Charging arrangement and method for charging an electrical vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016992-A1
Application number	US-202117491551-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2021
Priority date	Apr 2, 2019
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A charging arrangement includes an electrical vehicle and a charging device configured for charging the electrical vehicle with electrical energy, where the electrical vehicle includes a first charging connector, and the charging device includes a second charging connector configured for connecting with the first charging connector, a bi-stable mechanics to which the second charging connector is attached and which is configured for holding the second charging connector in two stable equilibrium positions, whereby in one stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is connected to the first charging connector and the other stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is unconnected to the first charging connector and an actuation device configured for moving the second charging connector between the two stable equilibrium positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A charging arrangement comprising an electrical vehicle and a charging device configured for charging the electrical vehicle with electrical energy, whereby
the electrical vehicle comprises a first charging connector, and the charging device comprises:
a second charging connector configured for connecting with the first charging connector;
a bi-stable mechanics attached to the second charging connector and configured for holding the second charging connector in two stable equilibrium positions, whereby in a first stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is connected to the first charging connector and in a second stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is unconnected to the first charging connector; and
an actuation device configured for moving the second charging connector between the two stable equilibrium positions.

2 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the charging device is arranged on ground and the first charging connector is arranged underneath the electrical vehicle.

3 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the actuation device comprises a linear motor or whereby moving of the second charging connector is actuated by the linear motor.

4 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the bi-stable mechanics comprises at least one arm and/or spring loaded arm, which is attached with one end to the second charging connector.

5 . The charging arrangement according to claim 4 , comprising two spring loaded arms, wherein first ends of the two spring loaded arms are attached to opposite sides of the second charging connector and second ends of the two spring loaded arms are attached to ground.

6 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the first charging connector comprises, in side view, a funnel-like or triangle-like shape and the second charging connector comprises a corresponding shape.

7 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the second charging connector is only moved to connect with the first charging connector after the electrical vehicle is in alignment with the charging device.

8 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the electrical vehicle and/or the charging device comprises a Wi-Fi-device, a camera, a radar and/or an auxiliary coil configured for detecting if the electrical vehicle is in alignment with the charging device.

9 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the second charging connector is moved to connect with the first charging connector in response to a connection and/or acoustic signal.

10 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the first charging connector and/or the second charging connector comprises a positive Direct Current (DC) contact, a negative DC contact, a Protective Earth (PE) contact, and/or a Control Pilot (CP) contact.

11 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the electrical vehicle is provided as an autonomous vehicle.

12 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the charging device is configured for charging the electrical vehicle according to IEC 61851.

13 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the first charging connector is integrated in a vehicle body of the electrical vehicle, attached to the vehicle body and/or attached to the bottom of the electrical vehicle.

14 . The charging arrangement according to claim 1 , whereby the electrical vehicle comprises a backseat and/or a rear axle, the first charging connector is arranged underneath the backseat and/or adjacent to the rear axle of the electrical vehicle.

15 . A method for charging an electrical vehicle, comprising a charging device configured for charging the electrical vehicle with electrical energy,
the charging device comprising:
a second charging connector configured for connecting with a first charging connector of the electrical vehicle; and
a bi-stable mechanics attached to the second charging connector, configured for holding the second charging connector in two stable equilibrium positions,
the method further comprising:
moving the second charging connector between the two stable equilibrium positions, whereby in a first stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is connected to the first charging connector and in a second stable equilibrium position the second charging connector is unconnected to the first charging connector.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the charging device is arranged on ground and the first charging connector is arranged underneath the electrical vehicle.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the actuation device comprises a linear motor or whereby moving of the second charging connector is actuated by the linear motor.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the bi-stable mechanics comprises at least one arm and/or spring loaded arm, which is attached with one end to the second charging connector.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , comprising two spring loaded, wherein first ends of the two spring loaded arms are attached to opposite sides of the second charging connector and second ends of the two spring loaded arms are attached to ground.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the first charging connector comprises, in side view, a funnel-like or triangle-like shape and the second charging connector comprises a corresponding shape.

21 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the second charging connector is only moved to connect with the first charging connector after the electrical vehicle is in alignment with the charging device.

22 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the electrical vehicle and/or the charging device comprises a Wi-Fi-device, a camera, a radar and/or an auxiliary coil configured for detecting if the electrical vehicle is in alignment with the charging device.

23 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the second charging connector is moved to connect with the first charging connector in response to a connection and/or acoustic signal.

24 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the first charging connector and/or the second charging connector comprises a positive Direct Current (DC) contact, a negative DC contact, a Protective Earth (PE) contact, and/or a Control Pilot (CP) contact.

25 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the electrical vehicle is provided as an autonomous vehicle.

26 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the charging device is configured for charging the electrical vehicle according to IEC 61851.

27 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the first charging connector is integrated in a vehicle body of the electrical vehicle, attached to the vehicle body and/or attached to the bottom of the electrical vehicle.

28 . The method according to claim 15 , whereby the electrical vehicle comprises a backseat and/or a rear axle, the first charging connector is arranged underneath the backseat and/or adjacent to the rear axle of the electrical vehicle.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Ugur Ali
• Craciun Octavian

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• B60L53/36

  by positioning the vehicle · CPC title

• B60L53/16 Primary

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

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title