CN112895966A

CN112895966A - Device and method for charging a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: CN112895966A
Application number: CN202011291385.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S.卡登
Original assignee: Volkswagen Automotive Co ltd
Current assignee: Volkswagen Automotive Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-19
Filing date: 2020-11-18
Publication date: 2021-06-04
Also published as: DE102019217783A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for charging traction batteries (33) of a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) on 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 to a connection of an electrically driven motor vehicle (13), wherein each second connection (12) has a contact (16), wherein the contacts (16) each correspond to a contact (14) of the first connection (8), and wherein the contacts (16) of each second connection (12) can be electrically connected to the corresponding contact (14) of the first connection (8), and the electrical connection of the contacts (14, 16) can be disconnected. The invention further relates to a method for charging traction batteries (33) of a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) at a charging station (2).

Description

Device and method for charging a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles

Technical Field

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

Background

Charging stations for charging the traction battery of an electrically driven vehicle are usually provided in parking lots. In the event of a prolonged absence of the user of the charging station, for example when the user has gone to his work site after the charging process has started, the charging station is still locked, i.e. connected, to the motor vehicle after the charging process has ended. The charging station is therefore not available for other users who have entered the parking space during the charging process and also wish to use the charging station for this period of time.

Devices and methods are already known, by means of which efficient use of charging stations can be achieved.

A device for fully automatically charging a plurality of electric vehicles in a parking area is known, for example, from document WO 2013/041133 a1, in which a charging unit for charging the vehicles can be moved on a rail system. However, such a device is relatively complex and costly here.

Furthermore, DE 102018207219 a1 discloses a method for automatically unlocking a charging device, in which an electrically drivable motor vehicle is connected to a charging station. In this case, the mechanical connection between the charging station and the motor vehicle is automatically unlocked as soon as a predefined state of charge is reached in the battery of the motor vehicle. However, in the method described, other vehicles can be connected to the charging station only if the charging station is not used at all. Especially in the case of charging processes that still require a relatively long time, the user cannot always wait for the charging process of the other vehicle to be completed.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method by means of which a plurality of motor vehicles can be charged at a charging station. In particular, locking of the charging station after the end of the charging process is to be avoided.

According to the invention, the technical problem is solved in terms of a device by a device for charging traction batteries of a plurality of electrically driven vehicles at a charging station. According to the invention, the technical problem is solved in terms of a method for charging traction batteries of a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles at a charging station. Here, the embodiments with respect to the apparatus should also apply to the method and, conversely, the embodiments with respect to the method should also apply to the apparatus.

The device is designed and configured to be able to charge the traction batteries of a plurality of electric vehicles on a single charging station. Electrically driven motor vehicles are also referred to below as simply motor vehicles in each case. A charging station is to be understood here as a charging post or a so-called Wallbox, for example.

For this purpose, the device has a first connection on the charging station side for electrical connection to a connection of a charging station. The device further comprises at least two, preferably three or four vehicle-side second terminals, each for electrical connection to a terminal, in particular designed as a charging socket, of the electrically driven motor vehicle. The device is constructed in the form of an adapter.

In this case, the first terminal and each second terminal each have a plurality of (electrical) contacts, by means of which an electrical connection to corresponding mating contacts of the charging station or to corresponding mating contacts of a charging cable for connection to a terminal of the motor vehicle can be achieved. Suitably, the number of contacts of the first connector is equal to the number of contacts of the second connector. In this case, the contacts of the first terminal are each associated with a respective contact of each second terminal. In addition, the contacts of each second terminal can be electrically connected to the associated contacts of the first terminal. The electrical connection formed between the contacts of the first connector and the contacts of the second connector can be broken if necessary. In general, for each of the second terminals, the contacts of the second terminal can be electrically connected to the associated contacts of the first terminal or can be electrically separated from one another.

The terminals of the charging post and of the motor vehicle usually have mating contacts for the protective conductor, for the neutral conductor, for one, two or three phase conductors and optionally for two dc conductors, depending on the type of terminal used in each case, for example CSS, Mennekes or CHAdeMO. Furthermore, the connection of the charging post and the connection of the motor vehicle usually comprise at least one mating contact for a control or test line. The contacts of the first and each second connector suitably have a number and a layout corresponding to the type of connector and a corresponding (plug or socket) profile.

