Truck, Charging Arrangement and Method for Electrical Charging

Abstract

A truck, a charging arrangement, and a method for electrically charging the truck. A body or trailer of the truck is connected to the vehicle for transport of freight. The truck includes a driven vehicle having a driver's cab, a trailer connected to the driven vehicle to receive freight for transport, an electric energy store being arranged on the vehicle, and at least one charging contact arranged on the trailer to electrically charge the energy store.

Claims

1. A truck, comprising: a driven vehicle having a driver's cab; a trailer connected to the driven vehicle to receive freight for transport; an electric energy store being arranged on the vehicle; and at least one charging contact arranged on the trailer to electrically charge the energy store.

2. The truck of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging contact is spatially positioned at a rear end of the trailer.

3. The truck of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging contact is spatially positioned below a load bed of the trailer.

4. The truck of claim 1, further comprising an electric line extending between the at least one charging contact and the energy store to establish electric contact between the at least one charging contact and the energy store.

5. The truck of claim 4, wherein the electric line comprises a plug-in connection spatially positioned between the trailer and the vehicle.

6. The truck of claim 4, wherein the electric line extends from the at least one charging contact through an entire length of the trailer and terminates at a front end of the trailer.

8. A charging system, comprising: a truck having: a driven vehicle having a driver's cab; a trailer connected to the driven vehicle to receive freight for transport; an electric energy store being arranged on the vehicle; and at least one charging contact arranged on the trailer to electrically charge the energy store, and a loading ramp to facilitate loading and/or unloading of the freight at a rear end of the trailer, the loading ramp having a charging counter-contact configured to automatically contact the at least one charging contact during a reversing approach of the trailer to the loading ramp.

9. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the at least one charging contact is spatially positioned at a rear end of the trailer.

10. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the at least one charging contact is spatially positioned below a load bed of the trailer.

11. The charging system of claim 8, further comprising an electric line extending between the at least one charging contact and the energy store to establish electric contact between the at least one charging contact and the energy store.

12. The charging system of claim 11, wherein the electric line comprises a plug-in connection spatially positioned between the trailer and the vehicle.

13. The charging system of claim 11, wherein the electric line extends from the at least one charging contact through an entire length of the trailer and terminates at a front end of the trailer.

14. A method for electrically charging a truck, the method comprising: electrically charging an energy store of the truck by establishing electrically conducting contact between at least one charging contact of the trailer and a counter-contact of a loading ramp by reversing the truck towards the loading ramp to load or unload freight contained in the trailer of the truck, wherein the energy store is electrically charged during the loading or unloading of the freight.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic illustration of a truck, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a truck 1, such as, for example, an electrically driven truck 1, in accordance with embodiments comprises a vehicle 2 as a tractor unit which drives the truck 1 by way of an electric motor and has a driver's cab. An energy store 4 for the driving electric motor is arranged on the vehicle 2. In a usual driving direction, i.e., in the case of forward driving of the truck 1, a trailer 3 is connected to the vehicle 2 and arranged spatially behind the vehicle 2 for freight transport. Below a load bed 6 of the trailer 3, one or more charging contacts 5 for electrically charging the energy store 4 is arranged at the rear end of the trailer 3.

[0025] An electric line 7 is routed from the charging contact 5 to as far as the energy store 4 in the vehicle 2 to electrically connect the charging contact 5 to the energy store 4 and thereby electrically charge the energy store 4. The electric line 7 may be configured in a plurality of electric line sections, and may be interrupted or connected in an electrically conducting manner between the trailer 3 and the vehicle 2 via a plug-in connection 8. The electric line 7 extends from the charging contact 5 over the entire length of the trailer 3 as far as the front end of the trailer 3. A voltage supply is relayed via the body or trailer 3 into the vehicle 2 or the energy store 4 of the truck, in particular, the electric truck 1.

[0026] In addition to the electric line 7, a communication line (not illustrated) is routed from the charging contact 5 as far as the vehicle 2, which communication line makes a connection once again via a plug-in connection, in particular, in the region of the current-charging plug-in connection 8, between the trailer 3 and the vehicle 2.

