the charging flap can be moved from the closed position to the open position by means of a drive system.

[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, the aperture projects laterally, at least in part, beyond an edge region of the flap carrier, and the switching arrangement is positioned laterally on the loading recess such that it extends into the movement range of the aperture section projecting laterally beyond the edge region of the flap carrier – in relation to the closed position of the flap. This aperture section can be provided with an integrally molded or fixedly arranged actuating extension, preferably in the form of an actuating finger. When pressure is applied to the aperture from the outside, the actuating extension mechanically comes into contact with the switching arrangement to actuate it. In this embodiment, the actuating extension is positioned laterally outside an edge region of the flap carrier.In a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating extension can project through a recess in the flap carrier to operate the switching arrangement. In this embodiment, the switching arrangement does not need to be positioned so far laterally on the outer edge of the loading trough that it is located within the movement range of the flap section that projects laterally outwards beyond the edge of the flap carrier. Rather, the switching arrangement is positioned on the loading trough such that it projects into the movement range of the actuating extension.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the aperture is pivotally mounted on the flap carrier with limited movement, the pivot axis preferably being located on a side of the aperture opposite the aperture section. The aperture can be pivotally mounted approximately centrally relative to the flap carrier, i.e., pivotally mounted like a rocker. Alternatively, the aperture can be pivotally mounted at an end region that is positioned at least largely opposite the aperture section that comes into contact with the switching arrangement when an external load is applied to the aperture. Advantageously, the pivot axis is provided at an end region of the aperture opposite an actuating extension of the aperture. This results in the maximum possible lever arm for the pivoting movement of the aperture, which further reduces the actuating force.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, a return spring is arranged between the flap carrier and the cover, which exerts a permanent restoring force on the cover towards an unloaded initial position. This ensures that the cover is automatically returned to its initial position after any manual load is removed. In the closed position of the flap, the initial position of the cover corresponds to a flush finish with the outer body panel of the vehicle.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the return spring is made of metal, preferably spring steel. This makes the return spring essentially temperature-independent, meaning that the corresponding actuating and restoring forces remain constant regardless of the ambient temperature. The return spring is preferably designed as a coil spring or a leaf spring. The return spring can be made in one or more parts, i.e., it can consist of one or more spring elements.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the loading trough has a circumferential rim on which the flap support rests when the flap is in the closed position. This circumferential rim provides reliable support for the flap in its closed position.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, elastically compliant damping elements are provided on the edge region or on the flap support, which dampen the contact of the flap support with the edge region of the loading trough in the closed position of the flap. This prevents rattling noises. Furthermore, it results in stable positioning of the flap in its closed position. Elastomeric nubs are preferably provided as damping elements.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the switching arrangement comprises a contact element movable orthogonally to a surface of the edge region of the loading trough, which is arranged on an upper surface of the edge region facing the cover. The contact element is mechanically deformed or moved by the cover, in particular by an actuating extension of the cover, thereby producing a desired electrical switching operation. The contact element can be designed as a tactile element, a button element, a movable diaphragm, or the like. Alternatively, the contact element can also be inductive, and the actuating extension of the cover has an electrically conductive element, so that an approach of the actuating extension to the contact element results in an electrical signal that can be evaluated by a control unit of the drive system.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the closing flap is pivotally mounted relative to the loading trough by means of a gooseneck-shaped pivot arm. This means that only a single, robust pivot arm is required to move the closing flap between the closed and open positions. The pivot arm can be integrally molded onto the flap support or rigidly connected to it in another way. The pivot arm is pivotally mounted on the vehicle side in the area of ​​the loading trough.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, a pivot bearing is provided on the flap carrier, defining the pivot axis for the aperture, and the aperture is provided on its inner side facing the flap carrier with a complementary coupling bearing, which interacts positively with the pivot bearing of the flap carrier to form a pivot joint about the pivot axis. Preferably, the combination of pivot bearing and coupling bearing can be joined without tools by means of a snap-fit ​​or plug-in connection. The combination of coupling bearing and pivot bearing forms the pivot joint for the aperture relative to the flap carrier and thus the pivot axis.

