TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a cover arrangement for a combined charging receiver arranged on a vehicle for charging a battery unit of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are provided with battery units which need to be charged. In order to facilitate charging batteries on such vehicles a so called combined charging system (CCS) may be used. Such a combined charging system may comprises a combined charging receiver arranged at the vehicle. The combined charging receiver comprises a first receiving portion for receiving an alternating current (AC) charging connector and a second receiving portion for receiving a direct current (DC) charging connector. The first receiving portion further comprises ground connection and signal connections. The alternating current charging connector as well as the direct current charging connector are connectable to the ground connection and signal connections of the first receiving portion. When not used, the combined charging receiver needs to be covered for protection.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cover arrangement for a combined charging receiver arranged on a vehicle for charging a battery unit of the vehicle, which cover arrangement facilitates for an operator to access the combined charging receiver in connection to charging. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle comprising such a cover arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects, apparent from the following description, are achieved by a cover arrangement and a vehicle as set out in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method and the control device are defined in appended dependent claims.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a cover arrangement for a combined charging receiver arranged on a vehicle for charging a battery unit of the vehicle. The combined charging receiver comprises a first receiving portion for receiving an alternating current charging connector and a second receiving portion for receiving a direct current charging connector. The first receiving portion further comprises ground connection and signal connections. The alternating current charging connector as well as the direct current charging connector are connectable to the ground connection and signal connections of the first receiving portion. The cover arrangement comprises a first cover element being arranged to cover the first receiving portion and a second cover element being arranged to cover the second receiving portion. The first cover element is configured to be separately openable to expose the first receiving portion, and the second cover element is openable to expose the second receiving portion. The first cover element is configured to partly overlap the second cover element so that both cover elements are openable by means of the second cover element exposing the first receiving portion as well as the second receiving portion.

Hereby an operator may easily access the combined charging receiver in connection to charging in that the operator may easily open the first cover element for connecting an alternating current charging connector or both the first and second cover element for connecting a direct current charging connector. Due to the fact that the first cover element is configured to partly overlap the second cover element a cover arrangement is provided with facilitates easy and cost efficient manufacture.

According to an embodiment of the cover arrangement the first cover element and the second cover element are arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver at a distance from each other. Herby an even easier and more cost efficient manufacture is facilitated. Due to the hinged connection at a distance from each other easy replacement of one cover element is facilitated. According to an embodiment the cover arrangement is arranged such that the second cover element is retained when an alternating current charging connector is introduced in the first receiving portion. Hereby the risk of exposure of the second receiving portion when an alternating current charging connector is introduced in the first receiving portion is efficiently essentially eliminated.

According to an embodiment of the cover arrangement the first cover element comprises a first grip member arranged to facilitate manual opening of the first cover element and the second cover element comprises a second grip member arranged to facilitate manual opening of the second cover element. Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle comprising a cover arrangement as set out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a plan view of a cover arrangement arranged to cover a combined charging receiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover arrangement in fig. 2 arranged to partly cover the combined charging receiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover arrangement in fig. 2 arranged to expose the combined charging receiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION hereinafter the term“link” refers to a communication link which may be a physical connector, such as an optoelectronic communication wire, or a non physical connector such as a wireless connection, for example a radio or microwave link.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle V according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle V may be an electric vehicle. The vehicle V may be a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle comprises a chargeable battery unit, not shown. The vehicle V comprises a combined charging receiver arranged on the vehicle V for charging the battery unit of the vehicle. The combined charging receiver R is, during non-operation, i.e. non charging, arranged to be covered by means of a cover arrangement according to the present disclosure. Fig. 2, 3 and 4 schematically illustrates a plan view of a cover arrangement C for covering a combined charging receiver R according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In fig. 4, the cover arrangement C is arranged to expose the combined charging receiver R.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4 the combined charging receiver R comprises a first receiving portion 10 for receiving an alternating current charging connector, not shown. The first receiving portion 10 comprises alternating current charging inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d for receiving such an alternating current charging connector for charging with alternating current.

The first receiving portion 10 comprises ground connection 14.

The first receiving portion 10 comprises signal connections 16a, 16b.

The first receiving portion 10 has according to this embodiment an essentially oval shape. The first receiving portion 10 comprises an outer edge 10a having an essentially oval configuration.

The ground connection 14 is according to this exemplary embodiment centrally arranged on the first receiving portion 10. The alternating current charging inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and the signal connections 16a, 16b are arranged around the ground connection. The alternating current charging inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d are to some extent facing towards the second receiving portion

20 and the signal connections 16a, 16b are facing away from the second receiving portion 20.

As shown in fig. 4 the combined charging receiver R comprises a second receiving portion 20 for receiving a direct current charging connector, not shown. The second receiving portion 20 comprises direct current charging inlets 22, 24 for receiving such direct current charging connector for charging with direct current. The second receiving portion 20 has according to this embodiment an essentially oval shape. The first receiving portion 20 comprises an outer edge 20a having an essentially oval configuration.

Thus, the charging receiver R according to this exemplary embodiment has a composite oval shape. The essentially oval shaped first receiving portion 10 and the essentially oval shaped second receiving portion 20 are lumped together forming the charging receiver R.

The not shown alternating current charging connector as well as the not shown direct current charging connector are connectable to the ground connection 14 and signal connections 16a, 16b of the first receiving portion 10.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover arrangement C arranged to cover the combined charging receiver R according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The cover arrangement C comprises a first cover element 30 being arranged to cover the first receiving portion 10. The first cover element 30 comprises according to this embodiment a first lid member 32 for covering the first receiving portion 10. The first lid member 32 has a shape essentially corresponding to the shape of the first receiving portion 10 so as to cover the first receiving portion 10. The first lid member 32 has a flat configuration in the shape of a first lid.

