Charging Cable Locking Device and Method For Locking a Cable

• US 20120071017A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: innogy SE (E.ON SE)
• Original Assignee: RWE AG
• Inventors: Gaul, Armin, Diefenbach, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/304
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7035 comprising a separated limit switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• 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 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

Abstract

Charging cable locking device for electric vehicles with a receptacle 2 on the vehicle side to receive a charging cable 4 that can be connected with a charging station 20, and a locking unit 8 arranged at the receptacle 2, wherein the locking unit 8 is arranged for locking and releasing the charging cable 4 with the receptacle 2. Secure charging is possible in that the locking unit 8 is coupled with a closing unit 32 of the vehicle such that on activation of the closing unit 32, the charging cable 4 can be locked with the receptacle 2, and that on deactivation of the closing unit 32, the charging cable 4 can be released from the receptacle 2.

Claims

1. Charging cable locking device for electric vehicles with

a receptacle on the vehicle side to receive a charging cable that can be connected with a charging station, and

a locking unit arranged at the receptacle,

wherein the locking unit is arranged for locking and releasing the charging cable with the receptacle,

wherein

the locking unit is coupled with a closing unit of the vehicle such that on activation of the closing unit, the charging cable can be locked with the receptacle, and that on deactivation of the closing unit, the charging cable can be released from the receptacle, and

a signalling unit is coupled with the locking unit, in that the locking unit on activation of the closing unit transmits an activation signal to the signalling unit and in that subsequently the signalling unit transmits a locking signal to the charging station to lock the charging cable to the charging station.

2. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein the closing unit is a central locking of the vehicle and in that the locking unit is coupled with the central locking of the vehicle such that on closing of the vehicle using the central locking, the charging cable can be locked with the receptacle, and that on opening of the vehicle with the central locking, the charging cable can be released from the receptacle.

3. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein the closing unit is a transponder read device that can be activated wirelessly.

4. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein a signalling unit is coupled with the locking unit, in that the locking unit on activation of the closing unit transmits an activation signal to the signalling unit and in that subsequently the signalling unit transmits an enabling signal to the charging station to enable the charge current.

5. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein a signalling unit is coupled with the locking unit, in that the locking unit on deactivation of the closing unit 30 transmits a deactivation signal to the signalling unit and in that subsequently the signalling unit transmits a disabling signal to the charging station to disable the charge current.

6. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein a signalling unit is coupled with the locking unit, in that the locking unit on deactivation of the closing unit transmits a deactivation signal to the signalling unit and in that subsequently signalling unit transmits an unlocking signal to the charging station to unlock the charging cable from the charging station.

7. Charging cable locking device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a plug or a socket.

8. Method for locking a charging cable to electric vehicles in which

a charging cable is connected with a receptacle on the vehicle side, and

the charging cable is locked and released with the receptacle by means of a locking unit arranged at the vehicle side on the receiver,

wherein

the locking unit is coupled with a closing unit of the vehicle such that on activation of the closing unit, the charging cable is locked with the receptacle, and that on deactivation of the closing unit, the charging cable is released from the receptacle, and

a signally unit is coupled with the locking unit, such that on activation of the closing unit an activation signal is transmitted from the closing unit to the signally unit and subsequently a locking signal is transmitted from the signalling unit to the charging station to lock the charging cable to the charging station.