In general, the device is designed such that, when the device is connected to a 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 terminals of the device.

The charging station has, for example, a socket for inserting a charging cable as a connector. Alternatively, the charging station has, for example, a charging cable with an end-side plug, which is designed to be inserted into a charging socket of a motor vehicle. In accordance with a suitable embodiment, the first connection of the device is designed as a plug or socket for connection to a socket or to a plug of the charging station. The second connectors are each designed as a socket for connection to a plug of a charging cable.

If the charging station has more than one socket or more than one charging cable, the device can be connected on each socket or on each charging cable.

In an advantageous embodiment, the contacts of the second terminal associated with the respective contacts of the first terminal are connected in parallel with one another. In other words, the contacts of all the second terminals which are assigned to the contacts of the first terminal in common are connected in parallel with one another. This is also referred to as parallel connection of the second connectors. A switching device is provided for each second connection. The switching device can electrically separate the contacts of the second terminal from the respectively associated contacts of the first terminal. Furthermore, the contacts of the first terminal can be electrically connected to the respectively associated contacts of the second terminal by means of a switching device.

The contact points of the first terminal and the contact points of the second terminal are expediently electrically connected to one another, wherein, for the purpose of connection or for the purpose of disconnection, a switch of the respective switching unit is connected between a node of the contact points of the second terminal, which are connected in parallel to one another, and the contact points. For example, the switches are each in the form of a semiconductor switch, in particular a MOSFET, suitably in the form of a power MOSFET or in the form of a contactor, in particular a power contactor. The corresponding contacts in the current conduction circuit of such a switch are electrically connected to each other. The respective contacts are electrically separated from each other in the current blocking circuit.

In general, the device has a switching unit for each second connection. The switching unit is expediently controlled by the control unit.

As an alternative to this, the mating contacts for the control lines and/or the mating contacts for the test lines are always, i.e. not disconnectably, connected to the corresponding mating contacts of the second terminal.

In general, the first terminals can be connected to or disconnected from the respective second terminals in accordance with a corresponding control of the switching unit, i.e. in accordance with a current-blocking or current-conducting control of the switches of the switching unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the switching unit is controlled by the control device such that only one second connection, i.e. only one of the second connections, is electrically connected to the first connection at the same time.

In this way, only one vehicle connected to the second connection is charged at a time. As soon as the charging process of the traction battery of the motor vehicle is finished, the corresponding second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal and the first terminal is connected to one of the further second terminals, so that the traction battery of the motor vehicle connected to this second terminal can be charged.

Overall, the switching unit is controlled in such a way that the traction batteries of the motor vehicle connected to the second connection are charged sequentially, in other words one after the other in time.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the first connector has a first locking unit for locking the charging station connected to the first connector or the charging cable connected to the first connector of the charging station. For example, the locking unit has an actuator for this purpose, which moves the plug into a corresponding receptacle of the charging post socket or of the plug of the charging cable.

The locking can expediently be triggered by the control unit by means of a corresponding control of the locking unit. Alternatively or preferably additionally, the device can be fastened to the charging post or to the plug of the charging cable of the charging post by means of special tools, so that the device can only be removed by a professional for theft protection.

According to a suitable development, each second connector has a second locking unit for locking a charging cable, in particular a plug of a charging cable, connected to the second connector. In a similar manner, the second locking unit has an actuator with a bolt that can be moved by the actuator. The charging process is not interrupted by (in particular accidental) disengagement in view of the locking, and the safety of the user is increased.

Preferably, the unlocking of the lock at the respective second connection is effected in view of a control signal of a control unit of the device, of a control unit of the motor vehicle or of a control unit of the charging post. Preferably, an input by the respective user is required for this purpose.

According to one expedient configuration, the device has a display for displaying the charging sequence, the remaining charging time and the like. The display device is configured, for example, as an LCD display. Such a display device is also provided, for example, for each second connector.

