CHARGE, FUEL, OR SERVICE RECESS FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

Disclosed is a charging, fueling, or service compartment system for a vehicle. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system having a compartment body, at least one terminal or connection region for a charging plug or an equipment gun, and a movable compartment body cover. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system further includes a movable cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region. The cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region associated with a mechanism, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected to the compartment body cover such that when the compartment body cover is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region is moved along in such a way that the cover associated with the at least one terminal or connection region is preferably moved synchronously from movable.

Claims

1. A charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) for a vehicle, wherein the charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) comprises the following: a compartment body that is mounted or mountable to a body or outer skin component; at least one terminal or connection region (2), to which a charging plug (3) or a product gun can be connected or received at least regionally as needed, wherein the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is configured at least regionally in an interior region of the compartment body; and a compartment body cover (4), which can be moved as needed between a closed position in which the interior region of the compartment body is covered at least regionally by the compartment body cover (4) and an open position in which the interior region of the compartment body is accessible from the outside in such a way that a charging plug (3) or a product gun can be connected to the at least one terminal or connection region (2) or received at least regionally in the at least one terminal or connection region (2), wherein the charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) comprises a cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2), which can be moved between a closed position in which the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is covered at least regionally and an open position in which the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is accessible in such a way that a charging plug (3) or a product gun can be connected to the at least one terminal or connection region (2) or received at least regionally in the at least one terminal or connection region (2), and wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is associated with a mechanism, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected to the compartment body cover (4) in such a way that when the compartment body cover (4) is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is moved along in such a way that the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is preferably moved synchronously from its closed position into its open position.

2. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is associated with a biasing element, in the form of a spring element, which is configured in such a way that when the compartment body cover (4) is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is moved from its closed position into its open position counter to a biasing force of the biasing element.

3. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is associated with a releasable locking mechanism (6), which is configured such that the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2), is releasably held in its open position after the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) has been moved from its closed position into its open position counter to the biasing force of the biasing element while the compartment body cover (4) is transferred from its closed position into its open position.

4. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the mechanism associated with the cover (5) of the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is configured such that an operative connection to the compartment body cover (4) is interrupted after the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) has been moved from its closed position into its open position counter to the biasing force of the biasing element while the compartment body cover (4) is transferred from its closed position into its open position.

5. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) comprises a first terminal or connection region (2) and at least one further second terminal or connection region (2), wherein the first terminal and the at least one second terminal or connection region (2) are associated with a respective cover (5).

6. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the releasable locking mechanism (6) associated with the cover (5) associated with the first terminal or connection region (2) is configured such that the cover (5) associated with the first terminal or connection region (2) is no longer held in its open position when a charging plug (3) or a product gun is connected to the at least one second terminal or connection region (2) or received at least regionally in the at least one second terminal or connection region (2).

7. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is forcibly coupled to the compartment body cover (4) such that when the compartment body cover (4) is moved from its closed position into its open position, the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is also moved from its closed position into its open position, wherein, in the open position of the compartment body cover (4) or in the open position of the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2), a forced coupling between the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) and the compartment body cover (4) is interrupted.

8. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is associated with a connecting element (6), in the form of a snap connecting element, with which the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) enters into an operative connection when moving into its open position in such a way that the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is releasably held in its open position with the aid of the connecting element (6).

9. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the connecting element (6), which is configured in the form of a snap connecting element, is configured so as to lift the operative connection with the cover (5), which is in its open position, when a critical amount of a force component facing the closed position acts on the cover (5) or is exceeded.

10. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) comprises a lid region (7), which at least partially or regionally covers the at least one terminal or connection region (2) in the closed position of the cover (5), and a lever region (10), which projects from the lid region (7) in such a way that, in the open position of the cover (5), the lever region (10) projects at least partially or regionally into a region of the terminal or connection region (2).

11. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the region of the terminal or connection region (2) into which the lever region (10) of the cover (5) projects at least partially or regionally in the open position of the cover (5) is selected with respect to the terminal or connection region (2) in such a way that the lever region (10) is or can be contacted by the charging plug (3) or the product gun when the charging plug (3) or the product gun is connected to the terminal or connection region (2) or received in the terminal or connection region (2).

12. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is associated with a spring element, wherein, when moving the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) into its open position, the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is moved counter to a spring force or biasing force of the spring element acting in the direction of the closed position of the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2).

13. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis (14) relative to the compartment body, wherein the compartment body cover (4) is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis (12) relative to the compartment body, wherein the first pivot axis (14) extends preferably parallel or at least substantially parallel to the second pivot axis (12), and wherein, when the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the cover (5) is pivoted in a first direction of rotation relative to the compartment body, and wherein, when the compartment body cover (4) is transferred from its closed position into its open position, the compartment body cover (4) is preferably pivoted in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation relative to the compartment body.

14. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the forced coupling between the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) and the compartment body cover (4) comprises an element (9) for transferring a mechanical movement and/or for transferring at least tensile forces, which connects the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) to the compartment body cover (4), wherein the transfer element (9) is preferably configured so as to be at least regionally or sectionally flexible.

15. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the transfer element (9) is configured at least regionally or sectionally as a Bowden system.

16. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the compartment body cover (4) is further movable from its open position into a transfer position, wherein the charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) comprises a coupling mechanism, which is configured so as to forcibly couple the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) to the compartment body cover (4) upon achieving the open position of the compartment body cover (4) or upon transferring the compartment body cover (4) from its open position into the transfer position in such a way that when the compartment body cover (4) is moved from its open position into its transfer position, the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) is moved from its closed position into its open position.

17. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 16, wherein the coupling mechanism is further configured so as to lift a forced coupling between the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) and the compartment body cover (4) when transferring the compartment body cover (4) from its open position into its closed position.

18. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the forced coupling between the cover (5) associated with the at least one terminal or connection region (2) and the compartment body cover (4) comprises a lever element (10), which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (13) extending parallel to the pivot axis (12) of the compartment body cover (4), wherein the compartment body cover (4) comprises a control region (11), and wherein, via an end region of the lever element (10), a movement of the control region (11) resulting from the pivoting of the compartment body cover (4) during the transfer of the compartment body cover (4) into its open position is or can be tapped by an edge region of the control region (11).

19. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the lever element (10) and/or the control region (11) of the compartment body cover (4) is configured such that, in the open position of the compartment body cover (4), an operative contact between the first end region of the lever element (10) and the edge region of the control region (11) is lifted.

20. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the forced coupling comprises a spring mechanism associated with the transfer element (9), which is configured so as to be tensioned when the compartment body cover (4) is transferred into its open position, namely for as long as there exists an operative contact between the first end region of the lever element (10) and the edge region of the control region (11).

21. The charging, fueling, or service compartment system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the transfer element (9) of the forced coupling is fixed to a second end region of the lever element (10) opposite the first end region of the lever element (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular examples thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying figures; where like or similar reference numbers refer to like or similar structures. The figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates, schematically, a first exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to the present disclosure in a state in which both the compartment body cover and the cover associated with the terminal or connection region are present in their closed position.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates, schematically, the embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 1 when transferring the compartment body cover from its closed position according to FIG. 1 into its open position.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 1 in a state in which both the compartment body cover and the cover associated with the terminal or connection region are present in their open position.

[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 3 in a state in which a charging plug is inserted into the terminal or connection region.

[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 4 in a state after the charging plug has been connected to the terminal or connection region.

[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 5 in a state after the charging plug has been removed from the terminal or connection region.

[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 6 in a state in which the compartment body cover is moved from its open position into the closed position.

[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 7 upon reaching the closed position of the compartment body cover.

[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates, schematically, a second exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to the present disclosure in a state in which both the compartment body cover and the cover associated with the terminal or connection region are present in their closed position.

[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 9 in a state in which the compartment body cover is transferred from its closed position according to FIG. 9 into its open position.

[0053] FIG. 11 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 10 in a state in which the compartment body cover is in its open position.

[0054] FIG. 12 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 11 in a state in which the compartment body cover is moved from its open position according to FIG. 11 into its transfer position.

[0055] FIG. 13 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 12 in a state in which the compartment body cover has been moved back into its open position from its transfer position according to FIG. 12.

[0056] FIG. 14 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 13 in a state after a charging plug has been connected to the terminal or connection region.

[0057] FIG. 15 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 14 in a state in which the charging plug has been removed from the terminal or connection region.

[0058] FIG. 16 illustrates, schematically, the exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to FIG. 15 in a state after the compartment body cover has been moved from its open position according to FIG. 15 back into its closed position according to FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The disclosure further relates to a charging apparatus for a battery of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle, and a corresponding charging system. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a charging system having a cover, in particular in the form of a charging, fueling, or service flap, and a charging, fueling, or service compartment, which is received or receivable on or in a body component of a vehicle, wherein the cover (i.e. the charging, fueling, or service flap in particular) is reversibly movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the charging, fueling, or service compartment. Finally, the disclosure further relates to a vehicle having such a charging system.

