A system comprising a cover for closing a charging opening of an electric vehicle in which a charging socket for charging a driving battery of the electric vehicle is located. The cover is mounted laterally next to the charging opening, on an inner side of the body part, so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis by way of a hinge arm and can be pivoted by way of an electromechanical actuator. For activating the actuator, the invention provides a pivotable transfer body, which multiplies a path of the cover and activates the actuator by way of a push button.

The invention relates to a system comprising a cover for covering a charging connection of an in particular partially electric motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim1.

Patent application JP 2023-19203 A describes a system comprising a cover for covering a tank filler neck, a charging connection, or the like, of a motor vehicle, wherein the cover can be moved between a closed position, in which the cover closes a body opening in a flush manner, and an open position, in which the cover is located next to, beneath, or above the body opening on an outer side of a body, using two parallel pivoting levers. The cover is driven by an actuator, which pivots one of the two pivoting levers from the closed position into the open position, and vice versa. For opening, the actuator is triggered by pushing the cover from the closed position slightly inwardly.

It is the object of the invention to provide a system of the above-described kind, which shortens a path of a cover from a closed position inward for activating an actuator or for triggering a function.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claim1. The system according to the invention comprises a cover for covering a charging connection in a charging bay body of an in particular at least partially electric motor vehicle, which can be moved back and forth between a closed position and an open position. When closed, the cover covers the charging connection. In particular, when closed, the cover is located in a charging opening of a body of the motor vehicle so that the cover closes the charging opening, and an outer side of the cover is flush with an outer side of the body. When open, the cover exposes the charging bay body so that the charging connection can be accessed for plugging in a charging cable or a charging plug. In particular, when open, the cover is located completely, or in any case substantially, next to, above, or beneath the charging opening so that it is possible to plug the charging cable or charging plug into the charging connection unhindered, or with only little hindrance, by the cover in the open position.

In particular, the system comprises an actuator for opening the cover, which is to say for moving the cover from the closed position into the open position. The cover can likewise be closed by way of the actuator, or in another manner, for example by hand. Designs of the invention without an actuator are also possible, in which the cover is opened by hand, for example. An actuator shall be understood to mean a drive unit that generates mechanical movement. Designs of the invention including the actuator are likewise possible, wherein the actuator moves something other than the cover.

The invention provides an electrical switching unit for activating, which is to say for starting, the actuator so that the actuator opens the cover, the electrical switching unit in particular comprising a push button. Instead of activating the actuator, or in addition to activating the actuator, the electrical switching unit can also trigger another function, for example switching on a charging light or actuating a locking mechanism, which protects the cover against being opened otherwise. As a result, an actuator is not provided in all instances for opening the cover. The electrical switching unit is actuated by moving the cover from the closed position inwardly, which is to say, in order to actuate the electrical switching unit, the cover is moved, beyond the closed position, a short distance further in a closing direction oriented opposite the opening movement. The electrical switching unit can also be interpreted as a signal generator, which generates or modifies an electrical signal when the cover is moved from the closed position inwardly.

The invention provides a movable multiplication member between the electrical switching unit and the cover, the multiplication member being moved from the closed position inwardly by the movement of the cover, multiplying the movement of the cover, and actuating the electrical switching unit. The multiplication member is, in particular, disposed between the cover and the electrical switching unit, wherein “between” at any rate shall be understood to mean an operative arrangement of the multiplication member between the cover and the electrical switching unit, regardless of a spatial arrangement of the multiplication member. “Multiplying” shall be understood to mean that the movement of the cover is extended, which is to say a point of the multiplication member which actuates the electrical switching unit moves further than a point of the multiplication member which is moved by the cover. According to the invention, the cover thus does not actuate the electrical switching unit directly, but indirectly by way of the multiplication member, which multiplies the movement of the cover.

In particular, the cover moves the multiplication member by striking with an inner side against the multiplication member when the cover is moved from the dosed position inwardly.

In some designs of the invention, the cover does not move the multiplication member over the entire path thereof, but essentially only when the cover is moved from the dosed position inwardly. The cover can also already move the multiplication member slightly before or not move the multiplication member until slightly after the closed position.

