SPLASH-PROOF CHARGING PORT HOUSING FOR AN ELECRICALLY DRIVABLE MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A charging port housing for selectively connecting a charging cable provided for charging an electrically drivable motor vehicle including a lower shell which can be positioned at a charging opening of a motor vehicle body. The lower shell includes a socket opening for receiving a plug socket for the charging cable, and an upper shell fastened to the lower shell. The upper shell includes a through-opening for passing the charging cable to the plug socket, wherein at least one drain opening bounded by both the lower shell and the upper shell is provided for the gravity-driven drainage of liquid. Configuring the drain opening as a recess between the shells of the charging port housing makes it possible to cost-effectively implement a water drainage of splash water entering via the through-opening, and thus enable a cost-effective protection of electrical components of a motor vehicle against dust and splash water.

Claims

1. A charging port housing for selectively connecting a charging cable provided for charging an electrically drivable motor vehicle, said charging port housing comprising: a lower shell which is configured to be positioned at a charging opening of a motor vehicle body, wherein the lower shell comprises a socket opening for receiving a plug socket for the charging cable, and an upper shell fastened to the lower shell, wherein the upper shell comprises a through-opening through which the charging cable can pass to the plug socket, and at least one drain opening, which is bounded by both the lower shell and the upper shell, for the gravity-driven drainage of liquid.

2. The charging port housing according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate space for receiving live wires electrically connected to the plug socket, wherein the intermediate space is arranged between the lower shell and the upper shell, wherein the at least one drain opening communicates with the intermediate space.

3. The charging port housing according to claim 1, further comprising an edge piece which (i) forms an edge of the drain opening, (ii) is spaced apart from the drain opening in a Z-direction, and (iii) forms a drainage ramp which is beveled in the Z-direction and leads away from the drain opening.

4. The charging port housing according to claim 3, further comprising at least one rib which projects upward from the drainage ramp with a component in the Z-direction.

5. The charging port housing according to claim 4, wherein the at least one rib forms a side wall which delimits a flow cross-section and/or a stabilizing rib which is spaced apart from an edge of the drainage ramp and stiffens the drainage ramp.

6. The charging port housing according to claim 4, wherein, when the charging port housing is inclined relative to a direction of gravity, the at least one rib forms a drainage ramp for draining liquid.

7. The charging port housing according to claim 1, further comprising at least two of the drain openings, which are spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to the Z-direction.

8. The charging port housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one drain opening is disposed in a corner region of the intermediate space, wherein, when the charging port housing is inclined relative to a direction of gravity, the drain opening is positioned at a lowest point of the intermediate space with respect to the direction of gravity.

9. The charging port housing according to claim 1, further comprising a charging flap, which can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position, wherein the charging flap is articulated on the lower shell and, in the closed position, closes the through-opening of the upper shell in a liquid-tight manner.

10. An electrically drivable motor vehicle comprising an electric machine for driving the motor vehicle, a rechargeable traction battery connected to the electric machine for storing and supplying electrical energy, a plug socket connected to the traction battery for charging the traction battery with external electrical energy, a motor vehicle body and the charging port housing according to claim 1 provided at a charging opening of the motor vehicle body, wherein the plug socket is fastened in the socket opening of the lower shell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will be explained in the following by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and using preferred design examples, wherein the features presented below can constitute an aspect of the invention either individually or in combination. The figures show:

[0024] FIG. 1: a schematic plan view of a partially sectioned charging port housing,

[0025] FIG. 2: a schematic plan view of the charging port housing of FIG. 1 in a first tilted position,

[0026] FIG. 3: a schematic plan view of the charging port housing of FIG. 1 in a second tilted position and

[0027] FIG. 4: a schematic detail view of the charging port housing of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The lower shell 10 of a charging port housing 12 shown in FIG. 1 can be provided at a charging opening of a motor vehicle body of an electrically drivable motor vehicle, so that a plug of a charging cable connected to an external power source can be connected through the motor vehicle body to a plug socket of the motor vehicle in order to be able to charge a traction battery connected to an electric machine for driving the motor vehicle. The lower shell 10 comprises a socket opening 14 in which the plug socket can be provided and connected to the lower shell 10. It is also possible that at least one joint element 16 is provided on the lower shell 10, to which a charging flap can be fastened in an articulated manner. The forces and weight forces that occur when the charging flap is actuated can be supported on the lower shell 10 via the joint element 16.

[0029] An upper shell 18 can be fastened to the lower shell 10, so that a hollow intermediate space can be formed between the lower shell 10 and the upper shell 18 in which, for example, an electrical component 20 can be provided. The electrical component 20 can be an in particular grounded and/or potential-free ground conductor, for example, which can be connected at one end to the plug socket as a protective conductor and at another end in particular to the metallic motor vehicle body. The lower shell 10 can be connected to the upper shell 18 via fastening means 22, for example configured as a screw connection, in particular in a common flange region.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, upper shell 18 can cover the at least one electrical component 20. The upper shell 18 comprises a through-opening 24 which can be closed by the charging flap, via which a plug of the charging cable can be brought close to the plug socket in the socket opening 14 of the lower shell 10. However, this also makes the intermediate space formed between the lower shell 10 and the upper shell 18 accessible to splash water. For this purpose, at least one drain opening 26 is provided in each of the lower corner regions of the intermediate space, via which liquid 28 accumulating in the intermediate space can be discharged. Due to the arrangement in the corner regions, the respective drain opening 26 can be positioned at the lowest location in the direction of gravity even when the motor vehicle and the charging port housing 12 are tilted in a first tilting direction, as shown in FIG. 2, or when the motor vehicle and the charging port housing 12 are tilted in a second tilting direction opposite to the first tilting direction, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, the respective drain opening 26 is bounded exclusively by the lower shell 10 and the upper shell 18. The lower shell 10 comprises an edge piece 30 which projects downward in the Z-direction and comprises a tab 32 which projects in the Z-direction from the drain opening 26 and a drainage ramp 34 which projects from the lower free end of the tab 32 at an angle to the Z-direction. First ribs 36 and second ribs 38 are connected to both the tab 32 and the drainage ramp 34. The first ribs 36 are provided on a lateral edge of the drainage ramp 34 and can prevent the liquid 28 from dripping off the side of the drainage ramp 34. The drainage ramp 34 and the lateral first ribs 36 can form a U-shaped drainage channel for draining liquid 28 emerging from the drain opening 26. The second ribs 38 extend into the drain opening 26 and can abut the upper shell 18 with a pressing force that provides sufficient sealing force and reinforce the edge piece 30 in a torsion-resistant manner. In a tilted position, the ribs 36, 38, too, can act as a drainage ramp and together with the drainage ramp 34 form a V-shaped drainage channel.