Automated connection of a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11318853-B2
Application number	US-202016922687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2020
Priority date	Jul 8, 2019
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for connecting a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle, with a moving apparatus with a plurality of controllable movement axes; a tool which can be positioned by means of the moving apparatus relative to the vehicle and is configured to hold the charging plug, the tool having a centering device for centering the charging plug within the tool and a controllable tool movement axis for moving the charging plug independently of the movement axes of the moving apparatus; wherein the tool with the charging plug centered therein can be positioned in a predetermined relative position with regard to the charging interface by means of the moving apparatus and the charging plug can subsequently be connected with the charging interface by using the tool movement axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for connecting a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle, with:
a moving apparatus with a plurality of controllable movement axes;
a tool which can be positioned using the moving apparatus relative to the vehicle and is configured to releasably hold the charging plug, the tool having a centering device for centering the charging plug within the tool and a controllable tool movement axis for moving the charging plug independently of the movement axes of the moving apparatus;
wherein the tool with the charging plug centered therein can be positioned in a predetermined relative position with regard to the charging interface using the moving apparatus and wherein the charging plug subsequently can be connected with the charging interface using the tool movement axis; and wherein
after connection of the charging plug with the charging interface, the charging plug is releasable from the tool.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein arriving at the relative position comprises bringing the charging plug into contact with a guide section of the charging interface.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the centering device is configured to establish a positive connection with the charging plug.

4. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the tool comprises a holding section for the charging plug, which is resiliently mounted on the tool movement axis.

5. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the tool movement axis is a linear axis.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the centering device is configured to establish a positive connection with the charging plug.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the tool comprises a holding section for the charging plug, which is resiliently mounted on the tool movement axis.

8. The arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the tool movement axis is a linear axis.

9. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a holding section for the charging plug, which is resiliently mounted on the tool movement axis.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the tool movement axis is a linear axis.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the tool movement axis is a linear axis.

12. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the tool movement axis is configured to move the charging plug relative to the centering device.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the tool movement axis is configured to connect the charging plug to the centering device by moving it in a first direction and to disconnect the charging plug from the centering device by moving it in a second direction.

14. A tool for connecting a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle,
wherein the tool is configured to releasably hold the charging plug and comprises a centering device for centering the charging plug within the tool and a controllable tool movement axis for moving the charging plug;
wherein the tool is configured to connect the charging plug to the charging interface using the tool movement axis; and wherein
after connection of the charging plug with the charging interface, the charging plug is releasable from the tool.

15. A method for connecting a charging plug to a charging interface of a vehicle using a moving apparatus with a plurality of controllable movement axes and a tool which can be positioned using the moving apparatus relative to the vehicle, which tool is configured to releasably hold the charging plug, wherein the tool comprises a centering device for centering the charging plug within the tool and a controllable tool movement axis for moving the charging plug independently of the movement axes of the moving apparatus; the method comprising:
positioning the tool with the charging plug centered therein using the moving apparatus in a predetermined relative position with regard to the charging interface;
connecting the charging plug to the charging interface using the tool movement axis; and
after connecting the charging plug with the charging interface, releasing the charging plug from the tool.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag
• Kuka Deutschland Gmbh

Inventors

• Schütz Daniel
• Settele Norbert

Classifications

• B60L53/30

  Constructional details of charging stations · CPC title

• B60L53/35 Primary

  Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles · CPC title

• H01R43/26 Primary

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• B60L53/14

  Conductive energy transfer · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title