Charging station for electric vehicles

Abstract

The application relates to a charging station for electric vehicles, comprising a cable holding device with a cable guided over a first deflection unit and a second deflection unit having two ends for holding two charging cables. The first end of the rope is connected to a first charging cable of the charging station and the further end of the rope is connected to a further charging cable of the charging station. At least one weight element is operatively connected to the rope in such a way that the charging cables in an unused condition of the charging cables are held so that there is a distance between a ground surface and each part of the charging cables.

Claims

1. A charging station for electric vehicles, comprising: a cable holding device having a rope with two ends for holding two charging cables, wherein the rope is guided over a first deflection unit and a second deflection unit, wherein the first end of the rope is connected to a first charging cable of the charging station and the further end of the rope is connected to a further charging cable of the charging station, and at least one weight element operatively connected to the rope in such a way that the charging cables are held in an unused state of the charging cables so that there is a distance between a ground surface and each part of the charging cables.

2. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the cable holding device is a gallows holding device.

3. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the rope is guided over at least one third deflection unit arranged between the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit, wherein the at least one weight element is fixed to the third deflection device.

4. The charging station according to claim 3, wherein the rope runs from the first end via the first deflection unit, the third deflection unit and the second deflection unit to the further end, wherein, in particular, the rope is guided via the first deflection unit and the second deflection unit in each case in the direction of the ground surface.

5. The charging station according to claim 3, wherein at least one further third deflection unit and at least one fourth deflection unit is provided for at least one further deflection of the rope, wherein the fourth deflection unit is vertically spaced from the third deflection units.

6. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the rope and the at least two deflection units form a pulley system.

7. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the charging station comprises a foundation, a column arranged on the foundation and a head arranged on the column, wherein the first deflection unit and/or the second deflection unit is/are arranged at the head.

8. The charging station according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight element is dimensioned at least depending on the number of deflection units, wherein, in particular, the at least one weight element is the heavier, the larger the number of deflection units.

9. The charging station according claim 1, wherein in a used state of a charging cable the rope is at least partially extended in such a way that a charging connector of the charging cable can be connected to a further charging connector of the electric vehicle to be charged.

10. A cable holding device for a charging station according to claim 1 for holding two charging cables of the charging station, the cable holding device comprising: a rope having two ends for holding the two charging cables, wherein the rope is guided over a first deflection unit and a second deflection unit, wherein the first end of the rope is connectable to a first charging cable of the charging station and the further end of the rope is connectable to a further charging cable of the charging station, and at least one weight element operatively connected to the rope in such a way that the charging cables are held in an unused state of the charging cables so that there is a distance between a ground surface and each part of the charging cables.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawing shows:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic view of a charging station according to the state of the art,

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic view of an embodiment of a charging station in accordance with the present application with an embodiment of a cable holding device in accordance with the present application, and

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic view of a further embodiment of a charging station in accordance with the present application with an embodiment of a cable holding device in accordance with the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In the figures, the same reference signs are used for similar elements.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a charging station 200 according to the present application. The charging station 200 includes an embodiment of a cable holding device 202 according to the present application.

(7) The cable holding device 202 is configured to hold two charging cables 234, 238. The cable holding device 202 according to the application is characterized by the fact that in contrast to the state of the art only one rope 204 and one weight element 224 are used to hold two charging cables 234, 238.

(8) In particular, the shown charging station 200 comprises a foundation 242 extending in a horizontal plane (along the x-axis). A column 244 extending in a vertical direction (y-axis) is arranged on the foundation 242 and ends with a column head 246. Preferably inside the column 244 a (not shown) charging device can be arranged, to which the (schematically shown) charging cables 234, 238 can be firmly connected.

(9) The charging device can be electrically connected to a (not shown) power source, in particular, a public power grid. The charging device may include components, in particular, charging technology (e.g. electrical switches, electrical safety units, electrical measuring units, control units, etc.), in order to enable charging of (not shown) electrically operated vehicles, in particular, the electrical energy storage devices of electric vehicles.

(10) The cable holding device 202 is, in particular, formed as a gallows cable holding device 202 to hold the charging cables 234, 238. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first end 206 of the rope 204 is directly connected to the first charging cable 234. The rope 204, seen from its first end 206, is guided over the first deflection unit 216 in the direction of the ground surface 228 and the foundation 242, respectively, up to a third deflection unit 220 which deflects the rope and guides it in the direction of the head 246 to the second deflection unit 218. The further end 208 of the rope 204 is connected (directly) to the further charging cable 238. An indirect connection can also be provided.

