FR3106786A1 - INDUCTION CHARGING DEVICE UNDER VEHICLE WITH ARTICULATED ARM FOLDING IN A HOUSING - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (6) for transmitting electrical energy to a vehicle for recharging an electrical energy storage battery of said vehicle, comprising a base (10) configured to be placed on the ground ( 8) and to be supplied with electrical energy; an articulated arm (12) with a proximal end pivotally mounted on the base (10), and a distal end, said articulated arm being movable between a collapsed position and an extended position; a primary element (14) for transmitting electrical energy by induction, disposed at the distal end of the articulated arm (12). The articulated arm (12) is configured to deploy along the ground (8) under the vehicle and the base (10) comprises an enclosure (20) forming a housing (22) for said articulated arm in the folded position. Figure 1

Description

IN-VEHICLE INDUCTION CHARGING DEVICE WITH FOLDABLE ARTICULATED ARM IN A HOUSING

The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles with electric traction, and more particularly to motor vehicle electrical energy storage battery charging devices.

Vehicles with pure electric traction or plug-in hybrid (PEHV acronym for "Plug-In Electric Hybrid Vehicle") must be regularly recharged electrically using a charger. The electrical connection between the vehicle and the charger is usually made by means of an electrical cable fitted with a specific plug (currently type 2) capable of being inserted into a socket on the vehicle, most often at the front of the vehicle. This socket is often equipped with a protective cover. The connection then requires opening the hatch, grabbing the cable and the electrical plug, and inserting the plug into the socket. Disconnection requires the same operations but in reverse.

The published patent document DE102011112610A1 discloses an electric charging station for electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. The device comprises a base and a robotic arm mounted on the base and supporting a primary element for transmitting electrical energy by induction. The device is configured to control the robotic arm so as to bring the primary element closer to a corresponding secondary element disposed at the front of the vehicle. The electromagnetic coupling between the primary and secondary elements makes it possible to achieve a wireless connection capable of transmitting sufficient electric power for electric recharging. This device is essentially intended for public use, such as commercial or paid parking spaces, for example. The base is also bulky in that it must support the robotic arm at a certain height from the ground as well as a communication and payment interface. No protection is provided for the robotic arm.

The published patent document JP2012-100448A discloses an electric charging station for electric or rechargeable hybrid vehicles, retractable in the ground. The electrical connection with the vehicle is made by manual connection of an electrical cable.

The published patent document CN108928255A discloses an electric charging station for electric or rechargeable hybrid vehicles, integrated into the ground and provided with means for vertical displacement of electric contacts towards corresponding contacts on the underbody of the vehicle. This installation is restrictive in that its integration into the ground requires heavy work.

The aim of the invention is to overcome at least one drawback of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the aim of the invention is to facilitate, make reliable and secure the electric charging operations of an electric traction vehicle.

The subject of the invention is a device for transmitting electrical energy to a vehicle with a view to recharging an electrical energy storage battery of said vehicle, comprising a base configured to be placed on the ground and to be supplied with electrical energy. ; an articulated arm with a proximal end pivotally mounted on the base, and a distal end, movable between a folded position and an extended position; a primary element for transmitting electrical energy by induction, disposed at the distal end of the articulated arm; remarkable in that the articulated arm is configured to deploy along the ground under the vehicle and the base comprises an enclosure forming a housing for said articulated arm in the folded position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enclosure comprises a door for closing the housing when the articulated arm is in the folded position and for opening said housing when the articulated arm is in the deployed position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enclosure comprises at least one actuator configured to selectively open and close the door.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enclosure comprises at least one lock configured to lock the door in the closed position of the housing.

According to an advantageous mode of the invention, the at least one lock is electrically controlled and configured to maintain locking in the absence of electrical power.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a unit for controlling the articulated arm, the at least one actuator and, where applicable, the at least one lock, configured for, during the deployment of the articulated arm , successively, if necessary disengage the at least one lock, open the door and deploy the articulated arm, and vice versa when folding the articulated arm.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enclosure comprises a lower opening configured to be placed on the ground, the housing being formed by said enclosure and said ground.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the door comprises an upper edge mounted to pivot around a horizontal axis, and a lower edge adapted to be adjacent to the ground in the closed position of the housing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the articulated arm comprises at least two segments arranged one against the other in the folded position, the housing extending in a main direction along the at least two segments in the folded position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enclosure has a total length along the main direction, the door extending over at least 80% of said total length at a front face of the enclosure.

Advantageously, the enclosure comprises a tubular structure and walls fixed to said tubular structure.

Advantageously, the enclosure has a parallelepiped shape.

Advantageously, the enclosure has a height less than or equal to 250mm.