[0015] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the single drawing. The single drawing schematically shows in longitudinal section an embodiment of a charging connection device according to the invention for a motor vehicle.

[0016] A motor vehicle in the form of a passenger car has a recess in the area of ​​an outer body panel 1 of its vehicle body, in which a charging connection device, described in more detail below, is mounted. The charging connection device has a charging recess 6, which is fixed to the vehicle by being connected to a vehicle support structure (not shown). The charging recess 6 forms a depression within the recess of the outer body panel 1 towards the center of the vehicle. The charging recess 6 encloses a charging port 7, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as an electrical charging port. The charging port 7 is connected, in a manner not shown in detail, to a vehicle battery that powers the vehicle's electric drive system. The charging port 7 serves for a detachable connection to a charging plug of an electrical charging cable, which connects the charging port 7 to a stationary charging station.

[0017] To cover the recess in the outer body panel 1 and the loading recess 6, the charging port device has a closing flap 2 which is pivotally mounted about a vehicle-fixed pivot axis 3 between a closed position (shown in Fig. 1) and an open position (not shown), in which the closing flap 2 provides access to the charging port 7 of the loading recess 6. The closing flap 2 is supported by a pivot arm 4, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is designed as a gooseneck joint.

[0018] The closing flap 2 is moved between its closed position and its open position by a drive system 18, which electrically drives the swivel arm 4 in two different directions of rotation.

[0019] The closing flap 2 has a flap carrier 5, which is rigidly connected to the pivot arm 4. The flap carrier 5 supports a cover 9, which, in the closed position according to Fig. 1, is flush with the outer body skin 1. The cover 9 is mounted with limited movement relative to the flap carrier 5. For this purpose, the cover 9 is mounted on the flap carrier 5 by means of a pivot joint 11. The pivot joint 11 is positioned eccentrically to the flap carrier 5. At a distance from the pivot joint 11, the cover 9 has a guide rib 12, which projects through a guide groove in the flap carrier 5 and has a stop that engages under the flap carrier 5. The stop, in conjunction with an inner surface of the cover 9, to which the stop is orthogonally spaced, forms a limited displacement path for the cover 9 about the pivot axis for the cover 9 formed by the pivot joint 11.On the inside of the stop, a return spring 13 engages the guide rib 12 of the aperture 9. In the illustrated embodiment, this return spring is designed as a helical compression spring. The return spring 13 exerts a permanent outward compressive force on the stop and thus on the guide rib 12, so that the stop is permanently in contact with the underside of a support section of the flap carrier 5, as long as no external load acts on the aperture 9 in the opposite direction.

[0020] The flap carrier 5 is supported in its closed position by means of several damping elements 10 on a circumferential edge region 8 of the loading trough 6 in order to dampen vibrations acting on the closing flap 2 in its closed position relative to the edge region 8 of the loading trough 6. The damping elements 10 are designed as elastically compliant damping bodies, in particular made of an elastomeric material.

[0021] The aperture 9 has a base area larger than the base area of ​​the flap carrier 5, so that the aperture 9 projects beyond the flap carrier 5 on all sides. On an aperture section that projects laterally beyond an edge region of the flap carrier 5, the aperture 9 has an actuating projection 14, which is designed as an actuating cam fixed to the aperture 9 and projects approximately orthogonally inwards. The actuating cam 14 projects inwards next to the edge region of the flap carrier 5 in the closed position of the closing flap 2. In its unloaded initial position, its inwardly facing end face is positioned a short distance from a contact area 15 of a switching arrangement 16, which is attached to the edge region 8 of the loading recess 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The contact area 15 projects from an upper surface of the edge region 8 of the loading recess 6. The switching arrangement 16 is firmly connected to the edge region 8 and projects inwards from the edge region 8.The switching arrangement 16 is connected to the drive system 18 via an electrical or electronic control line 17.

