CHARGING SOCKET RECESS OR FUEL FILLER RECESS FOR INSERTING INTO A VEHICLE BODY OPENING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A charging or fueling well for insertion into a body opening of a motor vehicle, wherein the charging or fueling well has an outer well body and an inner well region, which surrounds a through opening, into which a charging plug connector for charging a battery of the motor vehicle or a fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe can be inserted. The outer well body includes, at least in some region or regions, a preferably opaque or only slightly translucent plastics material. The inner well region includes, at least in some region or regions, a transparent or translucent plastics material and is formed integrally with the material of the outer well body.

Claims

1. A charging or fueling well (1) for insertion into a body opening of a motor vehicle, wherein the charging or fueling well (1) has an outer well body (2) and an inner well region (3), which surrounds a through opening (4), into which a charging plug connector for charging a battery of the motor vehicle or a fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe can be inserted, wherein the outer well body (2) is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a opaque or only slightly translucent plastics material, and the inner well region (3) is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a transparent or translucent plastics material or comprises a transparent or translucent plastics material and is formed integrally with the material of the outer well body (2).

2. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer well body (2) is formed, at least in some region or regions, from a first plastics material, and the inner well region (3) is formed, at least in some region or regions, from at least one second plastics material different from the first plastics material, and wherein the outer well body (2) and the inner well region (3) are formed in a multi-component injection process.

3. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3) is part of a light guide structure and is provided at least partially or at least in some region or regions on an edge region (11), delimiting the through opening (4), of the inner well region (3), and is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well (1), at least in some region or regions or point-wise, particularly in the edge region (11) delimiting the through opening (4).

4. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer well body (2) is composed of or formed, at least in some region or regions, from a first plastics material and the inner well region (3) is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a second plastics material (12) different from the first plastics material, in particular a softer plastics material, which is different from the transparent or translucent plastics material (15) of the light guide structure, wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material (15) of the light guide structure is provided and connected materially to the second plastics material (12), in particular molded on or on top, particularly on the edge region (11) delimiting the through opening (4).

5. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner well region (3) has a sealing region (6) at the through opening (4), said sealing region being designed to rest in a sealing manner against the charging plug connector or against the fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe, wherein the sealing region (6) is composed, at least in some region or regions, of the second plastics material (12) and is formed integrally with the second plastics material (12) of the inner well region (3), wherein the sealing region (6) has at least one sealing lip.

6. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner well region (3) has a holding and/or centering ring (13) for retaining and/or centering a charging terminal or fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe accommodated or accommodatable at least in some region or regions in the through opening (4), wherein the holding and/or centering ring (13) is provided in at least some region or regions on an edge region (11) delimiting the through opening (4) and is formed from a plastics material which is harder than the plastics material of the inner well region (3) and, in particular, is formed integrally with the plastics material of the inner well region (3), being molded on or connected materially and/or positively in some other way to the plastics material of the inner well region (3).

7. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the holding and/or centering ring (13) is formed at least in some region or regions from a transparent or translucent plastics material which is part of a light guide structure, wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material of the holding and/or centering ring (13) is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well (1), at least in some region or regions or point-wise, particularly in the edge region (11) delimiting the through opening (4); or wherein a transparent or translucent plastics material (15) is molded on or secured materially and/or positively in some other way to the holding and/or centering ring (13), wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material (15) is part of a light guide structure and is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well (1), at least in some region or regions or point-wise, particularly in the edge region (11) delimiting the through opening (4).

8. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inner well region (3) has a sealing region (6) at the through opening (4), said sealing region being designed to rest in a sealing manner against the charging plug connector or against the fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe, wherein the sealing region (6) and the inner well region (3) are composed of the same material or comprise the same material and are formed integrally with one another, wherein the sealing region (6) has at least one sealing lip.

9. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer well body (2) has a sealing region (7), which is provided on an outer edge (9), insertable into the body opening, of the outer well body (2) and is designed to rest in a sealing manner against the body opening, wherein the sealing region (7) is formed integrally with the outer well body (2) in an injection process, wherein the sealing region (7) of the outer well body (2) is formed, in particular, from a plastics material which is different from and, in particular, softer than the material of the outer well body (2).

10. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lighting device having at least one light source is provided for backlighting the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3) or for coupling light into the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3), wherein the at least one light source is designed to emit light in the visible wavelength range, or wherein the at least one light source is designed to emit light in the infrared range.

11. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one receptacle (10) for accommodating the at least one light source, in particular in an exchangeable manner, is provided, in a peripheral edge region (11) of the inner well region (3).

12. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one receptacle (10) is embodied as a channel which runs around the inner well region (3), at least in some region or regions, and is formed integrally with the plastics material of the inner well region (3).

13. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one light source is designed for indirectly backlighting the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3) or for coupling light into the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3), wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3) is embodied at least in some region or regions as a light guide or is part of a light guide structure, via which light coupled into the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region (3) with the aid of the at least one light source can be guided to at least one light emission surface of the transparent or translucent plastics material.

14. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material has a multiplicity of light emission surfaces at the edge region delimiting the through opening (4), wherein the at least one light emission surface is configured in such a way and/or arranged in such a way with respect to the through opening (4) that it serves as a reference marker for an optical detection system of a manipulator for automatic charging.

15. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one light source is assigned a control device for varying at least one of the following lighting parameters in accordance with a charge state of the battery, a filling level and/or in accordance with a state of the charging plug connector or the tank filler pipe: a wavelength of the light emitted by the at least one light source; an intensity of the light emitted by the at least one light source; a flashing frequency of the light emitted by the at least one light source; and/or a pulse shape and/or pulse frequency of the light emitted by the at least one light source.

16. The charging or fueling well (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging or fueling well (1) has a closure element, which is articulated on the outer well body (2) and is designed to expose or cover at least the through opening (4) for the charging plug connector or the fuel nozzle or the tank filler pipe when required.

17. A charging or fueling well for insertion into a body opening of a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer well body and an inner well region, which surrounds a through opening, into which a charging plug connector for charging a battery of the motor vehicle or a fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe can be inserted; wherein the outer well body is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a opaque or only slightly translucent plastics material, and the inner well region is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a transparent or translucent plastics material or comprises a transparent or translucent plastics material and is formed integrally with the material of the outer well body.

18. The charging or fueling well as claimed in claim 17, wherein the outer well body is formed, at least in some region or regions, from a first plastics material, and the inner well region is formed, at least in some region or regions, from at least one second plastics material different from the first plastics material, and wherein the outer well body and the inner well region are formed in a multi-component injection process.

19. The charging or fueling well as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region is part of a light guide structure and is provided at least partially or at least in some region or regions on an edge region of the inner well region that delimits the through opening, and is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well, at least in some region or regions or point-wise, in the edge region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] Exemplary embodiments of the charging or fueling well according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows schematically and in an isometric view a first exemplary embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention;

[0083] FIG. 2 shows schematically and in a top view the exemplary embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0084] FIG. 3 shows schematically and in an isometric sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0085] FIG. 4 shows schematically and in an isometric view a charging or fueling well according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0086] FIG. 5 shows schematically in an isometric view of the B side the exemplary embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention according to FIG. 3;

[0087] FIG. 6 shows schematically and in an isometric sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention according to FIG. 3;

[0088] FIG. 7 shows schematically and in a sectional view the edge region, delimiting a through opening, of an inner well region of a further embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention;

[0089] FIG. 8 shows schematically and in a sectional view the edge region, delimiting a through opening, of an inner well region of a further embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention;

[0090] FIG. 9 shows schematically and in a sectional view the edge region, delimiting a through opening, of an inner well region of a further embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention; and

[0091] FIG. 10 shows schematically and in a sectional view the edge region, delimiting a through opening, of an inner well region of a further embodiment of the charging or fueling well according to the invention.

[0092] Unless stated otherwise, identical reference signs denote identical items in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] The charging or fueling wells 1 shown in the drawings are composed of plastic and are in particular formed integrally overall. Each charging or fueling well 1 has an outer well body 2 made of a relatively firm plastics material and an inner well region 3 made of a plastics material which is softer than the plastics material of the outer well body.

[0094] The charging wells 1 are overall of pot-shaped design and have an outer edge 9 which is predetermined by the outer well body 2 and with which the charging or fueling well 1 can be inserted, for example clipped, into a body opening of a motor vehicle.

[0095] Therefore, corresponding latching means 8 (clips) are formed integrally on the outer well body 2 for securing the charging or fueling well 1 on the body opening, in particular a deep drawn recess in the body.

[0096] The outer edge 9 of the outer well body 2 is provided with a sealing region 7 which, in the examples shown in the drawings, comprises an encircling sealing lip formed on the outer edge 9. However, instead of such a sealing lip, it is also conceivable to form a plurality of sealing lamellae on the outer edge 9, which sealing lamellae are each separated from one another at regular circumferential intervals by a slot.

