GB2458754A

GB2458754A - Vehicle power line supporting structure

Info

Publication number: GB2458754A
Application number: GB0903102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takahide Abe
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Priority date: 2008-03-31
Filing date: 2009-02-25
Publication date: 2009-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-25
Also published as: CN101552436B; GB0903102D0; JP4371167B2; CN101552436A; JP2009247176A; DE102009010852A1; DE102009010852B4; GB2458754B

Abstract

A vehicle which is connected to an external power supply system through a power line 12 has a supporting structure for the power line. This includes a connection portion where the power line and the vehicle are connected, and a supporting member, projecting outwards from an external surface of the vehicle in the vicinity of the connection portion, which is configured to support the power line. The supporting structure may be a door 16 with a hook 19 to hold the power line, or it may be a telescopic tube (21, Fig 4). The door hinge 20 may be vertical or horizontal (Figs 2, 8). The connection portion may be mounted on the vehicle or may be mounted on a cable so that it can be pulled out. The structure holds the cable away from the vehicle's bodywork to stop it getting scratched or dirty from the cable.

Description

VEHICLE POWER LINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle power line supporting structure which can prevent a vehicle from getting dirty or damaged on an external surface of a vehicle body by a power line when the vehicle is connected to an external powex supply system through the power line.

In an electric vehicle, in charging a battery installed in the electric vehicle, generally, a power line is used to connect between the vehicle and an external power supply system so as to receive electric power from the external power supply system. In addition, even in an electric vehicle which incorporates therein a generator, there occurs from time to time a case where the vehicle is connected to external power supply equipment through a power line for supplementary charging.

For the power line to be connected to the electric vehicle or the external power supply system or equipment, it is considered that a connecting port is provided on the electric vehicle, so that a connecting terminal of a power line from the external power supply system is inserted into the connecting port, or that as is described in JP-A-2003--244832, a storage part into which a power line is taken up is provided in a vehicle body, so that the power line pulled out of the storage part is connected to a connecting port provided on an external power supply system.

On the other hand, when a power line is temporarily connected to a flat battery, a connecting port may be provided at a lower portion of a vehicle or in an interior of an engine compartment. However, when charging a battery is carried out on a daily basis, it is preferable that the power line can be connected as in the same way as a liquid fuel such as gasoline is supplied into a vehicle. Standing on this viewpoint, a method is considered in which the power line connecting port or the pull-out port of the power line storage part is provided in the same position as where the gasoline filling port is provided or in the vicinity of a rear license plate so as to connect the electric vehicle with the external power supply system through the power line.

However, since it is often the case with the power line that the power line is exposed to wind and rain or is left in contact with the ground, the power line picks up sand and other dirt from the ground which remain sticking to the power line.

In the event that the power line connecting port or the pull-out port of the power line storage part is provided in a relatively high position on the vehicle body, and the vehicle body and the external power supply system are connected through the power line, there is caused a fear that the power line is suspended from the connecting port and then comes into contact with the external surface of the vehicle body, whereby the external surface of the vehicle body gets scraped or dirty.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle power line supporting structure which can prevents a painted external surface of the vehicle body from getting dirty or damaged as a result of the power line coming into contact with the external surface of the vehicle body even when the vehicle body and the external power supply system are connected through the power line.

In order to achieve the object, according to the invention, there is provided a vehicle power line supporting structure for a vehicle which is connected to an external power supply system through a power line, the vehicle power line supporting structure comprising: a connection portion where the power line and the vehicle are connected; and a supporting member, projecting outwards from an external surface of the vehicle in the vicinity of the connection portion, and configured to support the power line.

The connecting portion may include a connecting port where a connecting terminal of the power line is connected to the vehicle.

The vehicle may include in an interior thereof a storage portion in which the power line is stored. The connecting portion may include a pull-out port from which the power line stored in the storage portion is pulled out of the vehicle.

An openable lid member may be provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion. When the lid member is opened, the lid member forms a part of the supporting member, and when the lid member is closed, the lid member covers the connecting portion and the lid member forms a part of the external surface of the vehicle.

A telescopic member may be provided at the connecting portion. When the telescopic member is extended, the telescopic member forms a part of the supporting member, and when the telescopic member is contracted, the telescopic member is stored inside of the external surface of the vehicle.

The vehicle may be an electric vehicle incorporating therein a battery which can be charged by the external power supply system and is driven by electric power stored in the battery. The power line may be a connecting cord connecting the battery with the external power supply system.

