阅读说明：本技术 电动或混合动力机动车的电池充电器 (Battery charger for electric or hybrid vehicle ) 是由 G·西蒙纳西 于 2019-02-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于电动或混合动力机动车的电池充电器(1),包括：一个容器体(2),该容器体(2)能够安装在机动车上并限定一个容纳室,容器体(2)包括一个接地连接器(3)该接地连接器(3)通过一个电接地电缆(4)连接到一个接地电位；容纳在容纳室内的一个电子设备,该电子设备可连接到机动车的一个电池并配置为电池充电；其中连接器(3)包括适于限制其位置的电接地电缆(4)的保持装置(5)。(Battery charger (1) for electric or hybrid vehicles, comprising container bodies (2), the container bodies (2) being mountable on a vehicle and defining housing chambers, the container bodies (2) comprising ground connectors (3), the ground connectors (3) being connected to ground potentials by electrical ground cables (4), electronic devices housed in the housing chambers, the electronic devices being connectable to batteries of the vehicle and configured to charge the batteries, wherein the connectors (3) comprise retaining means (5) of the electrical ground cables (4) adapted to limit their position.)

1. Battery charger (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising:

-at least container bodies (2), said container bodies (2) being mountable on a motor vehicle and defining at least containment chambers, said container bodies (2) comprising at least ground connectors (3), said at least ground connectors (3) being connected to at least ground potential by at least electrical ground cables (4);

-at least electronic devices housed in the housing compartment, the electronic devices being connectable to at least batteries of the motor vehicle and configured to recharge the batteries;

characterized in that said connector (3) comprises retaining means (5) of said electrical ground cable (4) adapted to limit the position of the electrical ground cable (4).

2. Battery charger (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining means (5) comprise elastic locking means (6a, 6b) for locking said electric grounding cable (4).

3. The battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that said retaining means (5) comprise a plurality of elastic locking means (6a, 6b), said plurality of elastic locking means (6a, 6b) being adapted to fix the position of a plurality of electrical earth cables (4).

4. The battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that said elastic locking means (6a, 6b) comprise at least pairs of elastic elements (7), said elastic elements (7) being arranged substantially opposite each other to define at least grip mouths (8) and being elastically deformable away from each other to allow insertion of said cables (4) inside said grip mouths (8), said elastic elements (7) being elastically approached to each other to prevent the cables (4) from coming out from said grip mouths (8).

5. Battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least of said elastic locking means (6a, 6b) define clamping mouths (8) of greater or lesser size than the clamping mouths (8) defined by the other elastic locking means (6a, 6b) to lock electrical earth cables (4) of greater or lesser size, respectively.

6. the battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resilient elements (7) comprise at least elongated portions (9) and at least extremum locking portions (10) associated with the elongated portions (9) and arranged convexly towards the inside of the clamping opening 8, the extremum portions (10) of the pair of resilient elements (7) being arranged substantially opposite each other, wherein resilient elements extend towards the other resilient elements and interlock the cable (4) after insertion of the cable (4) into the clamping opening (8).

7. The battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extremum portion (10) comprises at least inclined surfaces (12), said inclined surfaces (12) converging towards the inside of said clamping mouth (8) so as to define the opening of said clamping mouth (8), said inclined surfaces (12) being adapted to be pressed so as to insert an electrical ground cable (4) inside said clamping mouth (8) and in this way cause an elastic deformation of said elastic element (7).

8. The battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extremum portion (10) comprises at least abutment surfaces (23) facing the inside of the clamping mouth (8), and in that said abutment surfaces (23) are adapted to abut against the cable (4) housed inside the clamping mouth (8), so as to prevent the cable (4) from coming out.

9. The battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that it comprises detachable attachment means (13, 14) for attaching said holding means (5) to said connector (3).