[0097] In the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, the sealing region 7 is formed integrally on the outer edge 9 of the outer well body 2 (i.e. the sealing lip) with the material of the outer well body 2. In particular, the sealing region 7 is formed from a plastics material which is softer than the plastics material of the outer well body 2 and is correspondingly molded on the outer edge 9 of the outer well body 2 or is formed during a multi-component injection molding process, in particular two-component and preferably three-component injection molding process.

[0098] The charging or fueling well 1 has, in addition to the outer well body 2, the inner well region 3 which has already been mentioned and which is formed materially, i.e. integrally, with the outer well body 2 preferably during a multi-component injection process, in particular a two-component, and preferably a three-component injection process.

[0099] The inner well region 3 according to the embodiments of the charging or fueling well 1 that are shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 is composed of a transparent or translucent plastics material or comprises a transparent or translucent plastics material which is overall softer than the plastics material of the outer well body 2.

[0100] In particular, the inner well region 3 is formed at least in some region or regions from a soft-component plastics material, such as, for example, polyamide material, polyurethane material, silicone material, rubber material, natural rubber material, EPDM material, PA material or PVC material.

[0101] For example, the inner well region 3 can be formed from a transparent or translucent polyamide material, polyurethane material, silicone material, rubber material, natural rubber material, EPDM material, PA material or PVC material, wherein, however, other transparent or translucent plastics materials are, of course, basically also suitable.

[0102] The inner well region 3 formed from the transparent or translucent plastics material according to the embodiments of the charging or fueling well 1 that are shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 surrounds a through opening 4, into which a charging plug connector for charging a battery of the motor vehicle or a fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe for refueling a fuel tank can be inserted.

[0103] The through opening 4 is delimited by a further sealing region 6 which is an integral part of the inner well region 3. In detail, in the embodiments shown in the drawings, said sealing region 6 is formed by at least one sealing lip which runs around the through opening 4 and can be formed from the same material as the inner well region 3 and which is preferably formed integrally with the inner well region 3.

[0104] A sealing region 6 which can be part of a closure flap (not illustrated in the drawings) is formed integrally on the outer well body 2. The charging or fueling well 1 can either be closed or opened up by the closure flap.

[0105] The closure flap is, for example, a charging or fueling flap which is arranged with the hinge arm 5 on the outer well body 2 in such a manner that the charging or fueling flap can be opened up and shut relative to the charging or fueling well 1.

[0106] An opening and closure mechanism can be arranged on that side of the charging or fueling flap, which is opposite the hinge arm 5, said opening and closure mechanism being able to comprise push-push kinematics acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the charging or fueling well 1, i.e. the actuating direction of the push-push kinematics takes place in the direction of the longitudinal axis. By means of a force exerted on the opening and closure mechanism in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the mechanism can be unlocked and the charging or fueling flap can be opened or opened up or the shut charging or fueling flap can be locked.

[0107] The exemplary embodiments of the charging or fueling well 1 according to the invention that are shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 each have an inner well region 3, wherein said inner well region 3 is formed at least in parts and/or in some region or regions from a transparent or translucent material. In the exemplary embodiments according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, the transparent or translucent material is provided at least in some region or regions in a peripheral edge region of the through opening 4 of the inner well region 3, in which the charging terminal or fuel nozzle is accommodated, at least in some region or regions.

[0108] A lighting device can be provided in each case in the charging or fueling wells 1 shown in the drawings. The lighting device can be assigned a light source which is designed to backlight the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3.

[0109] Furthermore, the light source of the lighting device can be assigned a control device which is designed for varying at least one lighting parameter of the light source, preferably in accordance with a charge state of the battery, not shown in the drawings, and/or in accordance with a state of a charging plug connector/tank filler pipe and/or in accordance with a fuel filling level.

[0110] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the light source of the lighting device can be designed in particular to indirectly backlight the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3.

[0111] For this purpose, the lighting device can have a light guide or a light guide device, via which light guide or via which light guide device light from the light source arranged away from the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3 can be guided to an emission surface of the transparent or translucent material.

[0112] In detail, it can be provided, for example in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, that the light guide or the light guide device is formed by the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3 itself. In other words, in this embodiment, the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3 can be part of the light guide or part of a light guide structure.

[0113] Of course, however, embodiments are also conceivable in which a separate light guide or a separate light guide device is used, wherein a coupling-out side of the separate light guide or of the separate light guide device is optically connected to the transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3.

