Motor vehicle with an electric contacting unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345246-B2
Application number	US-201917046615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2019
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

Charging robots can automatically move and connect a plug to a vehicle-side socket connector such that a battery of the vehicle can be conductively charged. A motor vehicle is provided with an electric contacting unit with electric contacts which are protected against soiling and spray water. The electric contacting unit is rigidly connected to the motor vehicle for electrically contacting an external charging cable. The contacting unit includes at least electric contacts and a movable cover that can be moved between a protective position, in which the cover covers the electric contacts and protects same against soiling and/or water, and a charging position, in which the electric contacts can be accessed from the vehicle surroundings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:
an electrical contacting unit fixed to the vehicle for electrical contacting of an external charging cable,
wherein the electrical contacting unit comprises:
electrical contacts; and
a movable cover, wherein
the cover is movable, in a translational fashion, between a protective position, in which the cover covers the electrical contacts and protects the electrical contacts against dirt and/or water, and a charging position, in which the electrical contacts are accessible from surroundings of the vehicle,
the cover is an elongate hollow body and, in the protective position, surrounds the electrical contacts in an encircling manner, whereas, in the charging position, the cover is situated adjacent to the electrical contacts, and
the electrical contacting unit fixed to the vehicle is attached to an exterior on the vehicle underside, such that, in the charging position of the cover, the electrical contacts are contactable from below in a vehicle vertical direction.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover is an elongate hollow body with a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover is movable between the charging position and the protective position in a manner driven by external power.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover is movable in a horizontal plane of the vehicle.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical contacting unit fixed to the vehicle has a main support which is connected to the motor vehicle and to which the electrical contacts are attached.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
a seal is attached to the main support, and
wherein the seal sealingly bears against the cover in the protective position.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein
the main support has at least one longitudinal guide for the cover.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein
a seal is attached in encircling fashion to the cover, and
wherein the seal sealingly bears against the main support in the protective position.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein
the seal is attached, in encircling fashion around an open end side, to the cover.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein
the main support has a wall against which the seal bears in encircling fashion in the protective position of the cover.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover has a closed end side.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein
the cover has at least one protruding web, which conducts away spray water, situated on and/or at the cover.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Ewald Alexander
• Goldammer Stefan
• Hoess Bernhard

Classifications

• B60L53/16 Primary

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• B60L53/30

  Constructional details of charging stations · CPC title

• H01R13/5213 Primary

  Covers · CPC title

• H01R13/5202

  Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings · CPC title