The supporting member may support the power line in such a manner that the power line suspended from the supporting member is prevented from coming into contact with the external surface of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle provided with a supporting member according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a connecting part provided with the supporting member according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of a connecting port.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a further example of a connecting port.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a tubular member when it is extended.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the tubular member when it is contracted.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the connecting port shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. B is a perspective view showing a rear of the vehicle provided with a connecting port of another example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a vehicle power line supporting structure according to the invention will be described by reference to the drawings.

Fig. ]. shows a vehicle 10 which is being charged. The vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle and includes a driving electric motor and a battery (neither of them shown) in an interior thereof, whereby the vehicle 10 is driven by driving the driving electric motor by virtue of electric power stored in the battery. A connecting port 14 as the connecting portion is provided on a rear side surface of the vehicle 10.

Hereinafter, an advancing direction of the vehicle is referred to as front (forwards), and based on this understanding, rear (rearwards) and left and right of the vehicle are determined. A direction directed towards a center of a width direction of the vehicle 10 is referred to as inwards, while a direction directed outwards in the width direction from the center of the vehicle lOis referred to as outwards. In addition, a direction in which gravity acts is referred to downwards, and an opposite direction thereto is referred to as upwards.

The connecting port 14 is provided substantially in the same position as where a filling port from which a fuel is filled is provided on a vehicle which is run on, as a fuel, a liquid fuel such as gasoline. The connecting port 14 includes an electrical contact portion (not shown) inside thereof, and the contact portion is connected to a battery via a charger provided in an interior of the vehicle 10. The connecting port 14 is formed in such a manner that a connecting terminal 13 of a power line 12, which will be described later, is connected thereto, and Fig. 1 shows a state in which the power line 12 is connected to the connecting port 14.

The power line 12 is made up of an electric cord 15 and the connecting terminal 13 which is provided at a leading end of the electric cord 15. The electric cord 15 has such an appropriate flexibility that the electric cord 15 can be coiled or bundled and is taken up into a take-up machine 52 provided on an external power supply system 50 in such a manner as to be pulled thereout.

The connecting terminal 13 has such appropriate shape and size as to be held by the hand, as well as such a sufficient hardness as tobe handled while held in the hand. The connecting terminal 13 is formed in such a manner as to be connected to the contact portion of the connecting port 14 as has been described above.

The external power supply system 50 includes a current control mechanism, a quick charging mechanism, an automatic charging stopping mechanism and the like and is installed in a place which is referred to as, as it were, a charging station which has a parking space where the vehicle 10 is allowed to be parked for charging as with a gas station. The external power supply system 50 may be installed in a household parking space.

Furthermore, in the case of the charger being provided on the vehicle 10 side, electric power supplied from the external power supply system 50 may be simply a household electric power such as 100 V or 200 V. An appropriate engagement device (not shown) is provided in the connecting port 14, when the connecting terminal 13 is connected into the connecting port 14, the connecting terminal 13 is then held with an appropriate magnitude of force. When the connecting terminal 13 is connected into the connecting port 14 whereby power line 12 is connected, the external power supply system 50 and the charger (not shown) provided in the interior of the vehicle 10 are electrically connected via the power line 12, whereby the charger is energized.

Furthermore, as is shown in Fig. 2, a lid 16, which functions as the openable lid member, is provided outwards of the connecting port 14 in such a manner as to be opened and closed.

The lid 16 has a substantially quadrangular shape and is attached in such a manner as to be opened and closed vertically by a hinge 20 provided on a lower side thereof. An appropriate locking device (not shown) is provided on the lid 16, and when the lid 16 is opened to be in a substantially horizontal state, the lid 16 is made to be maintained in such a state by the locking device. In addition, when the lid 16 is closed, the lid 16 constitutes an external surface of the vehicle 10, that is, a surface which continues to a body of the vehicle 10, whereby the connecting portion is covered by the lid 16. Furthermore, an opening and closing device is provided on the lid 16, so that the lid 16 is made to be opened and closed through remote control of the opening and closing device from an interior of a passenger compartment. Note that the shape of the lid 16 is not limited to the quadrangular shape.

A mount piece 17 is provided on the lid 16. The mount piece 17 is provided at a distal end of the lid 16 on an inner side thereof, that is, on a rotating end side of the lid 16.

The mount piece 17 is made up of two facing projecting pieces which are formed in such a manner as to detachably hold the electric cord 15 of the power line 12 between the projecting pieces. The supporting member is made up of the lid 16 and the mount piece 17.

Next, the function and advantage of the vehicle power line supporting structure will be described.