10. The battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, wherein said attachment means (13, 14) comprise at least interlocking bodies (13) formed on of said connector (3) and said holding means (5) and at least interlocking grooves (14) formed on the other of said connector (3) and said holding means (5), said interlocking grooves (14) being adapted to cooperate with said interlocking bodies (13) to form an interlock.

11. The battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that said interlock slot (14) comprises at least pairs of resilient bodies (15), said resilient bodies (15) being arranged substantially opposite each other and being elastically deformable away from each other to allow said interlock body (13) to form an interlock within said interlock slot (14), said resilient bodies (15) being elastically close to each other to prevent said interlock body (13) from coming out of said interlock slot (14).

12. Battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connector (3) comprises at least electrical connection elements (19a, 19b) and at least connection terminals (20a, 20b) of said electrical ground cable (4), said connection terminals (20a, 20b) being detachably couplable to said connection elements (19a, 19b) and electrically connected with said electrical ground cable (4), wherein said connection terminals (20a, 20b) are fixed by said elastic locking means (6a, 6b) to lock the movement of said electrical ground cable (4).

13. Battery charger (1) according to or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising removable fixing means (21, 22) to fix said connection elements (19a, 19b) to said connector (3).

14. The battery charger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that said fixing means (21, 22) comprise:

-at least through holes (21) provided on at least of said connectors (3) and said holding means (5), said connecting elements (19a, 19b) being inserted inside said through holes (21);

-at least supporting elements (22) provided on the other of the connector (3) and the retaining means (5) and adapted to support the connecting elements (19a, 19b) inserted inside the through hole (21), the supporting elements (22) preventing the connecting elements (19a, 19b) from coming out of the through hole (21) when the retaining means (5) are fixed to the connector (3) by the attachment means (13, 14).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a battery charger for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

Background

Many known battery chargers for electric or hybrid vehicles are used to charge a battery typically mounted on such vehicles in order to power various electronic devices (e.g., an engine, a control unit, vehicle lights, etc.).

In particular, this type of battery charger is provided with an electronic device for recharging the battery and with a container body of the electronic device itself, intended to protect and facilitate its installation in the motor vehicle.

Furthermore, container bodies of this type are generally made of a metallic material in order to provide particular protection to the container body and at the same time shield the electronic equipment from any electromagnetic interference that may adversely affect the operation of the electronic equipment.

For safety reasons, however, this type of container body must be electrically connected to an electrical ground potential by means of a suitable electrical ground cable.

As such , if the container body is accidentally powered, for example due to a malfunction of the electronic device, the electrical grounding cable can discharge voltage that could otherwise pose a danger to a user contacting the container body.

In fact, known container bodies typically comprise at least ground connectors, which may be electrically connected to ground potential by an electrical ground cable.

In particular, the ground connector generally comprises a connection element to which the electrical ground cable is electrically and mechanically fixed.

Typically, the connection element comprises a screw made integrally with the connector , to which the electrical ground cable is connected by means of a special electrical terminal.

Furthermore, the connection element comprises a nut for mechanically fixing, in sequence, the electrical terminal, the cable and the screw itself after screwing on the screw.

However, this type of battery charger still remains to be improved due to the connection of the electrical ground cable to the ground connector.

During the fixing of the electrical terminal to the connecting element, the electrical ground cable is free to move, for example due to the friction forces exerted on the terminal by the clamping nut tightened along the clamping screw.

Consequently, the professional operator responsible for fixing the electrical ground cable to the clamping screw must also ensure manual fixing of the cable itself when tightening the clamping nut, since the cable itself may be unintentionally moved, for example by collision with other components of the battery charger, with the result that damage may occur.

Furthermore, such manual holding operation by the operator significantly increases the installation time of the battery charger.

Disclosure of Invention

The main object of the present invention is to devise a battery charger for electric or hybrid vehicles which allows to easily connect an earth connector to an electric earth cable without having to hold the latter manually.

Another object of the invention is to design a battery charger that holds the ground cable in a safe manner without risk of damaging the ground cable.