[0114] In particular in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, it can be provided that the lighting device is arranged with the light source itself on the B side of the inner well region 3. This has the advantage that no additional securing supports, etc. for the light source are necessary.

[0115] Of course, the invention is not, however, limited to such an embodiment. On the contrary, the light source can also be arranged and held on a separate support.

[0116] In detail, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a receptacle 10 is provided for the at least one light source (in particular LED light chain), wherein the receptacle 10 is embodied as a channel which runs around the inner well region 3, at least in some region or regions, and is formed integrally with the material of the inner well region 3.

[0117] The transparent or translucent material of the inner well region 3 can thereby be directly backlit with the aid of the light source of the lighting device.

[0118] Further exemplary embodiments of the charging or fueling well 1 according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the schematic sectional views in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10.

[0119] Although the edge region 11, delimiting the through opening 4, of the inner well region 3 is illustrated only schematically and in sections in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, it should be noted that the inner well region 3 in these embodiments is or can be part of a charging or fueling well, for example a charging or fueling well 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6.

[0120] The inner well region 3 surrounds a through opening 4, into which a charging plug connector for charging a battery of the motor vehicle, or a fuel nozzle or a tank filler pipe can be inserted. Although the outer well body of the charging or fueling well is not illustrated in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, it is conceivable (but not absolutely required) for the outer well body of the charging or fueling well to be formed, at least in some region or regions, from an opaque or only slightly translucent plastics material.

[0121] In the embodiments according to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, it is provided that the inner well region 3 is composed, at least in some region or regions, of a transparent or translucent plastics material or comprises a transparent or translucent plastics material and is preferably formed integrally with the material of the outer well body.

[0122] In particular, it is conceivable in this connection that the outer well body is formed, at least in some region or regions, from a first plastics material, and the inner well region 3 is formed, at least in some region or regions, from at least one (second) plastics material which is different from the first plastics material, wherein the outer well body and the inner well region 3 are formed in a multi-component injection process, in particular a two-component injection process, and preferably a three-component injection process.

[0123] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the inner well region 3 is formed from a transparent soft-component plastics material 12.

[0124] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the inner well region 3 has a sealing region 6 in the form of a sealing lip at the through opening 4, wherein the sealing region 6 or the sealing lip is designed to rest in a sealing manner against a charging plug connector or against a fuel nozzle or a tank filler pipe. In this embodiment, the sealing region 6 or the sealing lip and the inner well region 3 comprise the same transparent soft-component plastics material 12 and are formed integrally with one another.

[0125] In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the inner well region 3 has a holding and/or centering ring 13. The holding and/or centering ring 13 serves for retaining and/or centering a charging terminal or fuel nozzle or tank filler pipe accommodated or accommodatable at least in some region or regions in the through opening 4.

[0126] In detail, in the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the holding and/or centering ring 13 is provided at least in some region or regions on an edge region 11, delimiting the through opening 4, of the inner well region 3.

[0127] The holding and/or centering ring 13 is formed from a plastics material 14 which is harder than the transparent soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3 and, in particular, is formed integrally with the transparent soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3, preferably being molded on or connected materially and/or positively in some other way to the transparent soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3.

[0128] In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, it is provided in particular that a transparent or translucent plastics material 15 is molded onto the holding and/or centering ring 13 or secured positively and/or materially thereto in some other way, wherein said transparent or translucent plastics material 15 is part of a light guide structure and is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well, at least in some region or regions or point-wise, particularly in the edge region 11 delimiting the through opening 4.

[0129] As also in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in the embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 8 it is provided that the inner well region 3 is formed from a transparent soft-component plastics material 12.

[0130] However, in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 7, in the embodiment according to FIG. 8 it is provided that the holding and/or centering ring 13 itself is part of a light guide structure. In other words, in the embodiment according to FIG. 8, a transparent or translucent plastics material (transparent or translucent plastics material 15 in FIG. 7) is not molded onto the holding and/or centering ring 13 or secured positively and/or materially in some other way, but rather the holding and/or centering ring 13 is formed, at least in some region or regions, from a transparent or translucent plastics material, wherein said transparent or translucent plastics material of the holding and/or centering ring 13 is part of a light guide structure.

[0131] The transparent or translucent plastics material of the holding and/or centering ring 13 is designed to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well, at least in some region or regions or point-wise, particularly in the edge region 11 delimiting the through opening 4.

