Device for automatically decoupling a connector inserted in a socket of an electric vehicle

The disclosed device equips a connection unit including a connector, on the cable side of the recharging station, and a socket, on the electric vehicle side. It includes an active part mounted on an element from among the connector and the socket, and a passive part mounted on the other element, the active part including an actuator and a plurality of rods forming plungers capable of being translated by the actuator to bear on the passive part of the decoupling device so as to generate a force in order to separate the connector from the socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of electric vehicles, and more particularly that of means for recharging an electric vehicle with a fixed recharging station.

Description of the Related Art

It is known to recharge the energy storage means on board an electric vehicle (such as the batteries or supercapacitors) by direct connection to a fixed recharging station on the ground, using a power cable.

The free end of the cable is provided with a connector intended to be inserted into a conjugated socket, with which the electric vehicle is provided.

Standard IEC 62196 thus defines the general characteristics of the connectors (male part) and socket (female part) of the connection means for the recharging of electric vehicles from a recharging station.

Recharging by cable requires the intervention of an operator (for example the driver of the electric vehicle) both to connect the cable to the electric vehicle, that is to say, to insert the connector into the socket before recharging, and to disconnect the cable, that is to say, to decouple the connector from the socket at the end of the recharging.

Yet it is tedious to have to disconnect the cable manually, in particular once the batteries of the electric vehicle are recharged and the vehicle can leave again. The driver who is waiting inside his vehicle for recharging to finish would like not to have to exit the vehicle again to disconnect the cable when he wishes to leave.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore aims to resolve this problem.

To that end, the invention relates to a device for automatically decoupling means for connecting an electric vehicle to a recharging station by cable, the connection means including a connector, on the cable side of the recharging station, and a socket, on the electric vehicle side, the decoupling device including an active part mounted on an element from among the connector and the socket, and a passive part mounted on the other element, the active part including an actuator and a plurality of rods forming plungers capable of being translated by the actuator to bear on the passive part of the decoupling device so as to generate a force in order to separate the connector from the socket.

According to specific embodiments, the device includes one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combinations:the passive and active parts are capable of being fastened on a standard connector and/or a standard socket.the actuator of the active part is capable of being triggered remotely.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In reference toFIG. 1, an electric vehicle1is parked near a recharging station2such that a power cable3, belonging to the recharging station2, can be connected on the electric vehicle1so as to allow the recharging of the energy storage means on board the vehicle1(such as batteries4). The batteries4make it possible to power the traction means of the electric vehicle1, such as an electric motor M.

More specifically, the free end of the cable3is provided with a connection means capable of being coupled with a conjugated connection means provided on the body of the electric vehicle1.

For example, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the free end of the cable3is provided with a connector10intended to be inserted into a socket20provided on the electric vehicle1. Preferably, according to the standards in force for recharging electric vehicles, the connector10is of the male type and the socket20is of the female type.

According to the invention, the connection means are equipped with a device that, when it is actuated, makes it possible to decouple the connector10from the socket20automatically.

It should be noted that, to prevent the connector10from falling on the ground once it is decoupled from the socket20, the recharging station3is advantageously equipped with a beam6from which the cable3is suspended.

According to the invention, the decoupling device is mounted on the connection means, but is not integrated into the male socket-female socket assembly. In other words, according to the invention, the decoupling device is attached on the connection means and is not a part thereof.

In a first embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 to 5, the decoupling device includes a passive part30, on the connector10side, and an active part40, on the socket20side.

More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the passive part30is made up of a ring, mounted on the connector10. The passive part30has a planar front surface31, perpendicular to the axis A of the connector10and oriented toward the socket20in the coupled position of the connector on the socket. The front surface31is withdrawn by a distance D from the front surface11of the connector10. The front surface31delimits bearing zones32,33on either side of the connector10.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the active part40of the device is made up of a body41, mounted on the socket20so as to grip it.

The active part40includes an actuator45, which is mounted secured to the body41.

The body41is made from a plurality of rods forming plungers. The rods are arranged symmetrically and regularly at the periphery of the socket20. InFIGS. 3 and 4, the body41includes two rods42and43.

The rods42and43are mounted parallel to the axis B of the socket20. They are mounted translatably relative to the body41.

The rods42and43are set in motion by the actuator45when the latter is triggered. They then move in translation parallel to the axis B.

The rods can thus go from a withdrawn position to a deployed position. In the withdrawn portion, the end of the rods does not protrude past the collar21defining the front face of the socket20. In the deployed position, the end of the rods protrudes past the collar21, preferably by a distance D.