Another object of the invention is to devise battery chargers for electric or hybrid vehicles which allow to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art with a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The above object is achieved by the battery charger according to the invention for an electric or hybrid vehicle having the features of claim 1.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge even more from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a battery charger for electric or hybrid vehicles, illustrated by way of indicative but non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a battery charger according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of several elements of a battery charger according to the present invention;

figures 3 and 4 are two isometric views showing the grounding step of the battery charger according to the invention;

fig. 5 is an exploded view of a battery charger according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a battery charger for electric or hybrid vehicles.

The battery charger 1 for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprises:

-at least container bodies 2, the container bodies 2 being mountable on a motor vehicle and defining at least containment compartments, the container bodies 2 comprising at least ground connectors 3, the at least ground connectors 3 being connected to at least ground potential by at least electrical ground cables 4;

-at least electronic devices housed within the housing compartment, the electronic devices being connectable to at least batteries of the motor vehicle and configured to recharge the batteries.

In particular, the connector 3 comprises a holding device 5 of the electrical ground cable 4, the holding device 5 being adapted to limit the position of the electrical ground cable 4.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 1, the connector 3 is an elongated body which extends to the outside of the container body 2 and has a holding means 5 at its end.

In more detail, the retaining means 5 comprise elastic locking means 6a, 6b of the electrical ground cable 4.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining means 5 comprise a plurality of elastic locking means 6a, 6b, the plurality of elastic locking means 6a, 6b being adapted to fix the position of the plurality of electrical earth cables 4.

Preferably, the holding means 5 comprise resilient locking means 6a for fixing the position of the th electrical ground cable 4 and second resilient locking means 6b for fixing the position of the second electrical ground cable 4.

However, it is not excluded that the retaining means 5 in alternative embodiments comprise a different number of resilient locking means 6a, 6 b.

Preferably, the retaining means 5 comprise a supporting body 11, substantially plate-shaped, on which supporting body 11 the elastic locking means 6a, 6b are arranged.

Advantageously, the elastic locking means 6a, 6b comprise at least pairs of elastic elements 7, the pairs of elastic elements 7 being arranged substantially opposite each other to define at least grip mouths 8 and being elastically deformable away from each other to allow the insertion of the cables 4 therein, while the pairs of elastic elements 7 are elastically approached to each other to prevent the cables 4 from coming out of the grip mouths 8.

In particular, the elastic element 7 comprises at least elongated portions 9 and at least extremum (extremal) locking portions 10 associated with the elongated portions 9 and arranged projecting towards the inside of the gripping mouth 8.

Furthermore, the pairs of extreme parts 10 of the elastic elements 7 are arranged substantially opposite each other, with elastic elements extending towards the other elastic elements and interlocking the cables 4 after the cables 4 are inserted into the clamping mouths 8.

Preferably, the elongated portion 9 is two flat bodies associated with the supporting body 11 and arranged substantially perpendicular to the latter so as to define, with its , a clamping mouth 8 with a substantially "U" -shaped section.

Furthermore, the elongated portions 9 are spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the cable 4, so as to allow the housing of the latter to enter the gripping mouth 8.

In another aspect, as shown in fig. 2, the extreme value part 10 body preferably projects towards the inside of the gripping mouth 8 and is associated with the relative elastic element 7 at the point of furthest movement with respect to the supporting body 11.

In particular, the extremum portion 10 comprises at least inclined surfaces 12, the inclined surfaces 12 converging towards the inside of the gripping mouth 8, the inclined surfaces 12 defining the opening of the gripping mouth 8.

Furthermore, the inclined surface 12 is adapted to be pressed in order to facilitate the insertion of the electrical ground cable 4 into the clamping mouth 8 and in this way to cause an elastic deformation of the elastic element 7.

Advantageously, the inclined surface 12 can be pressed by the cable 4 during insertion of the cable 4 into the clamping mouth 8.

In particular, as shown in fig. 2, the inclined surface 12 of the elastic element 7 defines an opening having a narrower section than the clamping mouth 8.

