POSITIONING UNIT AND CONTACTING METHOD

Abstract

A positioning unit for electrically driven vehicles and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle and a stationary charging station having a positioning unit configured to be disposed on a vehicle roof. The positioning unit includes a contact device that is moveable relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and is electrically connectable to the charging contact device in a contact position, and an articulated arm device for positioning the contact device and a drive device for driving the articulated arm device. The articulated arm device includes for pivoting the contact device from a storing state to a vertical contact state and vice versa, and a second pivot arm for pivoting the contact device from the retracted position to the contact position and vice versa. The first pivot arm is disposed to be pivotable on a distal end of the second pivot arm.

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 moveable relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and being electrically connectable to said charging contact device 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, wherein the articulated arm device has a first pivot mechanism having a first pivot arm by means of which the contact device is pivotable from a storing state of a retracted position of the positioning unit for storing the contact device to a vertical contact state of the retracted position and vice versa, the articulated arm device having a second pivot mechanism having a second pivot arm by means of which the contact device is pivotable from the retracted position to the contact position and vice versa, the first pivot arm being disposed so as to be pivotable on a distal end of the second pivot arm.

2. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises a holding frame for mounting the positioning unit on a vehicle roof, the second pivot arm 16 being disposed so as to be pivotable on the holding frame.

3. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein by means of the articulated arm device, the contact device is vertically and horizontally positionable relative to the charging contact device and moveable to the contact position.

4. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has a first adjustment drive for generating an adjustment force which acts on the first pivot arm and for forming a first spring member which mechanically interacts with the first adjustment drive.

5. The positioning unit according to claim 4, wherein the first spring member comprises at least one torsion spring which is disposed on a pivot axis connecting the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm.

6. The positioning unit according to claim 4, wherein the first adjustment drive has an electric motor, a rope drive and/or a chain drive via which the first pivot arm is rotatable on the pivot axis.

7. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has a second adjustment drive for generating an adjustment force which acts on the second pivot arm and for forming a second spring member which mechanically interacts with the second adjustment drive.

8. The positioning unit according to claim 7, wherein the second spring member comprises at least one contact spring, the second adjustment drive and the contact spring being mechanically coupled to each other in series in such a manner that the second adjustment drive and the contact spring are configured to generate a contact force on a contact surface.

9. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the second pivot arm is formed so as to be cranked, a section of the second pivot arm forming the distal end being horizontally positioned in a storing state.

10. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein in the storing state, the first pivot arm having the contact device is pivoted towards a proximal end of the second pivot arm and rests thereon.

11. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein that the contact device is positionable between a lower contact position and an upper contact position using the articulated arm device, a ratio of the structural height (B) of the positioning unit in the storing state to the height (Ko) of the upper contact position being 1:4, a ratio of the structural height (B) to the height (Ku) of the lower contact position being 1:4.

12. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the contact device 11 has a contact element carrier having contact elements, the contact elements each being electrically connectable to charging contact elements of the charging contact device in the contact position for forming contact pairs.

13. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot mechanism has a transverse guide by means of which the contact device is transversely positionable relative to the charging contact device, the transverse guide being disposed on a distal end of the first pivot arm.

14. A fast charging system having a charging contact device and a positioning unit 10 according to claim 1.

15. A method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle and a stationary charging station having a positioning unit, a contact device of the positioning unit being moved relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and being electrically connected to said charging contact device in a contact position, the contact device being positioned by means of an articulated arm device of the positioning unit and the articulated arm device being driven by means of a drive device of the positioning unit, wherein the contact device is pivoted from a storing state of a retracted position of the positioning unit for storing the contact device to a vertical contact state of the retracted position by means of a first pivot mechanism of the articulated arm device using a first pivot arm, the contact device being pivoted from the retracted position to the contact position by means of a second pivot mechanism of the articulated arm device using a second pivot arm 16, the first pivot arm being disposed and pivoted on a distal end of the second pivot arm.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the contact device is first pivoted from the storing state to the vertical contact state and then from the vertical contact state to the contact position and vice versa.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein during a pivoting of the contact device using the second pivot arm, the first pivot mechanism always positions the contact device in the vertical contact state.

