Charging system

• US 9,884,561 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Krammer, Josef, Berger, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RANKINE, TARIKH KANEM
• Application Number:
  US14/511,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A system includes a vehicle with a charge socket and a contactor switching unit, and a charger for charging an electrical energy accumulator of the vehicle at a vehicle-external AC power system. The charger is a vehicle-external charger device. The charger is a portable charger. The charger has a DC-DC converter, and includes first and second charging cables. The first charging cable has an AC power system plug, and the second charging cable has a charge plug.

Claims

1. A charge system, comprising:

a vehicle with a charge socket and a contactor switching unit, and

a portable vehicle-external charger configured to charge an electrical energy accumulator of the vehicle from a vehicle-external AC power system, the charger comprising;

an AC-DC converter,

a first charging cable having an AC power system plug,

a second charging cable having a charge plug, and

a housing having;

opposing first and second lids forming a winding reel, the first and second charging cables windable onto the winding reel,

a foldable carrying handle configured to secure at least one charging cable wound onto the winding reel, and

a foldable stand configured to;

secure at least one charging cable wound onto the winding reel when folded, and to be stood on by the charger when unfolded such that all but the foldable stand of the charger is elevated away from a standing surface.

2. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein:

the housing has external cooling fins, and

the housing is penetrated by at least one cooling duct, which is configured for a flow of air through the housing.

3. The charge system according to claim 2, wherein:

the housing for the first charging cable has an automatic cable retractor, and

the housing for the second charging cable has an automatic cable retractor.

4. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the charger has at least one thermally insulated carrying handle and at least one thermally insulated stand.

5. The charge system according to claim 3, wherein the charger has at least one thermally insulated carrying handle and at least one thermally insulated stand.

6. The charge system according to claim 4, wherein the charger is securable by the at least one stand in order to charge on the standing surface.

7. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the charger is securable by the at least one stand in order to charge on the standing surface.

8. The charge system according to claim 4, further comprising:

an attachment mechanism for a wall, wherein

the charger is securable to the attachment mechanism by the at least one carrying handle for the purpose of charging.

9. The charge system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment mechanism for a wall, wherein

the charger is securable to the attachment mechanism by the at least one carrying handle for the purpose of charging.

10. The charge system according to claim 4, wherein:

the at least one carrying handle comprises a holding rail, and

the charger is suspendable with the holding rail from a partially lowered side window of the vehicle.

11. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one carrying handle comprises a holding rail, and

the charger is suspendable with the holding rail from a partially lowered side window of the vehicle.

12. The charge system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the housing, the first lid or the second lid have a heat-irradiating surface coating.

13. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second charging cable or the charging plug has a fuse, and

the fuse is configured to protect the second charging cable when a connection is established between the charge plug and the charge socket against a flow of current from the vehicle to the charger.

14. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle comprises a charge control unit, and

charge control signals from the charger via the second charging cable are detectable by way of the charge control unit.

15. The charge system according to claim 14, wherein:

the vehicle comprises a storage space, and

the storage space is configured to transport the portable charger device.

16. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle comprises a storage space, and

the storage space is configured to transport the portable charger device.