In other words, the inclined surface 12 substantially defines a bottleneck of the clamping opening 8.

Preferably, the inclined surfaces 12 are arranged obliquely starting from the respective elastic element 7 and converge towards the supporting body 11 so as to define guides adapted to facilitate the sliding of the cable 4 inside the gripping mouth 8.

Advantageously, the extremum portion 10 comprises at least abutment surfaces 23 facing the inside of the clamping mouth 8 and this abutment surface 23 is adapted to abut against the cable 4 housed inside the clamping mouth 8, preventing the cable 4 from coming out.

Preferably, the abutment surface 23 is arranged substantially parallel to the support body 11.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the abutment surface 23 and the inclined surface 12 meet each other to form a substantially saw-tooth shaped extremum portion 10.

Advantageously, at least of the elastic locking means 6a, 6b are used to define a grip opening 8 of greater or lesser size than the grip opening 8 defined by the other elastic locking means 6a, 6b, in order to lock the electrical earth cable 4 of greater or lesser size, respectively.

In particular, the th elastic locking means 6a is provided with pairs of elastic elements 7, which are smaller than the pairs of elastic elements 7 of the second elastic locking means 6b, in order to restrain the smaller electrical earth cable 4.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the elastic elements 7 of the th elastic locking means 6a are arranged at a distance from each other which is smaller than the mutual distance at which the elastic elements 7 of the second elastic locking means 6b are located.

Furthermore, the height of the elastic element 7 of the th elastic locking means 6a is lower than the elastic element 7 of the second elastic locking means 6 b.

In other words, the elastic element 7 of the th elastic locking means 6a extends a shorter distance from the support body 11 than the elastic element 7 of the second elastic locking means 6 b.

In this way, the th resilient locking means 6a may be used to hold the cable 4 when the cable 4 is not, in view of its dimensions, able to be held by the abutment surface 23 of the resilient element 7 of the second resilient locking means 6 b.

Advantageously, the battery charger comprises detachable attachment means 13, 14 to attach the retaining means 5 to the connector 3.

In particular, the attachment means 13, 14 comprise at least interlocking bodies 13 formed on of the connector 3 and the holding means 5, and at least interlocking grooves 14 formed on the other of the connector 3 and the holding means 5, the interlocking grooves 14 being adapted to cooperate with the interlocking bodies 13 to form an interlock.

Preferably, the interlock groove 14 is formed on the supporting body 11 of the holding device 5, and the interlock body 13 is formed on the connector 3.

However, an alternative embodiment of the battery charger 1, in which the interlocking groove 14 is formed on the connector 3 and the interlocking body 13 is formed on the support body 11, cannot be excluded.

Advantageously, the interlock slot 14 includes at least pairs of resilient bodies 15, the pairs of resilient bodies 15 being disposed substantially opposite one another and being resiliently deformable away from one another to allow the interlock body 13 to form an interlock within the interlock slot 14, the pairs of resilient bodies 15 being resiliently proximate to one another to prevent the interlock body 13 from being removed from the interlock slot 14.

As shown in the embodiment of the figures, the elastic body 15 has a substantially elongated shape and extends transversely with respect to the support body 11 along a direction of extension substantially orthogonal to the direction of extension of the elastic element 7.

Further, the resilient body 15 comprises a restriction 16 extending into the interlock slot 14, and the interlock body 13 comprises pairs of substantially opposing restriction slots 17, wherein the restriction slots 17 are adapted to receive the restriction 16.

Conveniently, the elastomer body 15 comprises at least guide portions 18, which guide portions 18 are adapted to abut the interlock body 13 when the interlock body 13 is inserted into the interlock slot 14.

In fact, when the interlocking body 13 is inserted into the interlocking groove 14, it separates the elastic body 15 by elastic deformation of the elastic body 15 and comes into sliding contact with the restricting portion 16 until the restricting portion 16 is arranged at the restricting groove 17, at which time the elastic body 15 can push the restricting portion 16 into the corresponding restricting groove 17 due to elastic return of the elastic body 15, thereby attaching the restricting portion 16 to the restricting groove 17.