18. The positioning unit according to claim 1, wherein that the contact device is positionable between a lower contact position and an upper contact position using the articulated arm device, a ratio of the structural height (B) of the positioning unit in the storing state to the height (Ko) of the upper contact position being 1:6.5, a ratio of the structural height (B) to the height (Ku) of the lower contact position being 1:3.

Description

[0028] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a positioning unit;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a front view of the positioning unit;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a side view of the positioning unit in a storing state of a retracted position;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a side view of the positioning unit in a vertical contact state of the retracted position;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a side view of the positioning unit in a vertical contact state of a contact position;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a side view of the positioning unit in different positions.

[0035] A combined view of FIGS. 1 to 6 shows a positioning unit 10 which is mounted on a roof of a vehicle (not illustrated), in particular an electric bus. Positioning unit 10 comprises a contact device 11 for forming an electrical contact with a charging contact device (not illustrated) of a charging station. The charging contact device is suspended above the vehicle roof and contact device 11 in the area of a bus stop of the vehicle by means of a suspension device (not further illustrated). Positioning unit 10 further comprises an articulated arm device 12, which is formed by a first pivot mechanism 13 having a first pivot arm 14 and by a second pivot mechanism 15 having a second pivot arm 16, and a drive device 17 for driving articulated arm device 12.

[0036] Furthermore, positioning unit 10 has a holding frame 18 for mounting positioning unit 10 on the vehicle roof via damper elements 19. A pivot bearing 20 is formed on holding frame 18, second pivot arm 16 being mounted on said pivot bearing 20 so as to be pivotable. On a distal end 21 of second pivot arm 16, a pivot axis 22 is formed around which first pivot arm 14 can be pivoted. Contact device 11 is disposed on a distal end 23 of first pivot arm 14. Furthermore, contact device 11 is moveable transversely relative to the charging contact device (not illustrated) on a transverse guide 24 of first pivot mechanism 13. Transverse guide 24 is formed by a rail 25 which is mounted on distal end 23.

[0037] Contact device 11 is formed by a contact element carrier 26 having contact elements 27 which are spring-mounted thereon. Contact elements 27 are disposed on an upper side 28 of contact element carrier 26. Contact elements 27 are connected to a junction box 30 on holding frame 18 via flexible cables 29.

[0038] Drive device 17 comprises a first adjustment drive 31 for generating an adjustment force acting on first pivot arm 14, first adjustment drive 31 comprising torsion springs 32 which are disposed on pivot axis 22. Furthermore, first adjustment drive 31 comprises a rope and chain drive (not further illustrated), which is formed by a chain and two cable pulleys. The chain meshes in a toothed wheel (not illustrated) on pivot axis 22 and can be actuated via the cable pulleys such that first pivot arm 14 can be pivoted.

[0039] Furthermore, drive device 17 has a second adjustment drive 33 for generating an adjustment force acting on second pivot arm 16. Second adjustment drive 33 comprises a spring 34 and a linear drive 35 via which the adjustment force can be exerted on second pivot arm 16 in cooperation with spring 34. Spring 34 and linear drive 35 engage in a pivot axis 38, which is disposed in pivot bearing 20, via levers 36 or 37. First adjustment drive 31 and second adjustment drive 33 are actuated by a control 39 which is disposed on holding frame 18 in this case.

[0040] A charging contact device is contacted by contact device 11 starting from the storing state of a retracted position of articulated arm device 12 illustrated in FIG. 3. In a first step, first pivot arm 14 is moved to a vertical contact state of the retracted position which is illustrated in FIG. 4. In a second step, second pivot arm 16 is lifted, first pivot arm 14 remaining vertical at all times or being disposed in the vertical contact state. Thus, contact device 11 can be positioned between an upper contact position Ko and a lower contact position Ku or in a contact area, in which an electrical contact can be formed in any case using a charging contact device. Likewise, it is possible that positioning unit 10 has a comparatively low structural height B in the storing state. Second pivot arm 16 is cranked in order to reduce structural height B, such that a section 40 of second pivot arm 16 is positioned horizontally in the storing state and first pivot arm 14 having contact device 11 can rest on section 40 in a compact manner.