The invention may relate to an electric charging station, comprising an electric station and the device for transmitting electric energy to a vehicle in order to recharge an electric energy storage battery of said vehicle, according to the invention.

The measures of the invention are interesting in that they provide a device for transmitting electrical charging energy to a vehicle which is more compact, reliable and easy to use. The base, in particular the enclosure, can be dimensioned to present a height lower than the ground clearance of the vehicle at the level of the front bumper, so that the latter can possibly be positioned above said base when the vehicle is positioned to be electrically recharged. Also, the articulated arm is very well protected in the folded position, especially against the external action of animals such as rodents and vandalism.

is a perspective view of an electrical vehicle charging installation, comprising a device for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle, in accordance with the invention;

is a perspective view of the electric power transmission device of Figure 1, where the articulated arm is deployed;

is a side view of the enclosure of the electrical power transmission device of Figures 1 and 2.

detailed description

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical charging installation for a rechargeable electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising a device for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle, in accordance with the invention.

The electrical charging installation 2 comprises an electrical station 4 for managing electrical charging and a device 6 for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle, electrically connected to the electrical station 4. The transmission device 6 essentially comprises a base 10 disposed on the ground 8, an articulated arm 12 with a proximal end pivotally mounted on the base 10, and a primary element 14 for coupling by induction with a secondary element 16 on the vehicle (not shown), said primary element 14 being rigidly connected to a distal end of the articulated arm 12. The articulated arm 12 and advantageously the primary element 14 are equipped with wheels 18 allowing said articulated arm 12 and said primary element 14 to move along the ground 8 and parallel to said ground. The base 10 comprises an enclosure 20 forming a housing 22 capable of receiving the articulated arm 12 in the folded position. The enclosure 20 may include a door 24 able to close the housing once the articulated arm 12 has been folded and, conversely, to open the housing to allow the articulated arm 12 to deploy, as illustrated in figure 1.

The principle of magnetic coupling by induction between the primary element 14 and the secondary element 16, with a view to transmitting electrical energy, is known per se.

The ground can be fitted with chocks 26 for at least one of the front wheels, so as to form positioning marks for the vehicle relative to the electric charging installation 2.

In practice, once the electric or rechargeable hybrid vehicle has been positioned on the ground 8 relative to the electric charging installation 2, the user can activate the electric charging of the vehicle, in particular by activating the electric station 4. The arm articulated 12 is then in principle in the folded position in the housing 22, the latter being closed by the door 24. Once the electrical charging has been activated, in this case by the user, a control unit (not shown) will control the opening of the door 24, followed by deployment of the articulated arm 12 under the vehicle, in this case under the front part of the vehicle, until the primary element 14 is opposite the secondary element 16 on the underside of the vehicle. To this end, the primary element 14, the articulated arm 12 and/or the secondary element 16 can comprise means for positioning the primary element 14 with respect to the secondary element 16. By way of example, a point light source directed downwards can be provided on the underbody of the vehicle, close to the secondary element 16 and optical means for detecting the light beam emitted by this light source can be provided on the articulated arm 12, close to the primary element 14. These optical means can then be electrically connected to the control unit which will then control the deployment of the articulated arm so as to achieve an adequate positioning between the primary element 14 and the secondary element 16. once this positioning has been achieved, an upward movement of the primary element 14 towards the secondary element 16 can be performed so as to reduce the air gap between the primary element 14 and the secondary element 16 to a distance less than or equal to a maximum distance, for example between 15 and 30 mm. The electrical charging of the vehicle can then take place.

Once the electrical charging is complete, the operations described above are carried out in reverse. The primary element 14 will be able to follow a downward movement. Then the articulated arm 12 can be folded towards the housing 22. The latter is then closed by closing the door 24.

Figure 2 is a perspective and detailed view of the device 6 for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle, of Figure 1. The enclosure 20 is however shown without its walls, that is to say in transparency.

It can be observed that the enclosure 20 essentially consists of a tubular structure 20.1 and walls (not shown in Figure 2 but in Figure 1) fixed to the tubular structure 20.1. The enclosure has a lower opening 20.2 closed by the ground when the enclosure is placed on the ground in question. In this situation, the housing 22 formed by the enclosure 20 and the floor has a single front opening 20.3 at the level of the door (not shown in Figure 2).

The articulated arm 12 comprises in this case two segments 12.1 and 12.2. The first segment 12.1 has a proximal end connected in a pivoting manner to the base 10, in this case to the enclosure 20, via a first motorized rotating connection 12.3, and a distal end connected to a proximal end of the second segment 12.2, via a second motorized rotating link 12.4. It is understood that electrical wiring is arranged along the segments 12.1 and 12.2 and through the first and second rotating connections 12.3 and 12.4 so as to electrically connect the primary element 14 with the electrical station 4 (Figure 1). The same applies to the first and second rotating links 12.3 and 12.4.