According to a method for charging traction batteries of a plurality of electrically driven vehicles at a single charging station, wherein the electrically driven vehicles are each connected to one of the second connections of a device configured according to the above-described variant, and wherein the device is connected with its first connection to the charging station, first the traction battery of a first electrically driven vehicle of the plurality of electrically driven vehicles is charged. Subsequently, i.e. after the charging process of the traction battery of the first electrically driven vehicle has ended, the charging process of a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is started.

In general, a sequential charging of the motor vehicle connected to the second connection is effected. In other words, only the traction battery of a single vehicle is charged at a time. For this purpose, the switches of the switching unit are controlled accordingly. The sequence of the charging process is determined, for example, by the sequence in which the motor vehicle is connected to the device.

In order to detect the end of the charging process of the first motor vehicle, the control device of the device detects a charging end signal sent by the control device of the motor vehicle to the control device of the charging station.

Alternatively or preferably additionally, i.e. redundantly, the end of the charging process of the first motor vehicle is detected when the 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 by the current intensity of the charging current. The device has a corresponding current meter for this purpose.

The advantage of the invention is, in particular, that a certain number, i.e. only one or more than one, of electrically driven motor vehicles can be connected to the device and electrically connected to the charging post by means of said device. Then another (second) vehicle can already be connected even if the charging process of the traction battery of the first vehicle has not yet taken place. The user of the second vehicle does not have to wait until the release of the connection of the charging post by the user of the first vehicle. After the charging process of the traction battery of the first motor vehicle, i.e. even if the user is not in the vicinity of the charging station, the charging process of the traction battery of the second motor vehicle is automatically started.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures. In the drawings:

fig. 1 schematically shows a charging station designed as a charging post, which is connected to a first connection of a device, wherein an electrically driven motor vehicle is connected to a second connection of the device,

fig. 2a shows a circuit diagram of the device, in which the contacts of the first terminal can be electrically connected to the associated contacts of each second terminal,

FIG. 2b schematically shows a front view of the apparatus, and

fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method sequence for charging a traction battery of a motor vehicle at a charging station.

Parts and dimensions corresponding to one another are always provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a parking lot with a charging station 2 designed as a charging post. The charging station 2 has a charging cable 4, which has a connector in the form of a plug 6 on the end side. The plug of the charging cable is connected to a first connector 8 of the device 10, wherein the first connector 8 is designed as a socket that is adapted to the plug of the charging cable 4 of the charging station 2. The connection of the charging station 2 is also designed here as a plug 6.

The device 10 also has a plurality of second connections 12, which are connected to one electrically driven

vehicle

13a, 13b, 13c by means of corresponding charging cables 4, in the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 1, and which have three second connections. The second connectors 12 are each designed as sockets which are adapted to the plug 6 of the charging cable 4. The second terminals 12 are each connected by one of the charging cables 4 to a terminal of the respective electrically driven

vehicle

13a, 13b, 13c, which is designed as a charging socket.

According to a solution not specifically shown, the charging station 2 has a socket (socket) for a charging cable. Accordingly, the first connector 8 is designed as a plug adapted thereto.

As is shown in particular in fig. 2a and 2b, the first connection 8 and each second connection 12 each have a number of contacts, wherein the

contacts

14a, 14b, 14c of the first connection 8 are also designated as a whole by 14, and the

contacts

16a, 16b, 16c of the second connection 12 are also designated as 16. In fig. 2a, only three

contacts

14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, 16c of each terminal 8 or 12 are shown here for the sake of simplicity. The first and

second terminals

8, 12 have further contacts depending on the design of the plug 6 of the charging cable 4. As shown in fig. 2b by way of example, the Mennekes plug and the first and

second connections

8 and 12 resulting therefrom each have seven contacts, namely one contact for the control line, one contact for the pilot line, one contact for the protective line, one contact for the neutral conductor and three contacts for the three phase conductors.

The number of contacts 16 of the second terminal 12 corresponds to the number of contacts 14 of the first terminal 8, wherein each contact 16 of each second terminal 12 is assigned a respective contact 14 of the first terminal 8.

