DE102019217783A1 - Apparatus and method for charging a number of electrically powered motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for charging the traction batteries (33) of a number of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) at a charging station (2). The device has a first connection (8) for connecting to a connection (2-A) of the charging station (2) and at least two second connections (12) for connecting each to a connection (13-A) of an electrically powered motor vehicle (13) on, wherein each of the second connections (12) has contacts (16) which are assigned to contacts (14) of the first connection (8), and wherein the contacts (16) of each of the second connections (12) with the respectively assigned contact ( 14) of the first connection (8) can be electrically connected and an electrical connection between these contacts (14, 16) can be separated. The invention also relates to a method for charging the traction batteries (33) of a number of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) at a charging station (2).

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for charging the traction batteries of a number of electrically driven motor vehicles at a charging station.

Charging stations for charging the traction battery of an electrically powered motor vehicle are often provided at parking lots. If the user of the charging station is absent for a comparatively long time, for example if the user goes to his place of work after the start of the charging process, the charging station remains blocked by this motor vehicle after the end of the charging process, i.e. connected to this motor vehicle. As a result, the charging station is not available for another user who arrives at the parking lot during the charging process and would also like to use this charging station for this period of time.

Devices and methods are already known by means of which more efficient use of a charging station is made possible.

For example, from the WO 2013/041133 A1 a device for fully automatic charging of several electric vehicles in a parking lot is known, in which a charging unit for charging the vehicles can be moved on a rail system. Such a device is, however, comparatively complex and costly.

Furthermore, from the DE 10 2018 207 219 A1 a method for automatically unlocking a charging arrangement in which an electrically drivable motor vehicle is connected to a charging station is known. In this case, a mechanical connection between the charging station and the motor vehicle is automatically unlocked as soon as a predetermined state of charge has been reached in a battery of the motor vehicle. With this method, however, another motor vehicle can only be connected to the charging station when it is not currently in use. It is not always possible for the user to wait for the charging process of the other motor vehicle to end, in particular if a comparatively long period of time is still necessary for the charging process.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a device and a method by means of which a number of motor vehicles can be charged at a charging station. In particular, blocking of the charging station after the end of the charging process should be avoided.

With regard to the device, the object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. With regard to the method, the object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 8. Advantageous refinements and developments are the subject of the subclaims. The statements made in connection with the device also apply accordingly to the method and vice versa.

The device is provided and set up so that the traction batteries of a number of electric motor vehicles can be charged at a single charging station. The electrically driven motor vehicles are also referred to as motor vehicles for short in the following. A charging station is to be understood as meaning, for example, a charging column or a so-called wallbox.

For this purpose, the device has a first connection on the charging station side for electrical connection to a connection of the charging station. Furthermore, the device comprises at least two, preferably three or four, second connections on the vehicle side, each of which is used for the electrical connection to a connection, in particular designed as a charging socket, of an electrically driven motor vehicle. In particular, the device is designed in the manner of an adapter.

The first connection and each of the second connections each have a number of (electrical) contacts, by means of which an electrical connection with corresponding mating contacts of the charging station or a charging cable for connecting to the connection of the motor vehicle is made possible. Suitably the number of contacts of the first connection is equal to the number of contacts of each of the second connections. A contact of the first connection is assigned to each contact of each of the second connections. Furthermore, the contacts of each of the second connections can each be electrically connected to the associated contact of the first connection. Any electrical connection that may exist between the contacts of the first connection and the contacts of the second connections can be separated. In summary, the contacts of each of the second connections can be electrically connected to the associated contacts of the first connection or these contacts can be electrically separated from one another.

Depending on the type of connection used, such as CSS, Mennekes or CHAdeMO, the connection of the charging station and the connection of a motor vehicle typically have mating contacts for a protective conductor, for a neutral conductor for one, two or three phase conductors and possibly for two direct current conductors. In addition, the connection of the charging station and the connection of a motor vehicle typically include at least one mating contact for one Control line or a test line. The first and each of the second connections expediently have a number and arrangement of their contacts corresponding to the connection type and a corresponding (plug or plug) contour.

In summary, the device is designed such that when the device is connected to the charging station, a charging current and / or a signal, in particular a control or communication signal, can flow or be transmitted to a motor vehicle connected to one of the second connections of the device.