Normally, the lid 16 is closed, and the connecting port 14 is covered by the lid 16. Then, in charging the vehicle 10, firstly, the lid 16 is opened. The lid 16 may be opened by inserting a key or the like from an outside of the lid 16 or by operating a lever provided inside the passenger compartment.

The lid 16 rotates about the hinge 20 provided on the lower side of the lid 16 in such a manner that an upper side of the lid is opened outwards of the vehicle 10. Then, the lid 16 is held by the locking device in such a state that it is opened in the substantially horizontal state as is shown in Fig. 2.

When the lid 16 is opened, since the connecting portion is exposed in the connecting part 14, the connecting terminal 13 of the power line 12 is coupled to the connecting portion.

The connecting terminal 13 is coupled into the connecting port 14 in a substantially perpendicular state relative to the external surface of the vehicle 10 and is then held in such a state.

When the power line 12 is connected into the connecting port 14, the electric cord 15 is attached to the mount piece 17. Namely, the electric cord 15 is pushed into a gap defined by the projecting pieces. Then, the power line 12 is held by the mount piece 17 in such a state that the power line 12 rests on an upper surface of the lid 16 as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and is then suspended from an outer end portion of the lid 16.

Consequently, the power line 12 is spaced apart bya length of the lid 16 (a vertical width of the lid 16 when it is opened) from the external surface of the vehicle 10. By this configuration, the power line 12 is connected into the connecting port 14 without being brought into contact with the external surface of the vehicle 10 in any way. When charging is completed, the connecting terminal 13 is pulled out of the connecting port 14, and the lid 16 is closed, whereby the connecting port 14 is covered by the lid 16.

Fig. 3 shows another example of a vehicle power line supporting structure.

This is an example, in which a lid 16 is employed at the connecting portion which is adapted to be opened in a horizontal direction. The lid 16 is made to be opened and closed in the horizontal direction by a hinge 20 which is provided on a side thereof. An appropriate locking device (not shown) is provided onthe lidl6, andwhenthe lid l6is openedandthe lidisbrought into a state in which the lid 16 becomes substantially normal to the external surface of the vehicle 16, the lid 16 is made to be held in that state by the locking device. In addition, when closed, the lid 16 constitutes a surface which continues to the external surface of the vehicle 10 as has been described above, and the connecting portion is covered by the lid 16.

A mount piece 19 is provided on a rotating end side of the lid 16 on an inner side of the lid 16. The mount piece 19 is formed into a hook shape so that the electric cord 15 of the power line 12 is placed in the hook 19.

In this way, when the supporting member is made up of the lid 16 and the mount piece 19, the electric cord 15 is held on the lid 16 which is opened in the horizontal direction by the mount piece 19, whereby the power line 12 connected into the connecting port 14 can be prevented from being brought into contact with the external surface of the vehicle 10.

Fig. 4 shows a further example of a vehicle power line supporting structure.

This is an example in which the supporting member is made up of a telescopic tubular member 21. As is shown in Figs. 5, 6, the tubular member 21 is made up by nesting a plurality of circularly tubular elements 25 whose diameters are reduced sequentially. When an innermost circularly tubular element 25 of the tubular member 21 is pulled out, the innermost circularly tubular element 25 is brought into contact with a circularly tubular element 25 which lies outwardly next thereto, and this is sequentially repeated when the other circularly tubular elements 25 are pulled out in the same way. Thus, as is shown in Fig. 5, all the circularly tubular elements 25 are pulled out to be connected to one another with an appropriate holding force. In addition, when a leading end of the tubular member 21 is pushed inwards in its axial direction, the connection of the respective circularly tubular elements 25 is released, and the respective circularly tubular elements 25 are allowed to telescope into one another as is shown in Fig. 6, whereby the tubular member 21 is contracted in the axial direction. In addition, the respective circularly tubular elements 25 may be formed into the circularly tubular shape or a circularly conical shape. Alternatively, angularly tubular elements may be adopted. In addition, the tubular member 21 holds such a sufficient hardness as to hold the electric cord 15.

In the event that the supporting member is made up of the tubular member 21 that is configured as has been described above, the power line 12 is connected into the connecting port 14 and the tubular member 21 is extended outwards, the electric cord 15 can be held spaced apart from the external surface of the vehicle 10 as is shown in Fig. 4.