The contact 14a is connected to a contact 16a of the second terminal 12 according to a current path, the contacts 16a being connected in parallel to one another. The contact 14b is connected to a contact 16b of the second terminal 12 according to a current path, wherein the contacts 16b are connected in parallel with each other. The contact 14c designed for the control line is connected to a control device 18, which in turn is connected to the contact 16 c. In other words, the control device 18 is connected between the

contacts

14c and 16 c. The contacts 16c are connected in parallel with each other by means of a control device 18.

In general, the contacts 14 are connected to the contacts 16 respectively associated with the contacts 14 by means of corresponding current paths. The

contacts

16a, 16b, 16c of the second terminal 12, which are assigned to the

respective contacts

14a, 14b, 14c of the first terminal 8, are connected in parallel to one another.

Furthermore, a switch 20 is provided for each

contact

16a, 16b of the second terminal 12, which switch is connected in a current path between the

respective contact

16a or 16b and the respective node of the parallel circuit of the

contacts

16a and 16 b. A switch 20 is also connected between the control unit 18 and the contact 16c of the second connector. The switch 20 associated with the contact 16 of one of the second connectors 12 is generally referred to as a switching unit 22.

Each switch 20 is controlled by the control device 18 in a manner not shown in detail here. The mutually corresponding contacts 16, 14 of the second terminal 12 and the first terminal 8 can be electrically connected to one another by means of a switch 20, and the electrical connection between the contacts 16, 14, which is optionally produced, can be broken.

In general, the electrically driven

motor vehicles

13a, 13b, 13c are connected to the charging station 2, that is to say to the charging station, by means of the device 10.

In the control device 18, i.e. inside the control device, the current paths of the control unit to the contacts 16c are insulated from each other, so that mutual influences in terms of signal transmission and in terms of transmission of overload voltages or overload currents in the event of a fault are avoided or at least the risk thereof is reduced. In the event of a fault, at least the switch 20 associated with the second connection 12 is switched to blocking current by appropriate control of the control device 18, with which the motor vehicle causing the fault is connected.

According to an alternative, not specifically shown, of the device 10, a switch 20 connected between the control device 18 and the contact 16c is integrated in the control device 18.

The first joint 8 has a first locking unit 24. The first locking unit comprises an actuator 26, which is controlled in a manner not specifically shown by the control device 18 (also referred to as control device 18), so that a bolt 28 (bolt) can be moved in a direction transverse to the insertion direction and, in the fitted state, into a corresponding receptacle of the plug 6 of the charging cable 4 of the charging station 2. In a similar manner, each second joint 12 has a second locking unit 30 with an actuator 26 controllable by the control device 18 and with a bolt 28. In this way, an accidental disconnection between the device 10 and the charging station 2 or of the charging cable 4 connected to the

respective vehicle

13a, 13b, 13c is avoided. The latches 28 and 30 of the first and second lock units 24 are shown partially removed in fig. 2 a.

The device 10 also has a display device 32 which displays the sequence of the charging process, messages about fault situations during charging, to the user of the device 10.

Fig. 2b shows the device 10 in a view from the side of the second connector 12 and the contacts, wherein the second locking unit 30 is not shown for the sake of simplicity. The second terminals 12 are designed and configured here for connection to plugs in the form of Mennekes plugs.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart which represents a method sequence for charging the traction battery 33 of the

motor vehicle

13a, 13b, 13c connected to the second connection 12 of the device 10, wherein a charging station 2 (see fig. 1) is connected to the first connection 8 of the device 10.

In a first step i, the traction battery 33 of a first electrically driven vehicle 13a of the plurality of electrically driven vehicles is charged. After the end of this charging process, the control device 18 of the device detects (step II.) and identifies a charging process end signal which is sent by the control unit 34 of the first motor vehicle 13a to the control device 36 of the charging station 2. For this purpose, the control device 18 of the device 10 is connected in the connected state between the control device 34 of the first motor vehicle 13a and the control device 36 of the charging station 2, as described above.

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

In a step iii, the switch 20 of the switching unit 22 associated with the second connection to which the first motor vehicle 13a or the second motor vehicle 13b is connected is then adjusted. In this case, the switch associated with the second terminal 12 connected to the first motor vehicle 13a is switched to current blocking. The switch associated with the second connection 12 connected to the second motor vehicle 13b is switched into current conduction. In general, the switching unit 22 is controlled by the control device 18 such that at the same time only one second connection 12 is electrically connected to the first connection 8.