In Figure 2, the articulated arm 12 is in the deployed position. In the folded position, the first and second segments 12.1 and 12.2 are folded one against the other and/or one under the other, along the main direction of the enclosure 20. In the folded position, the first and second segments 12.1 and 12.2 can form a reduced angle, less than 20°.

Figure 3 is a side view of the enclosure 20 of the device 6 for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle, of Figures 1 and 2.

The door 24 is shown in the open position of the housing 22. The door 24 has an upper edge 24.1 pivotally mounted along an axis horizontal to the enclosure 20, in this case to the tubular structure 20.1 of the enclosure 20. The door 24 has a lower edge 24.2 intended to be in contact with or at least adjacent to the ground when the door is in the closed position of the housing 24. An actuator 28 is provided on at least one of the two lateral sides of the door 24, configured to move the door between the closed and open positions of the housing 22. This or these actuators 28 can be of the electric jack type. An electrically operated lock 30 may also be provided on the enclosure 20, in this case the tubular structure 20.1 of the enclosure, at least on one of the two lateral sides of the door 24, so as to be able to lock the door 24 in the closed position of the housing 22. This or these locks 30 are advantageously configured to remain engaged, that is to say in the locked state, in the absence of electrical power. This means that when the articulated arm 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is in the folded position, in the housing 22, and the door 24 is in the closed position of said housing 22, the enclosure remains in principle inviolable in the event of a power cut. power supply, such as during an outage of the power supply network.

The control unit mentioned above, in the presence of the lock(s) 30, will then precede the opening of the door by a disengagement of the lock(s) 30 before deploying the articulated arm. Similarly, the control unit will engage the lock(s) after the door closes, once the hinged arm is folded.

The device 6 for transmitting electrical energy to the vehicle which has just been described is advantageous in that it protects the articulated arm 12 from external attacks such as that of vandalism or the actions of animals such as rodents. The articulated arm 12 is indeed a fragile element. When it is in the deployed position under a vehicle, the articulated arm is however difficult to access for people.

Claims (10)

Device (6) for transmitting electrical energy to a vehicle in order to recharge an electrical energy storage battery of said vehicle, comprising:
- a base (10) configured to be placed on the ground (8) and to be supplied with electrical energy;
- an articulated arm (12) with a proximal end pivotally mounted on the base (10), and a distal end, said articulated arm being movable between a folded position and an extended position;
- a primary element (14) for transmitting electrical energy by induction, arranged at the distal end of the articulated arm (12);
characterized in that
the articulated arm (12) is configured to deploy along the ground (8) under the vehicle and the base (10) comprises an enclosure (20) forming a housing (22) for said articulated arm in the folded position. Device (6) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the enclosure (20) comprises a door (24) for closing the housing (22) when the articulated arm (12) is in the folded position and when said housing ( 22) when the articulated arm (12) is in the deployed position. Device (6) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the enclosure (20) comprises at least one actuator (28) configured to selectively open and close the door (24). Device (6) according to one of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the enclosure (20) comprises at least one lock (30) configured to lock the door (24) in the closed position of the housing (22). Device (6) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one lock (30) is electrically controlled and configured to maintain locking in the absence of electrical power. Device (6) according to Claim 3 or one of Claims 4 and 5 when Claim 4 depends on Claim 3, characterized in that the said device comprises a unit for controlling the articulated arm (12), the at least an actuator (28) and, if applicable, at least one latch (30), configured for, when the articulated arm (12) is deployed, successively, if applicable, disengaging the at least one latch (30) , open the door (24) and deploy the articulated arm (12), and vice versa when folding the articulated arm (12). Device (6) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the enclosure (20) comprises a lower opening (20.2) configured to be placed on the ground (8), the housing (22) being formed by said enclosure (20) and said floor (8). Device (6) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, and according to Claim 7, characterized in that the door (24) comprises an upper edge (24.1) mounted to pivot around a horizontal axis, and a lower edge ( 24.2) adapted to be adjacent to the ground in the closed position of the housing (22). Device (6) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the articulated arm (12) comprises at least two segments (12.1, 12.2) arranged one against the other in the folded position, the housing ( 22) extending in a main direction along the at least two segments (12.1, 12.2) in the folded position. Device (6) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, and according to Claim 9, characterized in that the enclosure (20) has a total length along the main direction, the door (24) extending over at least 80% of said total length to a front face of the enclosure.