[0027] A truck 1 in accordance with embodiments may be charged electrically via a loading ramp for loading and/or unloading freight, which loading ramp has a charging counter-contact for connecting to the charging contact 5 of the truck 1. The connection (physical and/or electrical) between the charging counter-contact and the charging contact 5 may be established automatically when the truck approaches the loading ramp and therefore the charging counter-contact while reversing the truck 1. In particular, automated electric charging operations, during the time in which the truck 1 is docked anyway at the loading ramp, may reduce idle times of the truck 1. Therefore, a three-shift operation or permanent operation of the vehicle 2 may also be possible by way of a truck 1 in accordance with embodiments.

[0028] In operation, during reversing maneuvering of the truck 1 to a loading ramp or into a dock, the body or trailer 3 drives up to the ramp in a flush manner in order to load the goods. During this operation, the contact(s) 5 which are attached on the vehicle 1 underside are connected (physically and/or electrically) to the contacts of the loading ramp. For example, this takes place via individual contacts which may be guided in individual rails. By way of this operation, the entire truck 1 becomes a type of charging pole during the connection. The power for charging the energy store 4 is switched on only after the locking of the plug-in connections and the correct connection of all lines and communication channels. Electric charging of the drive battery of an electric truck or electric truck traction unit is made possible, without the driver having to get out to this end or having to manually plug a power cable into the truck.

[0029] In accordance with embodiments, the contact(s) 5 for charging the energy store 4 is brought about on the trailer 3, in particular, at the rear of the trailer 3 or semitrailer or body. To this end, as is usual, the truck driver may drive the truck 1 in reverse gear into the goods loading/unloading dock, i.e., the loading ramp, on which an electric charging station or its charging contacts, the charging counter-contact, is situated. The electric contacts which are situated on the rear side of the load bed and below the load bed (e.g., between the rear axle and the rear lights) in the end region of the truck electrically connect automatically or by themselves to the electric counterpart in the dock upon approach, as a result of the reversing movement of the truck including its trailer 3 or semitrailer. Here, electric contact is therefore made at the same time (in a flush manner in the dock) by way of the trailer 3 or semitrailer driving up to a customary end station in a flush manner.

[0030] Here, the electric contacts, that is to say the charging contact(s) 5, are by way of example, of elongate design on the truck, for example as blade contacts, the longitudinal side of which points in the driving direction, with the result that it is possible for the contacts (charging contact 5) to bear tightly against the contacts of the stationary counterpart (charging counter-contact) in a sliding manner by way of the linear reverse driving movement. The charging counter-contact of the stationary device and/or the charging contact 5 on the truck has a resilience, in order not to damage the electric contacts in the case of incorrect driving maneuvers. The charging counter-contacts of the stationary device, and also the charging contact(s) 5 on the body or trailer 3, are fundamentally mounted fixedly.

[0031] In accordance with embodiments, there may be a total of two contact points, in particular plug-in connections, in the electric line 7 from the voltage source as far as the energy store 4. On one side, a first contact point at the plugin connection 8 between the vehicle 2, in particular the traction unit, and the trailer 3 or semitrailer and, a second contact point on the other side, between the trailer 3 or semitrailer and the stationary charging device. In this solution, the charging current to the battery, the energy store 4, is conducted via the trailer 3 or semitrailer, and the body. The power for charging the battery is switched on only after locking of all plug-in connections and the correct connection of all lines and communication channels.

[0032] The truck 1 may be steered by hand. Optionally, the vehicle 2 and therefore the truck can drive automatically or autonomously. The vehicle 2 of the truck 1 may therefore be an autonomously controlled vehicle.

[0033] The terms coupled, attached, or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0035] 1 Truck [0036] 2 Vehicle [0037] 3 Trailer [0038] 4 Energy store [0039] 5 Charging contact [0040] 6 Load bed [0041] 7 Electric line [0042] 8 Plug-in connection