While the connector10is coupled to the socket20, the end of the rods42and43is capable of coming into contact with the surface31of the ring carried by the connector10and applying a pressure on the zones32and33, respectively.

The force applied by the rods on the passive part of the decoupling device during their movement makes it possible to remove the connector10from the socket20.

Once the connector10is decoupled from the socket20, the rods42and43are preferably retracted past the front face of the socket20, in particular to allow the coupling of a connector for the next recharge.

In reference now toFIGS. 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the decoupling device according to the invention will be described, in which the active part60is on the connector side10, while the passive part is on the socket side20.

The active part60includes a body61forming a ring around the connector10and an actuator65secured to the body61.

The body61includes rods, for example two rods62and63.

These rods, the axis of which is parallel to the axis A of the connector10, are mounted on the body61so as to be translatable along the axis A.

The rods are translated by the actuator65between a withdrawn position and a deployed position. In the withdrawn portion, the end of the rods62,63does not protrude past the front surface66of the body60. In the deployed position, the end of the rods protrudes past the front face66, for example by a distance D making it possible to guarantee the complete removal of the connector10outside the socket20.

On the socket20side, the passive part of the device is preferably simply made up of the collar defining the periphery of the front face of the socket20. This collar makes up a bearing surface for the rods with which the active part60is provided.

Thus, the actuator65is able, when it is controlled, to move the rods62and63in translation such that their ends bear on the passive part of the device and generate, on the connector10, a reaction force making it possible to remove the connector10from the socket20.

To control the actuator, a control unit70is provided on board the vehicle1.

Advantageously, the control unit70is connected to the battery4so as to determine the charge state thereof. When the device70determines that the charge state of the battery4is above a predetermined threshold, for example 95% of the maximum charge that the battery can store, the control unit70transmits a decoupling signal to the decoupling device so as to command the automatic disconnection of the connection means.

Advantageously, the connection between the control unit70and the decoupling device is a wireless connection having the advantage of allowing remote triggering of the decoupling device. Such a wireless connection is in particular useful in the case where the actuator is not positioned on the vehicle as illustrated by the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7. In the case of an embodiment in which the actuator is positioned on the vehicle, embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the unit70preferably controls the actuator45directly, for example through a dedicated wired connection.

In reference toFIG. 8, the implementation of the decoupling device ofFIGS. 6 and 7will be described.

In step110, the driver of the electric vehicle1parks his vehicle in the immediate vicinity of a recharging station3in order to recharge the batteries4of the vehicle1.

In step120, the driver, who has exited the vehicle1, grasps the connector10equipping the end of the cable3of the recharging station1and inserts it into the socket20with which the vehicle1is equipped.

Once the electrical connection is established between the vehicle1and the recharging station3, the recharging of the energy storage means can begin (step130).

In step140, it is detected that the batteries4are recharged and the control unit70transmits a decoupling signal to the actuator65.

In a variant, the driver, deeming that the recharging of the energy storage means is sufficient, controls the control unit70so that it transmits the decoupling signal.

In step144, the recharging of the batteries4is stopped by in particular placing the recharging station3in a secure position.

In step150, the decoupling method strictly speaking is implemented.

In step152, the unit70transmits the decoupling signal.

In step154, upon receiving this decoupling signal, the actuator65is triggered so as to translate the rods62and63forming plungers and take them from the withdrawn position to the deployed position.

In step156, the moving rods bear on the passive part of the device so as to extract the connector10from the socket20.

After a certain actuating duration corresponding to a maximum journey of the rods, the connector10is decoupled from the socket20. Advantageously, the actual performance of the decoupling can be confirmed by the analysis of the signals present on the connector20on the vehicle side.

Advantageously, the actuator65is triggered so as to translate the rods62and63from the deployed position to the withdrawn position.

The decoupling is therefore finished and the vehicle is mechanically independent from the cable3. The vehicle1can therefore leave.

One skilled in the art will note that the device that has been described above constitutes a disconnection system with a low cost, since it adapts easily to the existing connectors and sockets.

This decoupling device makes it possible to disconnect the recharging cable of an electric vehicle (autonomous or with a driver) in a motorized manner and without operator intervention.

In the embodiments described above, it has been described that the mechanical means making it possible to remove the connector from the socket are made up of a plunger-forming rod. However, in a variant, any mechanical means making it possible to separate the connector from the socket can be implemented.