LINE SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A line supply arrangement for electrically powered motor vehicles includes an electric line on a support arm above the motor vehicle. A trolley on the support arm positions the electric line such that a free end thereof hangs down from the trolley for connection to the motor vehicle and charging of an energy store. The trolley is movable relative to the support arm in horizontal direction or the support arm is movable and the trolley relative to the support arm in horizontal direction. Arranged on the trolley is a line reel to lower the free end of the electric line to the motor vehicle, and a hose reel is fixed on the support arm for supply and discharge of cooling liquid to and from the electric line. The trolley is movable relative to the hose reel. A heat exchanger is arranged distal to the trolley for cooling the cooling liquid.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A line supply arrangement for an electrically powered motor vehicle, said line supply arrangement comprising: a support arm; an electric line arranged on the support arm at a height above the motor vehicle to be charged, said electric line having a free end; a trolley arranged on the support arm for positioning the electric line such that the free end of the electric line hangs down from the trolley from above for connection to the motor vehicle and charging an energy store of the motor vehicle, wherein the trolley is movable relative to the support arm in a horizontal direction or wherein the support arm is movable in a horizontal direction and the trolley is movable relative to the support arm in the horizontal direction; a line reel arranged on the trolley in order to lower the free end of the electric line to the motor vehicle; a hose reel stationarily arranged on the support arm for supply and discharge of a cooling liquid to and from the electric line, said trolley being movable relative to the hose reel; and a heat exchanger arranged distal to the trolley for cooling a cooling liquid.

15. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, wherein the support arm is swingable about a vertical pivot axis.

16. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, further comprising a support column, said support arm being arranged on the support column and swingable relative to the support column.

17. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, wherein the support arm is displaceable linearly in the horizontal direction with respect to a support structure.

18. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, further comprising a motorized drive for moving the support arm and/or for moving the trolley.

19. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, further comprising a conductor rail arranged on the support arm, said electric line being electrically connected to the conductor rail via the trolley.

20. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, wherein the line reel is a spring-driven line reel, a motor-driven line reel or a counterweight reel, or wherein the electric line is connected to a weight equalizer.

21. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, wherein the hose reel includes a double rotary feedthrough for the supply and discharge of cooling liquid.

22. The line supply arrangement of claim 14, wherein the hose reel includes a slip ring transmitter, said electric line being routed via the hose reel.

Description

[0025] The invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown schematically in the figures. It is shown in:

[0026] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of a line guide arrangement;

[0027] FIG. 2 the embodiment of the line supply arrangement from another perspective;

[0028] FIG. 3 the detail III of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 4 the detail IV from FIG. 2;

[0030] FIG. 5 a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of a line supply arrangement;

[0031] FIG. 6 a further perspective of line supply arrangement of FIG. 5;

[0032] FIG. 7 the detail VII of FIG. 5; and

[0033] FIG. 8 the detail VIII of FIG. 6.

[0034] The line supply arrangement 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 is used to provide electrical energy to an electrically operated motor vehicle, not shown in detail, for charging its energy store. The electric motor vehicle is in particular a car or a truck, in particular a commercial vehicle. The motor vehicle involved here is a motor-driven vehicle that is not bound to rails, i.e. a motor vehicle, a motorcycle or a tractor.

[0035] The line supply arrangement 1 includes a support arm 2 which is secured to a support column T. The support arm 2 is secured to the upper end of the support column T so as to be arranged at a distance from the base of the support column T to permit the motor vehicle to be charged to travel under the support arm 2.

[0036] The support arm 2 is longer than the support column T is high. It has a length of at least 4 m, preferably even at least 8 m.

[0037] Located on the support arm 2 is a trolley 3 which is movable in longitudinal direction of the support arm 2. The trolley 3 is located in any position on the support arm 2 above the motor vehicle to be charged. The trolley 3 is used to bring an electric line 4 for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle into the correct position in relation to the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the support arm 2 can be pivoted about a pivot axis S in the center of the support column T. As a result, the support arm is displaceable in a floating manner in the horizontal direction. At the same time, the trolley 3 is displaceable in longitudinal direction of the support arm 2, so that various positions can be approached within the range of the support arm 2 for allowing an end 5 (FIG. 3) of the line 4 can be lowered to charge the vehicle. A plug or a coupling can be arranged at the free end 5 of the line 4 in order to connect the line 4 to the motor vehicle.

