Cable dispenser for dispensing cables of different power ratings for charging electric motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser (1) for dispensing a set of cables (C1, C2, C3) of different gauges, which is intended to be carried on board a motor vehicle in order to charge its traction batteries from electrical terminals of various power ratings, characterized in that it comprises a series of rotary drums (11, 12, 13) which, on the one hand, are mounted coaxially on a common bearing (2) carried by a support base (3) such that one of the cables can be reeled under tension onto each drum, and, on the other hand, are coupled to elastic return members for retracting the cables onto said drums.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: DISTRIBUTOR OF CABLES OF VARYING POWER FOR CHARGING ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES The present invention claims priority from French application No. FR2501121 filed on February 4, 2025, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of charging traction batteries of electric vehicles and is more particularly concerned with a distributor of cables of different powers intended to be carried in these vehicles.

[0002] Generally, electric motor vehicles are equipped with a single cable which, in compliance with safety standards, is calibrated for charging at maximum electrical power.

[0003] Therefore, this cable is not specifically adapted to the power supplied by the charging station, public or private, chosen by the vehicle user according to the circumstances.

[0004] However, for practical and ergonomic reasons, it is not always possible to carry in the vehicle rolls of cables of different gauges allowing adaptations to all available terminals.

[0005] French patent application FR3145900 describes an electric vehicle whose batteries can be recharged either by a standard household outlet delivering low-power alternating current or by a dedicated charging station delivering direct current and exchanging information to optimize charging. This vehicle is equipped with various connection ports, housed in a compartment in the vehicle's body, allowing for compatibility with charging stations of varying power outputs.

[0006] Each of these tips is housed in a dedicated access hatch which is designed to take either an open configuration allowing connection to an electric charging cable, or a closed configuration prohibiting this electrical connection.

[0007] However, this solution requires the use of independent cables, adapted to different power levels, which are intended to be connected to the on-board connectors but are not directly accessible from the vehicle.

[0008] Patent application EP3312046 describes a "flying" charging cable adapted for maximum charging power. This cable is stored in the vehicle's trunk and is wound on a reel associated with an integrated control box designed to manage slow charging from a household outlet.

[0009] However, this single cable is not specifically adapted to different power levels and its winding in the reel is likely to generate risks of overheating which are detrimental to vehicle safety.

[0010] In this problematic context, the inventive approach therefore consisted of seeking a technical solution to facilitate the charging operations of vehicle traction batteries by optimally adapting them to the multiple available sources of electrical energy which are of varying power.

[0011] This goal is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a distributor of a set of cables of different gauges, intended to be carried in a motor vehicle for the charging of its traction batteries from electrical terminals of diverse powers, characterized in that it comprises a series of rotating drums mounted, on the one hand, coaxially on a common bearing carried by a support base to receive each one a winding under tension of one of said cables and coupled, on the other hand, to elastic return elements of said cables on said drums.

[0012] According to an advantageous feature of the distributor of the invention, the drums are provided with bearings cooperating with the common rotation bearing.

[0013] According to another feature of the distributor of the invention, the drums are mobile in rotation independently of each other.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distributor further comprises guide channels, each containing a cable and extending between the drums and an access hatch provided on the body of the vehicle.

[0015] According to a specific embodiment, the distributor of the invention comprises a stack of at least three drums of different dimensions, each receiving the winding of a cable whose gauge corresponds to a determined electrical power.

[0016] Preferably, the diameters of the drums decrease upwards in said stacking.

[0017] According to yet another feature of the invention, the distributor includes stops intended to limit the angle of rotation of the chutes and drums to a maximum of 60°.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the distributor of the invention, each drum includes a casing in which the winding of the corresponding cable is enclosed.

[0019] Another object of the invention is an electric motor vehicle, characterized in that it includes a charging cable dispenser as defined above and a hatch provided on the body and ensuring independent access to each cable by rotation of said drums.

[0020] The invention has the advantage of offering an adaptation of the means of charging to the different electrical powers delivered by public or private terminals thanks to a selection of the cable used.

[0021] In particular, the distributor of the invention allows for a set of on-board cables, specifically adapted to these different power levels, and which are easily accessible from outside the vehicle.

[0022] Thanks to the invention, the storage and access to the various charging cables is easy and quick, and their storage in the vehicle is particularly compact thanks to their automatic return to the reel dispenser.

[0023] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the attached figures, for which:

[0024] [Fig. 1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the rear of a vehicle equipped with a preferred embodiment of the charging cable distributor according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig. 2] is a schematic top view of the dispenser in Figure 1.

[0026] [Fig. 3] is a schematic top view of the distributor of figures 1 and 2 in three angular positions corresponding, respectively, to the positioning and use of cables of different gauges depending on the electrical power of the terminal chosen.