By multiplying the path from the cover to the electrical switching unit by way of the multiplication member, a shorter path of the cover from the closed position inwardly suffices for actuating the electrical switching unit. This is advantageous in instances where the electrical switching unit is disposed accordingly low, and the cover cannot be moved sufficiently far from the closed position inwardly to activate the switching unit.

The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention.

The cover can, generally, be movable in any translatory and/or rotatory manner. For example, the system according to the invention can comprise a sliding guide for the cover or the pivoting lever, by way of which the cover is guided in the manner of a parallelogram or with a planar four-bar linkage. The cover can preferably be pivoted about a first pivot axis, or is guided by way of pivoting levers, which do not have to be parallel to one another, so as to be movable back and forth between the closed position and the open position.

An embodiment of the invention provides for the multiplication member to comprise a transfer body, which can be pivoted about a second pivot axis. The transfer body is pivoted about the second pivot axis by the cover in an actuating direction when the cover is pushed from the closed position inwardly. During the pivoting in the actuating direction, the transfer body actuates the electrical switching unit.

The transfer body, in particular, comprises two lever arms, and more particularly a first and shorter lever arm, at which the cover of the system according to the invention engages on the transfer body when the cover is being moved from the closed position inwardly, and a second and longer lever arm, by way of which the transfer body actuates the electrical switching unit. The first lever arm shall, in particular, be understood as a distance with respect to the second pivot axis, which is to say with respect to the pivot axis of the transfer body, at which the cover engages on the transfer body when moving from the dosed position inwardly. The second lever arm is, in particular, a distance with respect to the second pivot axis by way of which the transfer body actuates the electrical switching element. The lever arms do not necessarily presuppose levers, but can, generally speaking, also be distances with respect to the second pivot axis, which is to say with respect to the pivot axis of the transfer body.

The two lever arms can project from the pivot axis of the transfer body in opposite directions, in the same direction, or in differing directions.

An embodiment of the invention provides for the transfer body to have an angled section at a radial distance with respect to the second pivot axis, by way of which the transfer body actuates the electrical switching unit. Such an angled section is also possible for moving the transfer body with the cover. The angled section, for example, makes it possible to extend around an obstacle that, in the absence of the angled section, would be in the way of the pivoting movement of the transfer body, or to “lower” the angled section into an opening during the pivoting movement of the transfer body.

An embodiment of the invention provides an elevation, which projects from the inner side of the cover in the direction of the transfer body, as an actuating element for actuating the electrical switching unit. This elevation corresponds to a protrusion at the transfer body, which projects from the transfer body in the direction of the elevation. The elevation at the inner side of the cover and the protrusion at the transfer body are disposed and designed so that the elevation strikes against the protrusion when the cover is pushed from the closed position inwardly. When the cover is pushed from the closed position inwardly, the elevation strikes against the protrusion so that the cover pivots the transfer body in the actuating direction, whereby the transfer body actuates the electrical switching unit.

A distance between the protrusion of the transfer body and the second pivot axis about which the transfer body can be pivoted is preferably smaller than a distance between the angled section of the transfer body for actuating the electrical switching unit and the second pivot axis. As a result, the desired path multiplication from the cover to the electrical switching unit is achieved. The distance between the protrusion at the transfer body and the second pivot axis can also be interpreted as a first and shorter lever arm, and the distance between the angled section of the transfer body for actuating the electrical switching unit and the second pivot axis can also be interpreted as a second and longer lever arm.

The first pivot axis, about which the cover can be pivoted, and the second pivot axis, about which the transfer body can be pivoted, are preferably stationary with respect to the charging bay body and/or parallel to one another.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a curved hinge arm, which projects, rigidly in some designs of the invention, from the inner side of the cover and which can be pivoted about the first pivot axis, so that the cover can be pivoted about the first pivot axis back and forth between the closed position and the open position by way of the hinge arm. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to dispose the first pivot axis at an inner side of the body of the motor vehicle next to, beneath, or above the charging opening in a way that is not visible from the outside. The hinge arm is in particular curved so as to embrace an edge of the charging opening in the body, when the cover is open, from the first pivot axis at the inner side of the body to the cover, which, when open, is located outside the body.