[0060] The vehicle is in particular a vehicle having a hybrid or electric drive, wherein however vehicles having a purely combustion-based drive are not excluded in the context of the present disclosure.

[0061] The terms “fueling flap” and “fueling compartment” as used herein are not understood to mean only the components associated with a fuel fueling or the components necessary for filling a fuel tank. Rather, these terms are also intended to include components for a tank for receiving other resources, for example AdBlue or urea, or an additive such as water. Accordingly, the disclosure also relates to actuating mechanisms for actuating service flaps associated with a filling system for a resource or additive fueling, in particular a fuel, AdBlue, or water tank.

[0062] The charging compartment systems 1 shown schematically in the accompanying drawings comprise a compartment body (not shown), which is mounted or mountable on a body or outer skin component of the vehicle. In at least some regions, a terminal or connection region 2 is configured in an interior region of the compartment body, to which a charging plug 3 (or, in the case of a fueling or service compartment system, a product gun) can be connected or at least partially received.

[0063] The exemplary embodiments of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure further comprise a compartment body cover 4 (charging flap), which is movable between a closed position and an open position, as needed. In the closed position of the compartment body cover 4, the interior region of the compartment body is covered at least regionally by the compartment body cover 4. In the open position of the compartment body cover 4, on the other hand, the interior region of the compartment body is accessible from the outside such that a charging plug 3 (or possibly a product gun, in the case of a fueling or service compartment system) can be connected to the terminal or connection region 2 or can be at least partially received in the terminal or connection region 2.

[0064] In addition to the compartment body cover 4, the exemplary embodiments of the charging compartment system according to the disclosure have a cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2. This cover 5 is also movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position of the cover 5 assigned to the terminal or connection region 2, the terminal or connection region 2 is correspondingly covered at least regionally. In the open position of the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2, on the other hand, the connection region 2 is accessible such that a charging plug 3 (or, in the case of a fueling or service compartment system, an operating gun) can be connected to the connection region 2 or can be at least regionally received in the terminal or connection region 2.

[0065] To increase the comfort of a vehicle user, the charging process, and in particular the insertion of the charging plug 3 into the terminal or connection region 2 of the charging compartment system 1, is carried out automatically or in a piloted manner. Here, for example, it is possible for the charging plug 3 to be guided by a robotic system and inserted into the terminal or connection region 2 (charging socket) and removed after the charging process.

[0066] In particular for a DC charging in which the vehicle battery is charged with a direct current (DC), combo-1 or combo-2 charging plugs are regularly used as the terminal or connection region 2, in which a cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 must be removed manually by a vehicle user prior to a charging operation due to its design.

[0067] Thus, in particular in the case of a DC charging, the problem arises that a manual intervention of the vehicle user is necessary in order to release the terminal or connection region 2, which is in particular embodied as a charging socket, whereby the user comfort of the automatic or piloted charging process is disadvantageously reduced.

[0068] Thus, the disclosure also in particular addresses the problem of providing an optimized charging interface for a charging system serving an electrically driven or drivable vehicle, wherein the charging system is in particular improved with regard to an automatic or piloted charging process.

[0069] A first exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8. The system shown therein is embodied in particular as a charging compartment system 1.

[0070] The first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 is in particular wherein the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is forcibly coupled to the compartment body cover 4 such that, when the compartment body cover 4 is moved from its closed position into its open position, the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is also moved from its closed position into its open position. In the open position of the compartment body cover 4 or in the open position of the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2, on the other hand, the forced coupling between the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 and the compartment body cover 4 is interrupted (cf. FIG. 3).

[0071] On the other hand, the second exemplary embodiment of the charging, fueling, or service compartment system, also embodied as a charging system and shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 16, is wherein the compartment body cover 4 is further movable from its open position into a transfer position (cf. FIG. 12). The charging compartment system 1 comprises a coupling mechanism, which is configured so as to forcibly couple the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 to the compartment body cover 4 only upon achieving the open position of the compartment body cover 4 (cf. FIG. 11) or only upon transferring the compartment body cover 4 from its open position into the transfer position (cf. FIG. 12) in such a way that when the compartment body cover 4 is moved from its open position into its transfer position, the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is moved from its closed position into its open position (cf. FIG. 12).

[0072] In the second exemplary embodiment of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure, it is further provided that the coupling mechanism of the charging compartment system 1 is further configured so as to lift the forced coupling between the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 and the compartment body cover 4 when the compartment body cover 4 is moved from its open position into its closed position.