[0027] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference symbols across all figures.

[0028] Naturally, the embodiment of the cable distributor of the invention, schematically illustrated in the figures above and described below, is given only as a non-limiting example. It is explicitly provided for in the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined to create others.

[0029] The invention relates to the general field of recharging traction batteries equipping vehicles with 100% electric or hybrid motorization.

[0030] Generally, these vehicles are equipped with charging cables fitted with connectors for use with public or home charging stations. For practical reasons, these cables are calibrated and sized for safe charging with high power currents, even though this is not necessary when the chosen charging station delivers a low power current, as is the case with a private charging station.

[0031] The primary objective of the invention is to offer vehicle users a selective choice of cables based on the type of charging station used and the power of the charging current delivered. However, the invention also aims to facilitate access to these cables and to reduce the size of the cable set carried in the vehicle.

[0032] In this context and as illustrated, in particular, by figure 1, the invention proposes an improved distributor 1 of Cl, Cl, C3 cables, adapted to different powers, which is directly installed in the vehicle.

[0033] This distributor 1 includes a series of rotating drums intended to receive windings of these different cables Cl, C2, C3, and which are mounted coaxially on a common bearing 2 carried by a support base 3.

[0034] In the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 2 and 3, the distributor 1 comprises a stack of at least three drums 11, 12, 13 of different dimensions (diameter and height), each receiving the winding of a particular cable whose gauge corresponds to a determined electrical power.

[0035] Preferably, for reasons of stability, the drum diameters decrease upwards in this stack. Each drum includes a housing or magazine in which the corresponding cable winding is enclosed to prevent accidental release during its return, after disconnection, under the action of the elastic return means.

[0036] The drums are equipped with bearings (not shown) cooperating with the common rotational bearing 2 and are coupled to elastic return elements (not shown), such as springs, so that the cables C1, C2, C3 are wound under tension on their respective drums. The drums 11, 12, 13 rotate independently of each other.

[0037] In another embodiment of the invention, and to facilitate the connection of the cables to the terminals, the distributor could integrate a ratchet mechanism with retractable stop notches designed to block the return of the cable towards the drum in stages when it is pulled, in the manner of roller blind cords.

[0038] The distributor 1 further includes guide channels G attached to the drums and each containing a cable Cl, C2, C3. Each channel G is carried by one of the drums and extends to an access hatch T provided laterally on the body of the vehicle, as illustrated by figure 1.

[0039] Preferably, the winding distributor 1 includes stops intended to limit the angle of rotation of the drums 11, 12, 13 and the chute G to a maximum of 60°, as illustrated in Figure 2,

[0040] The distributor of the invention is used in the following manner. The user first selects the electrical power of the chosen terminal. Then, they open the hatch T and grasp the end of the cable dedicated to that power, which is presented to them following the controlled rotation of the drums, either manually or automatically, as illustrated by the three angular positions in Figure 3.

[0041] If necessary, manually pulling on this cable rotates drums 11, 12, and 13, providing the user with sufficient cable length to connect to the chosen terminal. This action simultaneously unwinds the corresponding drum, putting the elastic return mechanisms under stress.

[0042] Once the recharge is complete, the user disconnects the cable and the elastic return means associated with the dispenser then ensure the reverse rotation of the drums and the automatic winding back of the cable into the casing of its own drum.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Distributor (1) of a set of cables (Cl, C2, C3) of different gauges, intended to be carried in a motor vehicle for the charging of its traction batteries from electrical terminals of diverse power, characterized in that it comprises a series of rotating drums (11, 12, 13) mounted, on the one hand, coaxially on a common bearing (2) carried by a support base (3) to receive each one a winding under tension of one of said cables and coupled, on the other hand, to elastic return elements of said cables on said drums.

2. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that said drums (11, 12, 13) are provided with bearings cooperating with the common rotation bearing (2).

3. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drums (11, 12, 13) are mobile in rotation independently of each other.

4. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises guide chutes (G) each containing a cable (Cl, C2, C3) and extending between said drums (11, 12, 13) and an access hatch (T) provided on the body of the vehicle.

5. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises stops intended to limit the angle of rotation of the drums (11, 12, 13) and the chutes (G) to a maximum of 60°.

6. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a stack of at least three drums (11, 12, 13) of different dimensions, each receiving the winding of a cable (C1, C2, C3) whose gauge corresponds to a determined electrical power.

7. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the diameters of the drums (11, 12, 13) are decreasing upwards in said stack.

8. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each drum (11, 12, 13) comprises a housing in which is enclosed the winding of the corresponding cable (Cl, C2, C3).

9. Electric motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a distributor (1) of charging cables (Cl, C2, C3) according to one of the preceding claims and a hatch (T) provided on the body and ensuring independent access to each cable by rotation of said drums (11, 12, 13).

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