The features and feature combinations, designs, and embodiments of the invention mentioned above in the description, and the features and feature combinations mentioned hereafter in the description of the figures and/or shown in a figure, can be used not only in the respective indicated or illustrated combination, but also in other essentially arbitrary combinations, or alone. Designs of the invention that do not include all the features of a dependent claim are possible. It is also possible to replace individual features of a claim with other disclosed features or feature combinations. Designs of the invention that do not include all the features of the exemplary embodiment, but an essentially arbitrary portion of the characterizing features of the exemplary embodiment, are possible.

The invention will be described hereafter based on an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

The drawings are schematic and partially simplified illustrations to provide an understanding of and to describe the invention.

The system1according to the invention shown in the drawings comprises a cover2, which can be pivoted back and forth about a first pivot axis3between a closed position, which is shown inFIG.1, and an open position, which is shown inFIG.3.FIG.2shows an intermediate position of the cover2between the closed position and the open position.

In the closed position, the cover2is located in a charging opening4of a body part5, such as a fender of a motor vehicle, which is not shown further, closes the charging opening4, and covers a charging socket6, which is recessed in the charging opening4or located behind the charging opening4. The charging socket6is used for charging a driving battery, which is a rechargeable battery, of a motor vehicle, which is an electric car.

When closed, the cover2is flush with the body part5, which is to say an outer side7of the cover2is flush with an outer side8of the body part5in a region of the body part5surrounding the charging opening4(FIG.1).

When open, the cover2projects, for example perpendicularly in the exemplary embodiment, from the body part5on the outer side8of the body part5(FIG.3).

The cover2comprises a hinge arm9, which projects rigidly from an inner side12of the cover2near an edge of the cover2. In the exemplary embodiment, the hinge arm9is integral with the cover2. The first pivot axis3, about which the cover2can be pivoted, extends parallel to the outer side7of the cover2and the outer side8of the body part5, wherein the first pivot axis3is situated on an inner side11of the body part5, laterally next to the charging opening4. An end of the hinge arm9lying furthest from the cover2is mounted so as to be pivotable about the first pivot axis3, whereby the cover2can also be pivoted about the first pivot axis3. During pivoting, the cover2carries out a movement on a circular path about the first pivot axis3.

The hinge arm9is curved and, as viewed parallel to the first pivot axis3, has an approximately V shape having approximately circular arc-shaped legs and an apex rounded in an arc shape. When the cover2is open, one of the legs of the “V” of the hinge arm9is located on the inner side11of the body part5, and the apex of the “V” embraces the edge of the charging opening4in one location.

For opening and closing the cover2, the system1according to the invention comprises an actuator10, which in the exemplary embodiment is an electromechanical actuator10and comprises a gear motor. The drawings show the actuator10as a graphical symbol in a simplified illustration. The actuator10pivots the hinge arm9about the first pivot axis3, wherein the actuator10also pivots or moves the cover2about the first pivot axis3on a circular arc. The cover2can be pivoted about the pivot axis3, back and forth between the closed position and the open position, by way of the actuator10.

“Opening” shall be understood to mean moving or pivoting the cover2from the closed position into the open position, and “closing” shall be understood to mean moving or pivoting the cover2from the open position into the closed position.

According to the invention, the actuator10is activated for opening the cover2in that the cover2is moved from the closed position inwardly, which is to say a short distance in a closing direction beyond the closed position. The closing direction is a movement of the cover2from the direction of the open position in the direction of the closed position, and possibly beyond the closed position, inwardly to the inner side11of the body part5.

A multiplication member13, which in the exemplary embodiment comprises a transfer body14, which in the exemplary embodiment is a pivoting lever, is disposed on the inner side12of the cover2for activating the actuator10. The transfer body14can be pivoted about a second pivot axis15.