[0022] As soon as the flap 9 is pressed inwards in the closed position of the flap – and thus in the closed position of the flap carrier 5 resting on the edge area 8 of the loading recess 6 – by an external manual pressure in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the actuating extension 14 comes into contact with the contact area 15 of the switching arrangement 16, thereby activating the drive system 18. Activation of the drive system 18 causes the pivot arm 4 to rotate clockwise in the illustration according to Fig. 1, thereby moving the flap 2 into its open position. As soon as the external manual pressure on the flap 9 is removed, the return spring 13 pushes the flap 9 back into the initial position shown in Fig. 1, while the pivot arm 4 pivots the flap carrier 5, including the flap 9, outwards in the direction of the open position.In the illustrated embodiment, the return spring 13 is made of metal, in this case, spring steel wire. This ensures that the return spring 13 exerts at least largely constant return forces on the stop of the guide bar 12, and thus on the aperture 9 relative to the flap carrier 5, regardless of the ambient temperature.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Charging connection device for a motor vehicle, comprising a vehicle-mounted charging recess (6) in its ready-to-use state, which surrounds a charging port (7), and a closing flap (2) which is displaceable relative to the charging recess (6) between a closed position and an open position, wherein the closing flap (2) has a flap carrier (5) and a cover (9) held on the outside of the flap carrier (5), and a drive system (18) which drives the closing flap (2) for an opening movement in the direction of the opening position and / or for a closing movement in the direction of the closed position, wherein the drive system (18) has a switching arrangement (16) which can be activated by a movement of the closing flap (2), characterized in that the cover (9) is mounted so as to be movable with limited movement relative to the flap carrier (5), and that in the closed position of the closing flap (2) the cover (9) and the switching arrangement (16) are spatially related to each other in such a way as tothat a movement of the aperture (9) leads to a mechanical contact with the switching arrangement (16), which triggers an activation of the switching arrangement (16).

2. Charging connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aperture (9) projects laterally at least section by section over an edge region of the flap carrier (5), and that the switching arrangement (16) is arranged laterally on the charging recess (6) such that the switching arrangement (16) projects into a movement area of ​​the aperture section projecting laterally outwards over the edge region of the flap carrier (5) - with reference to the closed position of the closing flap (2).

3. Charging connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the aperture (9) is mounted on the flap carrier (5) in a limited pivotable manner, wherein a pivot axis is preferably arranged on a side of the aperture (9) located away from the aperture section.

4. Charging connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a return spring (13) is arranged between the flap carrier (5) and the aperture (9), which exerts a permanent return force on the aperture (9) in the direction of an unloaded initial position.

5. Charging connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the return spring (13) is made of metal, preferably of spring steel.

6. Charging connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charging recess (6) has a circumferential edge region (8) on which the flap support (5) rests in the closed position of the closing flap (2).

7. Charging connection device according to claim 6, characterized in that elastically flexible damping elements (10) are provided on the edge region (8) or on the flap carrier (5) which dampen a bearing of the flap carrier (5) on the edge region (8) of the charging recess (6) in the closed position of the closing flap (2).

8. Charging connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching arrangement (16) has a contact element (15) movable orthogonally to a surface of the edge region (8) of the charging recess (6), which is arranged on a top side of the edge region (8) facing the aperture (9).

9. Charging connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing flap (2) is pivotably mounted relative to the charging trough (6) by means of a swan-neck-shaped pivot arm (4).

10. Charging connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pivot bearing is provided on the flap carrier (5) which defines the pivot axis for the aperture (9), and that the aperture (9) is provided on its inner side facing the flap carrier (5) with a complementary coupling bearing which cooperates positively with the pivot bearing of the flap carrier to form a pivot joint (11) about the pivot axis.

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