The charging station has, for example, as a connection a socket for plugging in a charging cable. Alternatively, the charging station has, for example, a charging cable with a plug at the end, which is provided for plugging into a charging socket of the motor vehicle. According to an expedient embodiment, the first connection of the device for connecting to the socket or to the plug of the charging station is designed as a plug or a socket. The second connections are each designed as a socket for connecting to a plug of a charging cable.

If the charging station has more than one socket or more than one charging cable, a device can be connected to each of the sockets or to each of the charging cables.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the contacts of the second connections assigned to the respective contact of the first connection are connected in parallel to one another. In other words, those contacts of all the second connections are connected in parallel to one another which are jointly assigned to one of the contacts of the first connection. This is also known as connecting the second connections in parallel. A switching device is provided for each of the second connections. By means of these switching devices, the contacts of the second connection can be electrically separated from the respectively assigned contact of the first connection. Furthermore, the contacts of the first connection can be electrically connected to the respectively assigned contacts of the second connections by means of the switching devices.

For this purpose, the contacts of the first connection are electrically connected to the respective contacts of the second connections, a switch of the corresponding switching unit being connected to connect or disconnect between a node of the parallel-connected contacts of the second connections and these contacts. For example, the switches are each designed as a semiconductor switch, in particular a MOSFET, suitably as a power MOSFET, or as a contactor, in particular as a power contactor. When such a switch is electrically conductive, the corresponding contacts are electrically connected to one another. In the case of a current-blocking circuit, the corresponding contacts are electrically isolated from one another.

In summary, the device has a switching unit for each of the second connections. The switching units are expediently controlled by a control unit.

As an alternative to this, the mating contacts for the control line and / or the mating contacts for the test line are always connected to the corresponding mating contacts of the second connections, that is, they cannot be switched off.

In summary, the first connection can be connected to or disconnected from the respective second connection on the basis of a corresponding control of the switching units, that is to say on the basis of a current-blocking or current-conducting control of its switch.

According to a preferred embodiment, the switching units are controlled by a control device in such a way that only one, that is to say a single one of the second connections, is electrically connected to the first connection at the same time.

Thus, at one point in time, only one of the motor vehicles connected to the second connections is charged. As soon as the charging process of the traction battery of this motor vehicle has ended, the assigned second connection is disconnected from the first connection and the first connection is connected to one of the other second connections, so that the traction battery of the motor vehicle connected to this second connection can be charged.

In summary, the switching units are controlled in such a way that the vehicles connected to the traction batteries of the motor vehicles connected to the second connections are charged sequentially, in other words one after the other in time.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the first connection has a first locking unit which is used for locking with the charging station connected to the first connection or the charging cable of the charging station connected to this. For example, the locking unit has for this purpose an actuator which moves a bolt into a corresponding receptacle in the socket of the charging column or the plug of the charging cable of the charging column.

The locking can expediently be released by means of a corresponding activation of the locking unit by a control device. Alternatively or preferably in addition, the device can be attached to the charging column or to the plug of the charging cable of the charging column by means of a special tool, so that the device for theft protection can only be released by a specialist.

According to a suitable development, each of the second connections has a second locking unit for locking with a charging cable connected to it, in particular with its plug. In an analogous manner, the second locking unit has an actuator with a bolt that can be moved by the latter. Because of the locking, a charging process cannot be interrupted by (in particular unexpectedly) unplugging and the safety of a user can be increased.

The opening of the lock at the respective second connection is preferably effected on the basis of a control signal from the control unit of the device, from a control unit of the motor vehicle or from a control unit of the charging station. An input by the respective user is preferably necessary for this.

According to an expedient embodiment, the device has a display for showing a charging sequence, a remaining charging time or the like. For example, the display is designed as an LCD display. Furthermore, such a display is provided, for example, for each of the second connections.

According to a method for charging the traction batteries of a number of electrically powered motor vehicles at a single charging station, the electrically powered motor vehicles each being connected to one of the second connections of a device designed according to one of the variants shown above and the device with its first connection to the charging station is connected, the traction battery of a first of the electrically powered motor vehicles is first charged. Subsequently, that is to say at the end of the charging process of the traction battery of the first of the electrically driven motor vehicles, the charging process of a second of the motor vehicles is started.