[0038] After charging, the line 4 can be reeled in and pulled upwards. For this purpose, a line reel 6 is located on the trolley 3. The line reel 6 may involve, for example, a motor cable reel. The line reel 6 can also be spring-loaded or equipped with a balancer, so that the electric line 4 can easily be pulled upwards and can never unwind spontaneously from the line reel 6. It is also conceivable that a movement of the line reel 6 is released when a higher-level control unit gives the signal for release, for example when the vehicle operator has received authorization to draw current via the line supply arrangement.

[0039] The line supply arrangement 1 can have a very long support arm. Provision is therefore made for arrangement of a bracing arm 8 above the support arm T in prolongation of the pivot axis S. Secured to the bracing arm 8, are two guying means 9, 10, e.g. In the form of wire ropes, which are connected to the top of the support arm 2 at different distances from the pivot axis S. As a result, the support arm 2 can be configured slender, while at the same time can bear high loads without sagging. In this case, the bracing arm 8 is firmly connected to the support arm 2 and can be pivoted about the pivot axis S together with the support arm 2.

[0040] The energy supply to the trolley 3 is realized via at least one conductor rail. The conductor rail is in electrical contact with the trolley 3 and the electric line 4 via a slip transmitter. The electric line 4 for transferring the current is therefore located exclusively on the line reel 6 on the trolley 3.

[0041] As can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 4, a heat exchanger 11 is fastened to the trolley 3. The line 4 is liquid-cooled. The resultant heat is dissipated to the ambient air via the heat exchanger 11. The heat exchanger 11 is arranged in the vicinity of the line 4 so that heat can be dissipated directly on site. The line 4 can therefore be configured relatively short. It only has to bridge the distance from the trolley 3 to the ground or to the connection point of the vehicle in vertical direction. As a result, the entire trolley 3 can be designed to be comparatively light. FIG. 4 further shows a drive 12 comprising a motor and a transmission, via which the trolley 3 is driven and able to travel along the support arm 2.

[0042] FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second exemplary embodiment, in which the previously introduced reference symbols are retained for components that are essentially structurally identical. Furthermore, reference can be made to the description above.

[0043] A difference compared to the first embodiment is that the energy supply to the trolley 3 is not implemented via a conductor rail, but via a hose reel 13. This hose reel is located on the support 2, but stationary in the vicinity of the support column T.

[0044] The hose reel 13 is provided to supply and discharge a cooling liquid to and from the electric line 4 on the trolley 3. FIGS. 7 and 8 show that two hoses are wound and unwound at the same time. These two hoses 14, 15 lead to the trolley 3 and to the electric line 4 arranged there for charging the motor vehicle. Depending on the portion of the trolley 4, the hoses 14, 15 are reeled in or unwound. It is possible within the scope of the invention that the electrical energy is also transferred via one of the hoses 14, 15. However, it is also conceivable that the hoses 14, 15 only carry a cooling liquid, in particular cooling water, which is cooled in a heat exchanger 16 on the support column T. The heat exchanger 16 is connected to the hoses 14, 15 in a manner not shown in greater detail. For this purpose, the hose reel 13 has double rotary feedthroughs.

[0045] The heat exchanger 16 can also be arranged at a distance from the support column T. The heat exchanger 16 is preferably located in an area so as to be swingable together with the support arm 2.

[0046] A cable feedthrough for the electrical energy supply but also for coolant-carrying lines can be arranged in the area of a pivot bearing 17 on the upper side of the support column T. The pivoting movement of the support arm 2 can be restricted so that the lines are not damaged when pivoting. However, it is also conceivable to provide a slip ring transmitter in the area of the pivot bearing at least for the electrical supply line. Control signals may also be transmitted to the trolley 3 or to the drive 12 of the trolley 3 via further sliding contacts.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] 1—line supply arrangement [0048] 2—support arm [0049] 3—trolley [0050] 4—electric line [0051] 5—connector [0052] 6—line reel [0053] 7—cable guide [0054] 8—bracing arm [0055] 9—guying means [0056] 10—guying means [0057] 11—heat exchanger [0058] 12—drive for [0059] 13—hose reel [0060] 14—hose [0061] 15—hose [0062] 16—heat exchanger [0063] 17—pivot bearing [0064] S—pivot axis [0065] T—support column