The first cover element 30 comprises according to this embodiment a first grip member 34 for facilitating opening of the first lid member 32. The first grip member 34 is arranged to facilitate manual opening and closing of the first cover element 30. The first grip member 34 may have any suitable shape. The first grip member 34 has according to this exemplary embodiment the shape of a handle. The first grip member may according to an alternative variant be a projecting portion of the first lid member, such a projecting portion e.g. being configured to project so that the first lid member may be easily first gripped for facilitating opening of the first lid member. The first cover element 30 is configured to be separately openable to expose the first receiving portion 10.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover arrangement C in fig. 2 arranged to partly cover the combined charging receiver R according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In fig. 3 first cover element 30 has been opened to expose the first receiving portion 10.

As shown in fig. 2, 3 and 4 the first cover element 30 comprises a first hinge member 36. The first hinge member 36 is hingedly connected to a shaft X configured to be arranged in connection to the charging receiver R. The first hinge member 36 is connected to the lid member 32 so as to facilitate a pivotal opening and closing movement about the shaft X. Thus, the first cover element 30 is arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver R. The first cover element 30 is arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver R by means of the first hinge member 36. The cover arrangement C comprises a second cover element 40 being arranged to cover the second receiving portion 20. The second cover element 40 comprises according to this embodiment a second lid member 42 for covering the second receiving portion 20. The second lid member 42 has a shape essentially corresponding to the shape of the second receiving portion 20 so as to cover the second receiving portion 20. The second lid member 42 has a flat configuration in the shape of a second lid.

The second cover element 40 comprises according to this embodiment a second grip member 44 for facilitating opening of the second lid member 42. The second grip member 44 is arranged to facilitate manual opening and closing of the second cover element 40. The second grip member 44 may have any suitable shape. The second grip member 44 has according to this exemplary embodiment the shape of a handle. The second grip member may according to an alternative variant be a projecting portion of the second lid member, such a projecting portion e.g. being configured to project so that the second lid member may be easily second gripped for facilitating opening of the second lid member.

As shown in fig. 2, 3 and 4 the second cover element 40 comprises a second hinge member 46. The second hinge member 46 is hingedly connected to a shaft X configured to be arranged in connection to the charging receiver R. The second hinge member 46 is connected to the lid member 42 so as to facilitate a pivotal opening and closing movement about the shaft X. Thus, the second cover element 40 is arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver R. The second cover element 40 is arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver R by means of the second hinge member 46.

According to the embodiment of the cover arrangement C illustrated with reference to fig. 2-4 the first cover element 30 and the second cover element 40 are arranged to be hingedly connected to the combined charging receiver R at a distance from each other. The first hinge member 36 and the second hinge member 46 are according to this embodiment arranged at a distance from each other. The first hinge member 36 and the second hinge member 46 are according to this embodiment coaxially arranged relative to each other. The first hinge member 36 and the second hinge member 46 are according to this embodiment connected to a common shaft X. The first hinge member 36 and the second hinge member 46 could alternatively be connected to two separate shafts. The first hinge member 36 and the second hinge member 46 could alternatively be pivotable about axis not being coaxially arranged relative to each other. The second cover element 40 is openable to expose the second receiving portion 20.

As shown in e.g. fig. 2, the first cover element 30 is configured to partly overlap the second cover element 40. The first led member 32 of the first cover element 30 is configured to partly overlap the second lid member 42 of the second cover element 40. The first led member 32 comprises according to this embodiment an overlapping portion 32a.

The first cover element 30 is configured to partly overlap the second cover element 40 so that both cover elements 30, 40 are openable by means of the second cover element 40 exposing the first receiving portion 10 as well as the second receiving portion 20, as shown in fig. 4. Thus, the first lid member 32 is openably by the second lid member 42 so that the first receiving portion 10 and the second receiving portion 20 are both exposed.

The overlapping portion 32a of the first lid member 32 is according to this embodiment comprised of a protruding portion of the first lid member 32 as shown in fig. 4.

The second lid member 42 of the second cover element 40 has a protruding portion 42a configured to be overlapped by the overlapping portion 32a of the first lid member 32. The protruding portion 42a is thus configured to project under the overlapping portion 32a of the first lid member 32.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a plan view of the cover arrangement C in fig. 2 arranged to expose the combined charging receiver R according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment the cover arrangement C is arranged such that the second cover element 40 is retained when an alternating current charging connector is introduced in the first receiving portion 10. According to an embodiment the second cover element 40, e.g. the second lid member 42 of the second cover element 40, is configured such that, when an alternating current charging connector is introduced in the first receiving portion 10, the alternating current charging connector retains the second cover element 40. According to an embodiment the second lid member 42 of the second cover element 40 has a shape such that when an alternating current charging connector is introduced in the first receiving portion 10 for connection, a portion of the alternating charging connector overlaps a portion of the second lid member 42.

According to an embodiment the cover arrangement C may comprise any suitable locking arrangement for retaining the first cover element 30 when being in a closed position for covering the first receiving portion. Such a locking arrangement may comprise a snap fit arrangement of the first lid member 32.

According to an embodiment the cover arrangement C may comprise any suitable locking arrangement for retaining the second cover element 40 when being in a closed position for covering the second receiving portion 20. Such a locking arrangement may comprise a snap fit arrangement of the second lid member 42.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.