CONNECTION DEVICE FOR THE CHARGING OF ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS

Abstract

The present invention refers to a connection device installed on-board with respect to an electric wheelchair, designed and configured to allow the charging of a respective traction battery using a charge station or column for electric vehicles which implements the mode 3 of charging compliant with the IEC 61851-1 standard. The connection device attached to the wheelchair comprises a main body configured to be connected to a first wire portion for the electrical connection to the charge station. The main body further comprises an electrical circuit configured to simulate the performance of an electric vehicle and defined compliant with the IEC 61851-1 standard, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3.

Claims

1. Connection device attached to a wheelchair for charging an electric wheelchair by connection to a charge station for electric vehicles, said charge station being realized compliant with what stated by IEC 61851-1 standard, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3, said connection device attached to the wheelchair comprising a main body bearing a first end and a second end preferably opposite to each other, said main body being configured to be connected at said first end to a first wire portion, said first wire portion being configured for the electrical connection to the charge station, wherein said main body comprises an electrical circuit configured to simulate performance of an electric vehicle and defined compliant with the IEC 61851-1 standard, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3.

2. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 1, comprising said first wire portion.

3. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 2, comprising, at a loose terminal end of said first wire portion, connection means configured for the electrical connection to the charge station.

4. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein said connection means comprises a plug of a ‘Type 3A/Type 2’ using mode 3 of charging IEC 61851-1.

5. On-board device connector united to the wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein said main body further comprises, at said second end, connection means comprising a domestic socket (such as ‘Shuko’ type).

6. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 5, having a configuration such that, during use, said main body results to be interposed between said first wire portion and said second wire portion united to a charger of the wheelchair.

7. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a handle member.

8. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 7, having a configuration such that said handle member is interposed between said first end and said second end.

9. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a member with a conformation at least partially curved, configured in such a way as to allow to roll up said first wire portion thereon.

10. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 9, wherein said member with a conformation at least partially curved is a member shaped as a hook.

11. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein said main body has an overall conformation as a ‘D’, wherein said handle member corresponds to a curved branch of the ‘D’, while said first and second ends are arranged at a terminal end of a straight branch of the ‘D’, and wherein preferably a hook member is interposed between said first and second ends.

12. Connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit comprises a fuse configured to avoid a current consumption higher than 2 A.

13. Electric wheelchair comprising a connection device attached to the wheelchair according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Reference will be made to the attached figures, wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a connection device attached to the wheelchair according to the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an electrical circuit included in the connection device attached to the wheelchair of FIG. 1 and configured to allow interaction with the charging station for electric vehicles, in accordance with IEC 61851-1, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3; is

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the connection between an electrical circuit of a charge station of electric vehicles and an electrical circuit for simulating the performance of an electric vehicle (the latter already shown in FIG. 2), both circuits and their connection being defined in accordance with IEC 61851-1, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3.

[0031] The above indicated figures are to be intended only as an example and not for limiting purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a connection device attached to the wheelchair according to the present invention is overall denoted by 1.

[0033] The connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 is configured to allow the charging of an electric wheelchair by connection to a charge station, or column, for electric vehicles, configured compliant with the international standard defined by IEC 61851-1 standard, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3. The charge station circuit to which the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 according to the present invention can be connected is shown in FIG. 3, left portion named as “Charging side”, which reproduces what is defined in the standard above mentioned.

[0034] For this purpose, the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 comprises, or is configured to be connected to, a first wire portion 2 for the electrical connection to the charge station.

[0035] The connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 of the invention comprises a main body 15 preferably bearing a first end 6 and a second end 7, even more preferably opposite to each other.

[0036] The main body 15 is connected, or configured to be connected, to the aforementioned first wire portion 2 at its first end 6.

[0037] At a loose terminal end of the first wire portion 2, connection means 8 is preferably provided for the electrical connection to the charge station, preferably comprising a plug of ‘Type 3A/Type 2’ using the mode 3 of charging.

[0038] The main body 15 includes an electrical circuit 10 configured to simulate the performance of an electric vehicle, in particular a simplified pilot circuit, defined according to what is shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] Circuit 10 is configured compliance with the international standard defined by the standard IEC 61851-1, edition 3, Annex 1, chapter A.2.3.

[0040] The aforementioned circuit 10 comprises two main circuit branches, on one of which there is a diode D in series with a resistance Re as indicated within the aforementioned IEC 61851-1 standard. Parallel to the latter there is a capacitor Cv.

[0041] The circuit 10 operation is preserved by the presence of a fuse, which is placed in order to electrically protect the connection device attached to the wheelchair—and the electric wheelchair associated therewith—from any overcurrents. In particular, the fuse is configured to avoid a current consumption higher than 2 A by the connection device attached to the wheelchair according to the invention.

[0042] In such case, the connection device attached to the wheelchair becomes inoperable (except for the replacement of the fuse), because the passage of current is prevented.

[0043] Further referring to FIG. 1, the main body 15 also comprises, preferably at the second end 7, connection means 71 to a second wire portion 5 for the electrical connection to an electric wheelchair. Said second wire portion 5 can be integrated in the wheelchair itself, or it can be alternatively included in the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1. According to a preferred variant of the invention, the connection means 71 can comprise a ‘Shuko’ socket.

[0044] According to this configuration, during use, the main body 15 is interposed between the aforementioned first and second portions of cable 2, 5.

[0045] Preferably, the main body 15 comprises a handle member 3 for the manipulation of the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 by a user. Even more preferably, the main body 15 comprises a further hook member 4, more generally a member with a conformation at least partially curved, configured in such a way as to allow the aforementioned first wire portion 2 to be rolled up thereon to facilitate transport and the repositioning of the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 in case of non-use. Even more preferably, the configuration of the connection device attached to the wheelchair 1 is such that the handle member 3 is interposed between the aforementioned first and second ends 6, 7 of the main body 15.

[0046] In particular, the configuration of the main body 15 can be overall as a ‘D’, wherein the handle member 3 corresponds to the curved branch of the ‘D’, while the first and second ends 6, 7 are arranged at the terminal ends of the straight branch of the ‘D’, and wherein preferably the hook member 4 is interposed between the aforementioned first and second ends 6, 7.

[0047] The present invention has been hitherto described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments may exist that belong to the same inventive core, as defined by the scope of protection of the claims set forth below.