In a fourth, temporally subsequent step iv, the charging process of the traction battery of the second motor vehicle 13b of the plurality of motor vehicles is started.

In general, the charging of the traction batteries 33 of the first and

second motor vehicles

13a and 13b is done sequentially. The charging of the traction battery 33 of the third motor vehicle 13c follows in a similar manner in time the charging of the traction battery 33 of the second motor vehicle 13 b.

The disclosure of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. On the contrary, other variants of the invention can also be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art, without leaving the scope of the invention. In particular, all individual features described in connection with the various exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways, as long as they do not depart from the technical solution of the invention.

List of reference numerals

2 charging station

4 charging cable

6 plug

8 first joint

10 device

12 second joint

13a, 13b, 13c electrically driven motor vehicle

14a, 14b, 14c contact of a first contact

16a, 16b, 16c contacts of a second connector

18 control device

20 switch

22 switch unit

24 first locking unit

26 actuator

28 bolt

30 second locking unit

32 display device

33 traction battery

34 control device for motor vehicle

36 control device of charging station

I. Charging of a traction battery of a first motor vehicle

End of charging Process

Adjustment of the switching unit

Charging of the traction battery of the second motor vehicle

Claims

1. A device (10) for charging traction batteries (33) of a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) on a charging station (2) has

-a first connector (8), the first connector (8) being intended to be connected with a connector of the charging station (2),

-at least two second connections (12), said second connections (12) being intended to be connected to respective connections of an electrically driven motor vehicle (13),

-wherein each second connector (12) has contacts (16), each of said contacts (16) corresponding to a contact (14) of the first connector (8), and

-wherein the contacts (16) of each second joint (12) are electrically connectable with the respectively corresponding contacts (14) of the first joint (8) and the electrical connection of said contacts (14, 16) is disconnectable.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second connectors (12) are each designed as sockets, and the first connector (8) is designed as a plug or as a socket.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

-the contacts (16) of the second connector (12) associated with the respective contacts (14) of the first connector (8) are connected in parallel with each other,

-wherein a switching unit (22) is provided for each second connection (12), by means of which switching unit (22) the contacts (16) of the respective second connection (12) can be electrically separated from the associated contacts (14) of the first connection (8), and by means of which switching unit (22) the contacts (14) of the first connection (8) can be electrically connected to the associated contacts (16) of the second connection (12).

4. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the switching unit (22) is controlled by a control device (18) such that at the same time only one second connection (12) is electrically connected to the first connection (8).

5. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 4,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first connector (8) has a first locking unit (24), wherein the first locking unit (24) is used for locking the charging station (2) connected to the first connector or locking a charging cable (4) of the charging station (2) connected to the first connector.

6. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

each second connector (12) has a second locking unit (30), and the second locking unit (30) is used for locking the charging cable (4) connected to the second connector.

7. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 6,

characterized by having a display device (32) for displaying the charging sequence.

8. Method for charging traction batteries (33) of a plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) on a charging station (2), wherein the plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13) are each connected to one of the second connections (12) of a device (10) constructed according to one of claims 1 to 7, and wherein the device (10) is connected with its first connection (8) to the charging station (2),

-wherein a traction battery (33) of a first electrically driven vehicle of the plurality of electrically driven vehicles (13) is charged, and

-starting a charging process of a second electrically driven vehicle of the plurality of electrically driven vehicles (13) after the end of the charging process of the traction battery (33) of the first electrically driven vehicle of the plurality of electrically driven vehicles (13) in time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the control device (18) of the device (10) detects a charge end signal (S) emitted by the control device (34) of the first electrically driven motor vehicle (13) to the control device (36) of the charging station (2) in order to detect the end of a charging process of the first electrically driven motor vehicle of the plurality of electrically driven motor vehicles (13).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

when the current intensity of the charging current is equal to 0, the end of the charging process of the traction battery (33) of the first electrically driven motor vehicle (13) is detected.