Charging interface for an electric vehicle

• US 9,193,270 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Tanneberger, Volkmar, Milke, Ralf, Patuschka, Sven, Lange, Klaus, Boy, Andreas, Burnus, Oliver, Idczak, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/883,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging interface for a motor vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, for charging the traction battery, having a charging socket arranged in a vehicle body opening and a closure device for covering the vehicle body opening, the charging socket can be moved in the axial direction of the vehicle body opening and the charging socket is made to move as a result of the closure device being opened.

Claims

1. A charging interface for an electric vehicle, for charging a traction battery, the charging interface comprising:

a charging socket positioned a vehicle body opening and a closure device covering the vehicle body opening, wherein the closure device is flush with a vehicle body surface,

wherein the charging socket is moveable in an axial direction of the vehicle body opening, and

wherein opening the closure device brings about a movement of the charging socket.

2. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the closure device is mechanically coupled to the charging socket.

3. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the charging socket is positioned in a receiving device extending into the vehicle interior, opening the closure device brings about a displacement of the charging socket in the direction of the vehicle body surface and permits an insertion of a charging plug, and closing the closure device results in movement of the charging socket with the charging plug connected thereto into the interior of the receiving device.

4. The charging interface of claim 3, wherein the closure device has a recess for receiving a charging cable of the charging plug in a closed state.

5. The charging interface of claim 1, further comprising, a folding bellows, which, in an open state of the closure device, is pushed over the charging plug in contact therewith.

6. The charging interface of claim 1, wherein the closure device is formed by a cover that covers the vehicle body in a flush manner in a closed state and is displaced during the opening process into a cover receiver positioned in the vehicle body.

7. A charging interface for an electric vehicle, for charging a traction battery, the charging interface comprising:

a charging socket positioned in a vehicle body opening; and

a closure device covering the vehicle body opening,

wherein the closure device is flush with the vehicle body surface,

wherein the closure device is a closure cover including two disjunct closure parts, wherein opening the closure device to bring a charging plug into contact with the charging socket brings about pivoting of the first closure part out of the vehicle body and pivoting of the second closure part into the vehicle body.

8. The charging interface of claim 7, wherein the first closure part is an upper closure part.

9. An electric vehicle, comprising a traction battery and a charging interface for charging the traction battery, the charging interface comprising:

a charging socket positioned in a vehicle body opening; and

a closure device covering the vehicle body opening,

wherein the closure device is flush with the vehicle body surface,

wherein the closure device is a closure cover including two disjunct closure parts,

wherein opening the closure device to bring a charging plug into contact with the charging socket brings about pivoting of the first closure part out of the vehicle body and pivoting of the second closure part into the vehicle body.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein pivoting of the second closure part into the body comprises pivoting of the second closure part into the vehicle body opening.