Spaced apart from the second pivot axis15, the transfer body14has a protrusion16, which projects in the direction of the cover2and against which an elevation17at the inner side12of the cover2strikes when the cover2is moved from the closed position inwardly. The elevation17at the inner side12of the cover2is referred to as an actuating element here and, in the exemplary embodiment, has the shape of a pin. When moved from the closed position inwardly, the cover2pivots the transfer body14in an actuating direction by way of the actuating element thereof.

At one end, the transfer body14has an angled section18, which strikes against a push button19and actuates the push button19when the transfer body14is pivoted from the closed position inwardly in the actuating direction as a result of the movement of the cover2. Upon actuation, the push button19, which, generally speaking, can also be interpreted as an electrical switching unit, activates the actuator10so that the actuator10opens the cover2, which is to say pivots it about the first pivot axis3in the circular arc into the open position.

Instead of activating the actuator10, or in addition to activating the actuator10, it is also possible for a different function to be triggered by way of the electrical switching unit20.

A distance between the angled section18of the transfer body14and the second pivot axis15is greater than the distance between the protrusion16and the second pivot axis15, whereby, upon the actuation of the electrical switching unit20, a path from the cover2to the electrical switching unit20is multiplied by way of the transfer body14of the multiplication member13. “Path multiplication” shah be understood to mean that the path of the angled section18is longer than the path of the cover2from the closed position inwardly. As a result, a short path of the cover2from the closed position inwardly suffices for actuating the electrical switching unit20and activating the actuator10.

The angled section18of the transfer body14allows components on the inner side11of the body part5to be circumvented. In the exemplary embodiment, the angled section18protrudes through an opening21of a charging bay body22.

The distance between the protrusion16of the transfer body14, in which the elevation17of the cover2strikes against the transfer body14, and the second pivot axis15can also be interpreted as a first lever arm23, and the distance between the angled section18, by way of which the transfer body14actuates the push button19or the electrical switching unit20, and the second pivot axis15can also be interpreted as a second lever arm24. For multiplying the path from the cover2to the push button19or to the electrical switching unit20, the second lever arm24is longer than the first lever arm23.

In the exemplary embodiment, the two lever arms23,24project from the second pivot axis15in the same direction. However, designs in which the two lever arms23,24project from the second pivot axis15in opposite directions or in differing directions are also possible (not shown).

At an end located opposite the angled section18, the transfer body14comprises a pin, serving as a stop25, which rests against an abutment26when the cover2has not been moved from the closed position inwardly. The stop25and the abutment26form a pivot angle limiter27, which limits a pivot angle of the transfer body14counter to the actuating direction.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first pivot axis3, about which the cover2can be pivoted by way of the hinge arm9thereof, and the second pivot axis15, about which the transfer body14can be pivoted, are disposed parallel to one another and parallel to a tangential plane with respect to the outer side8of the body part5on the inner side11of the body part5.

The charging bay body22is fixedly disposed at the inner side11of the body part5and has an opening, which is congruent with the charging opening4in the body part5. In the charging bay body22, the two pivot axes3,15are stationary, the hinge arm9of the cover2can be pivoted about the first pivot axis3, and the transfer body14of the multiplication member13can be pivoted about the second pivot axis15, and the actuator10, the electrical switching unit20, and the charging socket6are stationary. When the cover2is open, the charging socket6is freely accessible through the charging opening4in the body part5for plugging in a charging cable for a driving battery of the motor vehicle or electric car.

In contrast to the schematic illustrations in the drawings, the transfer body14does not conceal the charging socket6, but the transfer body14is disposed in the charging bay body22next to, above, or beneath the charging socket6so as not to impede the plugging-in of the charging cable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

System comprising a cover for covering a charging connection of an in particular at least partially electric motor vehicle

1system2cover3first pivot axis4charging opening5body part6charging socket7outer side of the cover28outer side of the body part59hinge arm10actuator11inner side of the body part512inner side of the cover213multiplication member14transfer body15second pivot axis16protrusion17elevation18angled section19push button20electrical switching unit21opening22charging bay body23first lever arm24second lever arm25stop26abutment27pivot angle limiter