Positioning Unit and Contacting Method

Abstract

A positioning unit and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle, and a stationary charging station using a positioning unit, in which the positioning unit is configured to be disposed on a vehicle roof, a contact device of the positioning unit being configured to be moved relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and to make electrical contact therewith in a contact position, the positioning unit having an articulated arm device for positioning the contact device and a drive device for driving the articulated arm device, the articulated arm device having a pivoting device with a pivoting arm, the pivoting device being configured to pivot the contact device from a storage situation into a contact situation and vice versa. The positioning unit comprises a securing device configured to secure the pivoting arm in the storage situation in a form-fitting manner.

Claims

1. A positioning unit for electrically driven vehicles for forming an electrically conductive connection between a vehicle and a stationary charging station, the positioning unit being configured to be disposed on a vehicle roof, a contact device of the positioning unit being configured to be moved relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and to make electrical contact therewith in a contact position, the positioning unit having an articulated arm device for positioning the contact device and a drive device, for driving the articulated arm device, the articulated arm device having a pivoting device with a pivoting arm configured to rotate on a pivot axis, the pivoting device being configured to pivot the contact device from a storage situation of a retracted position of the positioning unit for storing the contact device into a contact situation in the contact position and vice versa, wherein the positioning unit comprises a securing device configured to secure the pivoting arm in the storage situation in a form-fitting manner.

2. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the articulated arm device is configured to position the contact device in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction relative to the charging contact device and to move it into the contact position.

3. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the securing device is coupled to the drive device in such a manner that the securing device is capable of securing the contact device in the storage situation when the contact device is pivoted into the storage situation, and the securing device is capable of releasing the contact device when the contact device is pivoted into a contact situation in the retracted position.

4. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the contact device is disposed on an end of the pivoting arm opposite the pivot axis and configured to rotate on another pivot axis, the pivoting device being configured to pivot the contact device from the storage situation of the retracted position into a vertical contact situation in the retracted position and vice versa.

5. The positioning unit according to claim 4, wherein the contact device is pivoted in a direction of the pivot axis of the pivoting arm and is in contact with the pivoting arm or is pivoted in a direction opposite the pivoting arm when in the storage situation.

6. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises a frame for mounting the positioning unit on a roof of a vehicle, the pivoting arm with the pivot axis being disposed and configured to pivot on the frame.

7. The positioning unit according to claim 6, wherein the securing device is formed by a latch and a recess, the latch engaging the recess in the storage situation and firmly securing the pivoting arm, the latch being disposed on the pivoting arm and the recess being disposed on the frame or vice versa.

8. The positioning unit according to claim 7, wherein the latch is a profile bar configured to move in a linear guide of the securing device, a catch or a pivoting hook, and the recess is formed by a protrusion, an edge, a hook, an eye or a bracket.

9. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has an adjustment drive for generating an adjusting force acting on the pivoting arm and a spring element mechanically interacting with the adjustment drive.

10. The positioning unit according to claim 9, wherein the drive device has another adjustment drive for generating an adjusting force acting on the contact device.

11. The positioning unit according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment drive and/or the other adjustment drive has an electric motor, a cable drive, and/or a chain drive configured to rotate the pivoting arm on the pivot axis and/or to rotate the contact device on another pivot axis.

12. The positioning unit according to claim 11, wherein the securing device is coupled to the cable drive or the chain drive of the adjustment drive or the other adjustment drive for operation.

13. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the contact device has a charging contact element carrier with contact elements, the contact elements being configured to make electrical contact with charging contact elements of the charging contact device when in the contact position so as to form respective contact pairs.

14. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting device has a transverse guide configured to position the contact device in the direction perpendicular to the charging contact device, the transverse guide being disposed on an end of the pivoting arm opposite the pivot axis.

15. A fast charging system comprising a charging contact device and a positioning unit according to claim 1.

16. A method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle and a stationary charging station using a positioning unit, a contact device of the positioning unit being moved relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and making electrical contact therewith in a contact position, an articulated arm device of the positioning unit positioning the contact device and a drive device of the positioning unit driving the articulated arm device, the articulated arm device having a pivoting device with a pivoting arm configured to rotate on a pivot axis, the pivoting device pivoting the contact device from a storage situation of a retracted position of the positioning unit for storing the contact device into a contact situation of the contact position and vice versa, wherein a securing device of the positioning unit secures the pivoting arm in the storage situation in a form-fitting manner.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the contact device is first pivoted from the storage situation into a vertical contact situation and then into the contact position in the vertical contact situation and vice versa.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the pivoting device always positions the contact device in the vertical contact situation while the pivoting arm is pivoting the contact device.

Description

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a positioning unit;

[0029] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the positioning unit;

[0030] FIG. 3a is a partial section view of an articulated arm device with a drive device of a positioning unit in in a retracted position;

[0031] FIG. 3b shows the articulated arm device and the drive device after deployment from the retracted position towards a contact position.