[0073] Both design variants of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure have in common the fact that the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is associated with a connecting element 6 in the form of a snap connecting element, with which the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 enters into operative connection when moving into its open position in such a way that the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is releasably held in its open position with the aid of the snap connecting element 6. In this context, reference is made further to the illustration in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 or FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.

[0074] In particular, it is provided that the connecting element 6, which is in particular configured in the form of a snap connecting element, is configured so as to lift the operative connection with the cover 5, which is in its open position, when a critical amount of a force component facing the closed position acts on the cover 5 or is exceeded.

[0075] As shown in the drawings, the snap connecting element 6 can in particular be triggered by a charging plug 3 when the charging plug 3 is inserted into the terminal or connection region 2. The exemplary embodiments shown are a DC charging plug.

[0076] It is provided that the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 comprises a lid region 7, which at least partially or regionally covers the terminal or connection region 2 in the closed position of the cover 5, and a lever region 8. In the design variants of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure shown in the drawings, the lid region 7 of the cover 5 serves to cover only the DC terminal or connection region, but not the adjacently arranged AC terminal or connection region.

[0077] The lever region 8 of the cover 5 projects from the lid region 7 of the cover 5 such that the lever region 8 at least partially or regionally extends into a region of the DC terminal or connection region in the open position of the cover 5.

[0078] If it is then attempted to insert a DC charging plug 3 into the DC terminal or connection region 2, the charging plug 3 inevitably contacts the lever region 8 of the cover 5, which is in the open position, at least partially or regionally projecting into the region of the terminal or connection region 2, and as a result, the snap connecting element 6 is triggered and an operative connection between the snap connecting element 6 and the cover 5, which is in its open position, is lifted.

[0079] The cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is advantageously associated with a spring element, wherein, when the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is moved into its open position, the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is moved counter to a spring force or biasing force of the spring element acting in the direction of the closed position of the cover 5.

[0080] This results in the cover 5 and in particular the lid region 7 of the cover 5 automatically abutting the DC charging plug 3 after the triggering of the snap connecting element 6, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 14.

[0081] An element 9 for transferring a mechanical movement and/or for transferring at least tensile forces is preferably used in order to forcibly couple the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 and the compartment body 4. This transfer element 8 connects the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 to the compartment body cover 4. In the terminal or connection region 2, the transfer element 8 is preferably configured so as to be at least regionally or sectionally flexible. For example, a Bowden system is suitable as the transfer element 8.

[0082] The first exemplary embodiment of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure shown schematically in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 comprises a lever element 10, which is pivotably mounted about the pivot axis 13 extending parallel to the pivot axis 12 of the compartment body cover 4 in order to form a forced coupling between the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 and the compartment body cover 4. In addition, it is provided that the compartment body cover 4 comprises a control region 11. A movement of the control region 11 resulting from the pivoting of the compartment body cover 4 that occurs during the transition of the compartment body cover 4 into its open position can be tapped by an edge region of the control region 11 via an end region of the lever element 10.

[0083] For example, as can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the lever element 10 and the control region 11 of the compartment body cover 4 are configured such that, in the open position of the compartment body cover 4, an operative contact between the first end region of the lever element 10 and the edge region of the control region 11 is lifted.

[0084] In the first exemplary embodiment of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure, it is further provided that the forced coupling comprises a spring mechanism 16 associated with the transfer element 8, which is configured so as to be tensioned when the compartment body cover 4 is transferred into its open position, namely for as long as there exists an operative contact between the first end region of the lever element 10 and the edge region of the control region 11.

[0085] In particular, it is provided that the transfer element 8 of the forced coupling is fixed to a second end region of the lever element 10 opposite the first end region of the lever element 10.

[0086] With regard to the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9 to FIG. 16, it is further noted that the coupling mechanism used therein comprises a stop element 15, which is associated with the transfer element 8.

[0087] The embodiments of the charging compartment system 1 according to the disclosure shown in the drawings are wherein the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis 14 relative to the compartment body, wherein the compartment body cover 4 is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis 12 relative to the compartment body. The first pivot axis 14 runs preferably parallel or at least substantially parallel to the second pivot axis 12.

[0088] When transferring the cover 5 associated with the terminal or connection region 2 from its closed position into its open position, the cover 5 is pivoted in a first direction of rotation relative to the compartment body, wherein, when transferring the compartment body cover 4 from its closed position into its open position, the compartment body cover 4 is pivoted in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation relative to the compartment body.

[0089] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures. Rather, it results from a summary of all the features shown in the figures.