In summary, the motor vehicles connected to the second connections are charged sequentially. In other words, only the traction battery of a single motor vehicle is charged at a time. For this purpose, the switches of the switching units are activated accordingly. For example, an order of the charging processes is determined by the order in which the motor vehicles are connected to the device.

According to an expedient embodiment of the method, a charging process end signal output by the control device of the first motor vehicle to a control device of the charging station is detected by the control device of the device in order to recognize the end of the charging process of the first motor vehicle.

Alternatively or preferably additionally, that is to say redundantly, an end of the charging process of the first motor vehicle is recognized when a charging current for the traction battery of the first motor vehicle is equal to 0 (zero). In other words, the end of the charging process is determined based on the strength of the charging current. The device has corresponding amperage meters for this purpose.

The advantages of the invention are in particular that it is possible to connect a number, that is to say a single or more than a single, electrically driven motor vehicle to the device and to connect it electrically to the charging station by means of this. Thus, even if the traction battery of a first motor vehicle is still being charged, a further (second) motor vehicle can already be connected. A user of the second motor vehicle does not have to wait until the connection of the charging column is released by the user of the first motor vehicle at the charging station. The start of the charging process of the traction battery of the second motor vehicle takes place automatically after the charging process of the traction battery of the first motor vehicle, that is, even when the user is not in the vicinity of the charging station.

• 1 schematisch eine als Ladesäule ausgebildete Ladestation, welche an einen ersten Anschluss einer Vorrichtung angeschlossen ist, wobei an zweiten Anschlüssen der Vorrichtung jeweils ein elektrisch angetriebenes Kraftfahrzeug angeschlossen ist,
• 2a ein Schaltbild der Vorrichtung, wobei die Kontakte des ersten Anschlusses jeweils mit einem zugeordneten Kontakt jedes der zweiten Anschlüsse elektrisch verbindbar ist,
• 2b schematisch in einer Frontansicht die Vorrichtung, und
• 3 in einem Flussdiagramm einen Verfahrensablauf zum Laden der Traktionsbatterien der Kraftfahrzeuge an der Ladestation.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show in it:

• 1 schematically, a charging station designed as a charging column, which is connected to a first connection of a device, an electrically driven motor vehicle being connected to each second connection of the device,
• 2a a circuit diagram of the device, wherein the contacts of the first connection can each be electrically connected to an associated contact of each of the second connections,
• 2 B schematically in a front view the device, and
• 3 in a flowchart a method sequence for charging the traction batteries of the motor vehicles at the charging station.

Corresponding parts and sizes are always provided with the same reference symbols in all figures.

In the 1 is a parking lot with a charging station designed as a charging station 2 shown. The charging station 2 has a charging cable 4th on, the one at the end as a plug 6th having formed connection. This is with a first connection 8th a device 10 connected, the first port 8th than one to the plug of the charging cable 4th the charging station 2 corresponding socket is formed. The connection of the charging station 2 so here is as the connector 6th educated.

The device 10 furthermore has several, according to the embodiment of FIG 1 three, second connections 12th on, each with an electrically powered motor vehicle 13a , 13b , 13c by means of a respective charging cable 4th connected is. The second connections 12th are each designed as a socket which leads to a plug 6th the charging cable 4th correspond. The second connections 10 are therefore each by means of one of the charging cables 4th with a connector designed as a charging socket for the corresponding electrically powered motor vehicle 13a , 13b or. 13c connected.

According to a variant not shown further, the charging station 2 a socket (socket) for a charging cable. The first connection is accordingly 8th designed as a connector corresponding to this.

As in particular in the 2a and 2 B can be seen indicate the first connection 8th and each of the second terminals 12th each has a number of contacts, the contacts 14a , 14b , 14c of the first connection 8th in summary also with 14th and the contacts 16a , 16b , 16c the second connector 12th also with 16 are designated. In the 2a there are only three contacts for the sake of clarity 14a , 14b , 14c , 16a , 16b , 16c per connection 8th or. 12th shown. Depending on the design of the connector 6th the charging cable 4th assign the first connector 8th and the second connections 12th further contacts. Like in the 2 B shown by way of example, has a Mennekes plug and, consequently, the first and second connections 8th and 12th each has seven contacts, namely one for a control line, one for a pilot line, one for a protective line, one for a neutral conductor, and three for three phase conductors.