[0032] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a positioning unit 10 mounted on a roof of a vehicle (not shown), in particular an electric bus or the like. The positioning unit 10 comprises a contact device 11 for establishing an electrical contact with a charging contact device (not shown) of a charging station. The charging contact device is suspended above the vehicle roof and the contact device 11 by means of a suspension device (not shown) in the area of a stop of the vehicle. The positioning unit 10 further comprises an articulated arm device 12 composed of a pivoting device 13 having a pivoting arm 14 and a drive device 15 for driving the articulated arm device 12. The positioning unit 10 is further comprises a frame 16 for mounting the positioning unit 10 on the vehicle roof. A pivot bearing 17 is formed on the frame 16, the pivot bearing 17 forming a pivot axis 18 for the pivoting arm 14 supported on the pivot bearing 17. At an end 19 of the pivoting arm 14 opposite the pivot axis 18, the contact device 11 is disposed on a transverse guide 20. The contact device 11 is displaceable along the transverse guide 20 and can thus adapt to a situation of a charging contact device. The contact device 11, together with the transverse guide 20, at the end 19 is mounted via another pivot bearing 21, which forms another pivot axis 22 of the contact device 11. Moreover, the articulated arm device 12 has cables (not shown), which run inside the pivoting arm 14 and engage the other pivot bearing 21. During a pivoting movement of the pivoting arm 14, a continuous positioning of the contact device 11 in the contact situation shown here is thus possible.

[0033] The contact device 11 is composed of a charging contact element carrier 25 with contact elements 26 mounted on springs. The contact elements 26 are located on an upper side 27 of the charging contact element carrier 25. The contact elements 26 are connected to a terminal box (not shown) via flexible cables 28.

[0034] The drive device 15 comprises an adjustment drive 30 for generating an adjusting force acting on the pivoting arm 14, the adjustment drive 30 generating the adjusting force together with springs 31 of the drive device 15. Another adjustment drive 29 pivots the contact device 11 about the other pivot axis 22 in the retracted position (not shown). In the retracted position, the pivoting arm 14 can be firmly secured with a securing device 23, of which only an eye 24 is shown visibly here.

[0035] A combination of FIGS. 3a and 3b shows an articulated arm device 32 together with a drive device 33 of a positioning unit (not shown) in a partial section view. A pivoting arm 34 of the articulated arm device 32 is shown in a retracted position of the positioning unit in FIG. 3a and in a position outside the retracted position in the direction of a contact position in FIG. 3b. Furthermore, another adjustment drive 35 for a contact device (not shown) and a securing device 36 of the positioning unit are shown. The pivoting arm 34 is mounted to rotate about a pivot axis 37, the pivot axis 37 for its part being disposed on a frame (not shown). The other adjustment drive 35 is composed of an electric motor 38 with a spindle 39 engaging a lever 40 with a gearwheel 41 on the pivot axis 37. The other adjustment drive 35 is also attached to the frame via a pivot bearing 42. A linear movement of the spindle 39 now causes an actuation of the lever 40 and thus a rotation of the gearwheel 41. A chain 43 is disposed on the gearwheel 41, respective cables 45 and 46 being attached to each end 44 of the chain 43. Via the cables 45 and 46, a rotation of the gearwheel 41 can pivot the contact device (not shown) between a storage situation and a contact situation on another pivot axis formed on the pivoting arm 34. In the position of the other adjustment drive 35 shown in FIG. 3a, the contact device is in the storage situation, and in the position of the other adjustment drive 35 shown in FIG. 3b, the contact device is in the contact situation.

[0036] The securing device 36 is formed with a latch 47 and a recess 48, which the latch 47 engages in the contact situation of the contact device. The latch 47 is formed by a profile bar 49, which is connected to cable 46 or the end 44 of the chain 43 via a strut 50 and can thus be actuated by a movement of cable 46 or the chain 43. The profile bar 49 is longitudinally guided by a linear guide 52 formed by eyes 51. The recess 48 is also formed by an eye 53, which the profile bar 49 engages in the storage situation. Eye 53 is positioned relative to the profile bar 49 via a support 54, which is also attached to the frame. In the storage situation in the retracted position of the positioning unit or of the pivoting arm 34 as shown in FIG. 3a, the latter is firmly secured to the frame via the securing device 36, which means potential movements of the pivoting arm 34 as a result of driving movements of a vehicle can be effectively prevented. When the pivoting arm 34 moves into the contact position, the contact device is first moved into the contact situation, which is done via the other adjustment drive 35. In the process, the profile bar 49 is pulled out of eye 53 as a result of a movement of cable 46, the pivoting arm 34 thus being released. When the pivoting arm 34 moves back into the retracted position or storage situation, the pivoting arm 34 is locked by the securing device 36 in the reverse order.