(11) The deflection units 216, 218, 220 are formed, in the present example, as deflection pulleys 216, 218, 220. The first deflection unit 216 and the second deflection unit 218 are arranged in the same horizontal plane and are located in the column head 246. The rope 204 can be led out of the head 246 through openings.

(12) The shown third deflection unit 220 is arranged in the lower half of column 244 (in the shown unused state and unextended state, respectively, of the charging cables 234, 238). If the rope 204 is pulled out during a used state and an extended state, respectively, the third deflection unit 220 moves in the direction of the column head 246.

(13) In addition, the cable holding device 202 comprises a weight element 224 which is connected to the rope 204 via the third deflection unit 220, i.e. it is in operative connection with the rope 204. The weight element 224 is operatively connected to the rope 204 in such a way that the charging cables 234, 238 are held in an unused (and in a used) state of the charging cables 234, 238 in such a way that there is (always) a distance between the ground surface 228 and each part of the charging cables 234, 238. In particular, there is a distance between the free end 236, 240 of the charging cables and the ground surface 228.

(14) In order to limit the path of the weight element 224 in the direction of the ground surface 228, an optional stop element 230 is provided. Preferably, the stop element 230 can be formed as damping element 230. In the present embodiment, this provides for that in an unused state the charging cables 234, 238 adopt a defined state in which the charging cables 234, 238 do not touch the ground surface 228. It shall be understood that in other variants of the application a stop element 230 can also be omitted if the weight element 224 and the charging cables 234, 238 are balanced accordingly.

(15) The weight element 224, which is preferably formed in one piece, but can also be composed of a plurality of weight modules (for example for optimum dimensioning of the weight element 224), is connected, in particular, via a connecting element 252 to the third deflection unit 220.

(16) In other words, the rope 204 is attached to a charging cable 234, 238 with its two ends 206, 208. The rope 204 is led down via one deflection device 216, 218 in each case and is connected to a weight 224 via a third deflection unit 220. In particular, a pulley system is provided by this.

(17) The main advantage is that a collision of two weights does not have to be prevented by a partition wall and a large number of other components are not required.

(18) In variants of the application it can happen that, for example, the left side of the rope can only be pulled out to the maximum if the right side of the rope is not pulled out at all. However, the extendable length can be adapted by appropriate dimensioning of the cable holding device 202 in such a way that the user can connect both charging cables 234, 238 in a user-friendly manner even if both charging cables 234, 238 are in a used and, in particular, at least partially extended state.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a charging station 300 according to the present application. In order to avoid repetition, only the differences to the embodiment of the charging station 200 according to FIG. 2 are explained below. Otherwise, reference is made to the above explanations.

(20) As shown in FIG. 3, the shown embodiment of the cable holding device 302 comprises a first third deflection unit 320.1, a further third deflection unit 320.2 and a fourth deflection unit 356. The fourth deflection unit 356 is arranged in the head 346 of the charging station 300, while the third deflection units 320.1, 320.2 are positioned in the column 344 of the charging station 300, in particular, in the lower half of the column 344.

(21) The rope 304, seen from its first end 306, runs down via the first deflection unit 316 in the direction of the foundation 342 to the third deflection unit 320.2. From this third deflection unit 320.2, the rope 304 runs in the direction of the head 346 to the fourth deflection unit 356. From this fourth deflection unit 356, the rope 304 runs down in the direction of the foundation to the third deflection unit 320.1 and from this third deflection unit 320.1 in the direction of the head 346 to the second deflection unit 318 and to the further charging cable 338.

(22) The present embodiment of the charging station has the advantage that due to the larger number of deflection units 316, 318, 320.1, 320.2, 356, a longer rope 304 can be used (compared to the rope 204, i.e. assuming the same dimensions of column 244 and 344). In this way, the maximum extension distance can be increased (in comparison to the embodiment in FIG. 2).

(23) However, the weight of the weight element 324 may be heavier (in comparison to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2). The pulley system thus formed can be extended by further (third and fourth) deflection units in other variants of the application so that the maximum extension length of a rope is increased even further.

(24) All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

(25) The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(26) Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.