In this way the retaining means 5 can be easily connected/released to/from the connector 3, for example by replacing the retaining means 5 provided by the resilient locking means 6a, 6b defined by the clamping mouths 8 having different sizes.

Advantageously, the connector 3 comprises at least electrical connection elements 19a, 19b and at least connection terminals 20a, 20b of the electrical ground cable 4, which connection terminals 20a, 20b are detachably couplable to the connection elements 19a, 19b and electrically connected with the electrical ground cable 4, wherein the connection terminals 20a, 20b are fixed by elastic locking means 6a, 6b to lock the movement of the electrical ground cable 4.

Advantageously, the connecting elements 19a, 19b comprise a threaded body 19a and a nut body 19b, the nut body 19b being able to be screwed onto the threaded body 19a to fix the connecting terminals 20a, 20b thereto.

In particular, the connection terminals 20a, 20b are preferably conductive tips.

Further, the connection terminals 20a, 20b are provided with a th fixed end 20a fixed to the electrical grounding cable 4, and a second fixed end 20b fixed to the screw body 19 a.

Preferably, the fixed end 20a is a clamp for mechanically securing wire or wires to the cable 4, such as with a clamping tool, and the second fixed end 20b is a clamping ring fitted along the threaded body 19 a.

In this way, after fitting the clamp ring along the screw body 19a, the nut body 19b is screwed along the screw body itself and locks the position of the clamp ring.

Conveniently, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the connection terminals 20a, 20b are fitted in the clamping mouth 8 between the elastic elements 7.

In this way, the elastic element 7 abuts against the connection terminals 20a, 20b to fix the position of the cable 4 rather than the main body of the cable 4, which could damage the elastic element itself.

In this way, the movement of the cable 4 is prevented by restricting the connection terminals 20a, 20 b.

In particular, the -th fixing end 20a is confined within the clamping opening 8, while the clamping ring is confined by the connecting elements 19a, 19 b.

Conveniently, the battery charger 1 comprises removable fixing means 21, 22 for fixing the connection elements 19a, 19b to the connector 3.

In particular, the fixing means 21, 22 comprise:

at least through holes 21 provided on at least of the connectors 3 and the holding means 5, the connecting elements 19a, 19b being inserted inside the through holes 21;

at least supporting elements 22 provided on the other of the connector 3 and the retaining means 5 and adapted to support the connecting elements 19a, 19b inserted inside the through hole 21, the supporting elements 22 preventing the connecting elements 19a, 19b from coming out of the through hole 21 when the retaining means 5 are fixed to the connector 3 by the attachment means 13, 14.

Preferably, the through hole 21 is of a screw type and passes through the body of the connector 3.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, the through-hole 21 passes from the side of the interlocking body 13 to the side.

, the threaded body 19a is preferably a clamping screw adapted to be screwed into the through hole 21 to project from the connector 3.

Preferably, the support element 22 is a flat portion associated with the support body 11, which extends transversely from the latter, substantially parallel to the elastic body 15 and opposite to the elastic body 15.

In particular, the support elements 22 are spaced from the elastic body 15 by a predetermined distance that is equidistant.

In this way, when the holding fixture 5 is attached to the connector 3, the support member 22 is disposed below the screw body 19a, thereby preventing the screw body 19a from coming out of the through-hole 21.

Practice has shown that the described invention achieves the intended aim.

In particular, the retaining means allow to limit the movement of the cable, in particular during the installation of the cable, so as to maintain an optimal electrical connection.

In addition, the provision of a plurality of resilient means also allows for the connection of a plurality of cables.

Furthermore, the attachment means between the retaining means and the connector makes it possible to easily replace the elastic locking means (for example in the case of damage to the elastic element) without the need to replace the entire connector.