The number of contacts 16 every other connection 12th corresponds to the number of contacts 14th of the first connection 8th , taking each contact 16 every other connection 12th one contact at a time 14th of the first connection 8th assigned.

Here is the contacts 14a with the contacts 16a the second connector 12th connected by means of a current path, the contacts 16a are connected in parallel to each other. The contact 14b is with the contacts 16b the second connector 12th connected by means of a current path, the contacts 16b are connected in parallel to each other. The contact intended for the control line 14c is with a control device 18th connected, which in turn with the contacts 16c connected is. In other words, it is the controller 18th between the contacts 14c and 16c switched. The contacts 16C are thus by means of the control device 18th connected in parallel to each other.

In summary are the contacts 14th with the contacts assigned to them 16 connected by means of a respective current path. These are the respective contact 14a , 14b and 14c of the first connection 8th assigned contacts 16a , 16b or. 16c the second connector 12th connected in parallel to each other.

Furthermore is for each of the contacts 16a , 16b the second connector 12th a switch 20th provided which between the respective contact 16a or. 16b and the corresponding node of the parallel connection of these contacts 16a or. 16b is switched into the current path. Furthermore are between the control unit 18th and the contacts 16c the second connection also switches 20th switched. Those switches 20th which contacts 16 one of the second connections 12th are assigned, are summarized as a switching unit 22nd designated.

Each of the switches 20th is from the control device in a manner not shown 18th controlled. Using the switch 20th are the contacts assigned to one another 16 , 14th the second connector 12th and the first port 8th electrically connectable to one another and an optionally existing electrical connection between these contacts 16 , 14th is separable.

In summary, these are the electrically powered motor vehicles 13a , 13b , 13c by means of the device 10 to the charging station 2 connected, i.e. connected to this.

In the control device 18th , i.e. internal to the control unit, their current paths are those with the contacts 16c are connected, isolated from each other, so that a mutual influence with regard to the signal transmission and also with regard to a transmission of an overvoltage or an overcurrent in the event of a fault is avoided or the risk of this is at least reduced. In the event of a fault, the control device 18th at least those counter 20th switched current blocking, which the second connection 12th are assigned to which the motor vehicle causing the fault is connected.

Those switches 20th , which between the control device 18th and the contacts 16c are switched, are according to an alternative not shown in the device 10 into the control device 18th integrated.

The first connection 8th has a first locking unit 24 on. This includes an actuator 26th , which in a manner not shown by the control device 18th (also as a control device 18th designated) is controlled, so that a bolt 28 (Pin) can be moved in a direction transverse to an insertion direction and, in the assembled state, in a corresponding receptacle of the plug 6th of the charging cable 4th the charging station 2 moves. In an analogous manner, every second has connections 12th a second locking unit each 30th with one of the control device 18th controllable actuator 26th and with a latch 28 . In this way there is an undesirable disconnection between the device 10 and the charging station or an undesired disconnection of the respective motor vehicle 13a , 13b , 13c connected charging cable 4th prevented. The latch 28 the first and second locking units 24 and 30th are in the 2a shown partially extended.

The device 10 also has an ad 32 indicating the order for loading processes, or a message about an error in loading for the users of the device 10 represents.

2 B shows the device 10 with a view of one side with the second connections 12th and the contacts, with the second locking units for the sake of clarity 30th are not shown. The second connections 12th are each provided and set up here for connection to a plug designed as a Mennekes plug.

In the 3 a flowchart is shown which shows a method sequence for charging the traction batteries 33 the one to the second connections 12th the device 10 connected motor vehicles 13a , 13b , 13c represents, being connected to the first connection 8th the device 10 the charging station 2 is connected (cf. 1 ).

In a first step I. . becomes a traction battery 33 a first of the electrically powered motor vehicles 13a loaded. One after the end of this charging process from a control device 34 of the first motor vehicle 13a to a control device 36 the charging station 2 The charging process end signal is output by the control device 18th of the device (step II .) and recognized. For this purpose, as shown above, the control device is in the connected state 18th the device 10 between the control device 34 of the first motor vehicle 13a and the control device 36 the charging station 2 switched.

