Charging device for an electric vehicle

• US 10,173,537 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Herzog, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/829,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20160039298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A charging device for an electric vehicle has a first charging connector on the vehicle side for mechanically connecting to a second charging connector of an external charging station. The first charging connector has two contact elements for a DC charging process. A galvanic connection of the contact elements to an electric energy store is provided, wherein direct current flows into the electric energy store. A control device monitors the charging process and is capable of communicating with the charging station. The charging device has at least one contact element movable between a first and a second position. In the first position, the contact element is retracted in the first charging connector, and in the second position the contact element is arranged so as to contact a corresponding contact of the second charging connector when the first and the second charging connectors are mechanically connected.

Claims

1. A charging device for an electric vehicle having an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a first charging connector on a vehicle end for a mechanical connection to a second charging connector of an external charging station, wherein the first charging connector has two electrical contact elements for direct current charging of the electrical energy storage device in the electric vehicle, which two electrical contact elements are able to establish an electrical connection with the external charging station via contact thereof with two electrical contacts of the second charging connector when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connectors;

a galvanic connection from the two electrical contact elements to the electrical energy storage device, wherein, for direct current charging via the galvanic connection, direct current which is fed to the two electrical contact elements of the first charging connector via the two electrical contacts of the second charging connector flows into the electrical energy storage device for charging the same; and

a control device configured to monitor the charging of the electrical energy storage device, and to communicate with the external charging station;

wherein;

at least one of the two electrical contact elements of the first charging connector is configured to move between a first and a second position, wherein the at least one electrical contact element is withdrawn in the first charging connector when in the first position, and when in the second position is extended out of the first charging connector such that electrical contact is made with a corresponding one of the two electrical contacts of the second charging connector when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connectors, and

the control device is further configured to control movement of the at least one electrical contact element such that the at least one electrical contact is only moved into the second position when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connector, and otherwise is in the first position.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the galvanic connection to the electrical energy storage device is permanent.

3. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the two electrical contact elements used for direct current charging are contact pins, the contact pins being configured to electrically contact corresponding contact sleeves in the second charging connector.

4. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the two electrical contact elements used for direct current charging are contact pins, the contact pins being configured to electrically contact corresponding contact sleeves in the second charging connector.

5. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising

further electrical contact elements for alternating current charging, which further electrical contact elements are connected to an AC/DC converter for converting supplied alternating current into direct current to charge the electrical energy storage device.

6. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the first charging connector is based on IEC 62196-3 standard.

7. The charging device according to claim 6, wherein the first charging connector is one of a Combo-1, Combo-2, or DC Type 2 connector.

8. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the two electrical contact elements for the first charging connector are movable.

9. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lock configured to lock the second charging connector together with the first charging connector when the mechanical connection is establish between the first and second charging connectors.

10. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein

when the mechanical connection is established between the first and second charging connectors, a communication connection is establish between the control device and the external charging station.

11. The charging device according to claim 10, wherein:

the communication connection allows for a charging communication to be carried out by the control device for setting parameters of the charging device, and

when the control device allows direct current charging per the charging communication, the at least one contact element is moved from the first position into the second position.

12. The charging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrically driven actuator configured to move the at least one electrical contact element.

13. The charging device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a return force configured to hold the at least one electrical contact element in the first position, and

the at least one electrical contact element being moved from the first position into the second position against the return force via the electrically driven actuator.

14. An electric vehicle having an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

a charging device for the electric vehicle, the charging device comprising;

a first charging connector on a vehicle end for a mechanical connection to a second charging connector of an external charging station, wherein the first charging connector has two electrical contact elements for direct current charging of the electrical energy storage device in the electric vehicle, which two electrical contact elements are able to establish an electrical connection with the external charging station via contact thereof with two electrical contacts of the second charging connector when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connectors;

a galvanic connection from the two electrical contact elements to the electrical energy storage device, wherein, for direct current charging via the galvanic connection, direct current which is fed to the two electrical contact elements of the first charging connector via the two electrical contacts of the second charging connector flows into the electrical energy storage device for charging the same; and

a control device configured to monitor the charging of the electrical energy storage device, and to communicate with the external charging station;

wherein at least one of the two electrical contact elements of the first charging connector is configured to move between a first and a second position, wherein the at least one electrical contact element is withdrawn in the first charging connector when in the first position, and when in the second position is extended out of the first charging connector such that electrical contact is made with a corresponding one of the two electrical contacts of the second charging connector when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connectors, and

wherein the control device is further configured to control movement of the at least one electrical contact element such that the at least one electrical contact is only moved into the second position when the mechanical connection is established between the first and the second charging connector, and otherwise is in the first position.

15. A charging device of an electric vehicle equipped with an electrical energy storage device that stores energy usable in driving the electric vehicle, the charging device comprising:

a vehicle charging connector comprising first and second electrical contact elements configured to permit direct current charging of the electrical energy storage device;

a permanent galvanic connection extending from the first and second electrical contact elements of the vehicle charging connector to the electrical energy storage device, wherein direct current charging of the electrical energy storage device is carried out via the galvanic connection, wherein

at least one of the first and second electrical contact elements of the vehicle charging connector is configured to move between first and second positions,

the at least one electrical contact element being withdrawn in the vehicle charging connector in the first position, and

the at least one electrical contact element of the vehicle charging connector being extended out of the first charging connector in an operation position for receiving direct current when in the second position.

16. The charging device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a control device configured to monitor charging of the electrical energy storage device, the control device controlling movement of the at least one electrical contact element from the first position to the second position.

17. The charging device according to claim 15, wherein both the first and second electrical contact elements of the vehicle charging connector are movable between the first and second positions.

18. The charging device according to claim 15, wherein the first and second electrical contact elements of the vehicle charging connector are configured as pins, the pins being adapted for receipt in corresponding contact sleeves of a non-vehicle arranged charging connector through which direct current is supplied to the first and second pins of the vehicle charging connector.