[0132] In the embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 9, the inner well region 3 is substantially formed from an opaque (for example black) soft-component plastics material 12, wherein the inner well region 3, in some region or regions and in particular at the edge region 11 delimiting the through opening 4, is additionally composed, in some region or regions, from a (different) transparent or translucent plastics material 15.

[0133] The transparent or translucent plastics material 15 is arranged in particular on the A side of the inner well region 3, i.e. is visible from the outside to the observer.

[0134] The transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the inner well region 3 is part of a light guide structure and is provided at least in parts or in some region or regions on an edge region 11, delimiting the through opening 4, of the inner well region 3.

[0135] The transparent or translucent plastics material 15, which is or can be part of a light guide structure, is designed in particular to couple out light, coupled into the light guide structure with the aid of a light source, in the longitudinal direction of the charging or fueling well (i.e. in the direction of the A side of the inner well region 3), at least in some region or regions or point-wise, preferably in the edge region 11 delimiting the through opening 4.

[0136] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, it is provided in particular that the outer well body (not shown there) is composed or formed, at least in some region or regions, of or from a first hard-component plastics material, wherein the inner well region 3 is composed, in some region or regions, of an, in particular softer, second plastics material (soft-component plastics material 12) which is different from the first hard-component plastics material and is different from the transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the light guide structure.

[0137] The transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the light guide structure is preferably provided here in particular in the edge region 11 delimiting the through opening 4, and is connected materially to the second plastics material, i.e. to the opaque soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3, in particular molded on or on top.

[0138] As illustrated schematically in FIG. 9, the inner well region 3 has a sealing region 6 at the through opening 4, said sealing region being designed to rest in a sealing manner against a charging plug connector or against a fuel nozzle or a tank filler pipe.

[0139] The sealing region 6 is formed, at least in some region or regions, from the second plastics material, i.e. the opaque soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3 and is formed integrally with the inner well region 3 or the second plastics material of the well region 3.

[0140] As in the embodiments according to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the embodiment according to FIG. 9 the sealing region 6 is preferably in the form of at least one sealing lip.

[0141] The embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 10 substantially corresponds to the previously described embodiment according to FIG. 9, wherein, however, in the embodiment according to FIG. 10, the transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the light guide structure is injected onto or on top of the opaque soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3 whereas, in the embodiment according to FIG. 9, the transparent or translucent plastics material of the light guide structure is materially connected by adhesion to the soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3.

[0142] In the embodiments according to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, it is preferably provided that the transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the light guide structure is composed of a material which is harder than the soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3.

[0143] In this connection, it is appropriate that the transparent or translucent plastics material 15 is also formed integrally within the soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3 in order thus to form a centering or holding ring integrally in the soft-component plastics material 12 of the inner well region 3 in the edge region 11 which surrounds the through opening 4.

[0144] In the embodiments according to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, the transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region 3 serves, at least in some region or regions, as a light guide structure. Although not illustrated in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, a lighting device with at least one light source is preferably provided in order to backlight the transparent or translucent plastics material 15 of the inner well region, which plastics material serves as a light guide structure, or in order to couple light into said transparent or translucent plastics material.

[0145] The at least one light source is designed in particular to emit light in the visible wavelength range. According to embodiments of the invention, the at least one light source may, however, also be designed in order to emit light in the infrared (IR) range.

[0146] The transparent or translucent plastics material of the inner well region 3, which plastics material serves as a light guide structure or as part of a light guide structure, preferably has a multiplicity of light emission surfaces which are provided in particular on that edge region 11 of the inner well region 3 which delimits the through opening 4.

[0147] In this connection, it is conceivable for the at least one light emission surface to be configured in such a way in respect of its size and/or shaping and/or to be arranged in such a way with respect to the through opening 4 that it serves as a reference marker for an optical detection system of a manipulator (robot arm) for automatic charging.

[0148] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather emerges from an overall view of all of the features which are disclosed here.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0149] 1 Charging or fueling well [0150] 2 outer well body [0151] 3 inner well region [0152] 4 Through opening [0153] 5 Hinge arm [0154] 6 Sealing region of the inner well region [0155] 7 Sealing region of the outer well body [0156] 8 Latching means [0157] 9 outer edge of the well body [0158] 10 Receptacle [0159] 11 inner edge region of the inner well region [0160] 12 Soft-component plastics material [0161] 13 Holding and/or centering ring [0162] 14 Hard-component plastics material [0163] 15 transparent or translucent plastics material