According to an alternative not shown further, a charging current of the charging process is measured and an end of the charging process is recognized when the current intensity of the charging current has dropped to zero.

Subsequent in time will be in step III . the switches 20th those switching units 22nd set, which are assigned to the second connections to which the first motor vehicle 13a or the second motor vehicle 13b are connected. Here, those switches that are used with the first motor vehicle 13a connected second port 12th are assigned, switched to block the current. Those switches that are used with the second motor vehicle 13b connected second port 12th are assigned are switched to be conductive. In summary, they are or will be the switching units 22nd such by a control device 18th are controlled that at the same time only one of the second connections 12th electrical with the first connection 8th connected is.

In a subsequent fourth step IV . becomes a charging process of the traction battery 33 a second of the motor vehicles 13b started.

In summary, the traction batteries are charged 33 of the first and second motor vehicles 13a and 13b sequentially. Charging the traction battery 33 of the third motor vehicle 13c takes place in a similar way to the charging of the traction battery 33 of the second motor vehicle 13b following.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived from this by the person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all of the individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

List of reference symbols

2

Charging station

4th

Charging cable

6th

plug

8th

first connection

10

contraption

12th

second connection

13a, 13b, 13c

electrically powered motor vehicle

14a, 14b, 14c

Contact of the first connection

16a, 16b, 16c

Contact of the second connection

18th

Control device

20th

counter

22nd

Switching unit

24

first locking unit

26th

Actuator

28

bars

30th

second locking unit

32

display

33

Traction battery

34

Control device of a motor vehicle

36

Control device of the charging station

I.

Charging the traction battery of a first motor vehicle

II.

End the charging process

III.

Setting the switching units

IV.

Charging the traction battery of a second motor vehicle

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2013/041133 A1 [0004]
• DE 102018207219 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

A device (10) for charging the traction batteries (33) of a number of electrically powered motor vehicles (13) at a charging station (2), having - A first connection (8) for connecting to a connection of the charging station (2), - At least two second connections (12) for connecting each to a connection of an electrically driven motor vehicle (13), - wherein each of the second connections (12) has contacts (16), each of which is assigned to a contact (14) of the first connection (8), and - wherein the contacts (16) of each of the second connections (12) can be electrically connected to the respectively assigned contact (14) of the first connection (8) and an electrical connection of these contacts (14, 16) can be separated. Device (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the second connections (12) are each designed as a socket and the first connection (8) as a plug or as a socket. Device (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the contacts (16) of the second connections (12) assigned to the respective contact 14 of the first connection (8) are connected in parallel to one another, - a switching unit (22) being provided for each of the second connections (12) is, by means of which the contacts (16) of the respective second connection (12) can be electrically separated from the assigned contact (14) of the first connection (8) and by means of which the contacts (14) of the first connection (8) with the respectively assigned contacts ( 16) of the second connections (12) is electrically connectable. Device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the switching units (22) are controlled by a control device (18) in such a way that only one of the second connections (12) is electrically connected to the first connection (8) at the same time. Device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the first connection (8) has a first locking unit (24) for locking with the charging station (2) connected to it or a charging cable (4) of the charging station (2) connected to it. Device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that each of the second connections (12) has a second locking unit (30) for locking with a charging cable (4) connected to it. Device (10) according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized by a display (32) for showing a loading sequence. A method for charging the traction batteries (33) of a number of electrically powered motor vehicles (13) at a charging station (2), the electrically powered motor vehicles (13) each having one of the second connections (12) one after one of the Claims 1 to 7th formed device (10) are connected, and wherein the device (10) with its first connection (8) is connected to the charging station (2), - in which a traction battery (33) of a first of the electrically powered vehicles (13) is charged and - in which the charging process of a second one of the motor vehicles (13) is started following the termination of the charging process of the traction battery (33) of the first of the electrically driven motor vehicles (13). Procedure according to Claim 8 , characterized in that, in order to recognize the end of the charging process of the first of the electrically driven motor vehicles (13), a charging process end output by a control device (34) of the first electrically driven motor vehicle (13) to a control device (36) of the charging station (2) -Signal (S) is detected by the control device (18) of the device (10). Procedure according to Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that an end of the charging process of the traction battery (33) of the first electrically driven motor vehicle (13) is detected when the amperage of the charging current is equal to zero.

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