Furthermore, the electric power 12 may be stored into a storage part (not shown) which is provided in the interior of the vehicle 10. As this occurs, a mechanism for taking up the power line into the storage partmaybeprovjded. As this occurs, the power line 12 is taken up on to a reel (not shown) provided in an interior of the storage part for storage and is made to be unwound from the reel as required. In addition, the storage part includes a locking mechanism and a spring mechanism (neither of them shown in the figure) and is preferably configured in such a manner that the power line 12 which is pulled out is held in a desired position and is rewound back into the interior of the storage part by the spring mechanism.

The storage part is configured in the way described above, and the connecting terminal 13 is disposed in a pull-out port 23 as the connecting portion as is shown in Fig. 7. A lid 16 is provided at the pull-out port 23 in such a manner as to be opened and closed, whereby the pull-out port 23 is made to be covered by the lid 16 when the lid 16 is closed. Furthermore, the electric cord 15 is passed into an interior of the aforesaid tubular member 21, and when the power line 12 is pulled out with the connecting terminal 13 held by the hand, the tubular member 21 is made to be extended by virtue of friction produced between the power line 12 and the tubular member 21.

Then, normally, as is shown in Fig. 7, the tubular member 21 is contracted so as to be stored within the connecting port 14 together with the connecting terminal 13, and furthermore, the tubular member 21 and the connecting terminal 13 so stored can be covered by the lid 16. Then, when the connecting terminal 13 is attempted to be connected with the external power supply system 50, the lid 16 is opened, and the connecting terminal 13 of the power line 12 is pulled out of the vehicle 10. When the power line 12 is pulled out, the tubular member 21 is also pulled out and is then extended. Even after the tubular member 21 has been extended completely, only the power line 12 continues to be pulled out from the tubular member 21, whereby the connecting terminal 13 is brought into connection with the external power supply system 50.

Consequently, by the power line 12 being pulled out of the pull-out port 23, the tubular member 21 is extended, and in the same way as has been described above, the electric power line 15 is allowed to be suspended from the leading end of the tubular member 21 as is shown in Fig. 4, whereby the power line 12 can be supported space apart from the external surface of the vehicle easily and in an ensured fashion. In this way, the external surface of the vehicle 10 can be prevented from getting dirty or damaged by the power line 12 without hooking the electric cord 15 on the mount piece.

In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which for example, a hook-shaped mount piece is provided at the leading end of the tubular member 21 so that the electric cord 15 is hooked on the mount piece instead of passing the electric cord through the interior of the tubular member 21.

Furthermore, in the case of the power line 12 being stored in the interior of the vehicle 10, the mount piece 17 is provided on the lid 16, so that the electric cord 15 of the power line 12 which is pulled out of the vehicle 10 may be attached to the mount piece 17.

Fig. 8 shows another example. This is an example in which a connecting port 42 is provided on a rear bumper 40 of the vehicle 10 as the connecting portion. A lid 44 is provided at the connecting port 42 in such a manner as to be opened and closed to the rear, and furthermore, the lid 44 is made to be held in a substantially horizontal direction. A contact portion is provided in an interior of the connecting port 42 in the same way as has been described above, so that the connecting terminal 13 of the power line 12 can be connected thereto. In addition, a mount piece 17 is provided on the lid 44 in such a manner as to hold the electric cord 15 therein. In addition, in the event that the lid 44 is sufficiently wide, the mount piece 17 is unnecessary.

Also in this configuration, when the lid 44 is opened for the power line 12 to be connected to the vehicle 10, the electric cord 15 is suspended from a distal end of the lid 44, so that the electric cord 15 is prevented from being brought into abutment with the external surface of the vehicle 10. In addition, in this example, the pull-out port 23 may be provided in place of the connecting port 42, so that the power line 12 is pulled out of the vehicle 10. Furthermore, the supporting member may be made up of the tubular member 21 in place of the lid 44.

In addition, in the examples, while the external power supply system 50 has been described as being connected to the vehicle 10, the power line 12 of the invention may be applied not only to charging the electric vehicle but also to other applications. For example, the power line 12 may be used where electrically connecting vehicles 10, or electric power accumulated in a battery of a vehicle is used in the vehicle or other locations than the vehicle.

The vehicle power line supporting structure according to the invention has the following advantages.

The power line attached to a distal end of the supporting member is suspended from the distal end of the supporting member, and hence, there is no risk that the power line is brought into direct contact with the external surface of the vehicle body, whereby there exists no possibility that the surface of the vehicle body gets dirty or damage.

In the case of the supporting member being made up of the lid member, since when the lid member is opened for connection of the power line, the supporting member where the power line is attached is formed, the power line can easily be supported spaced away from the vehicle body.

In the case of the supporting member being made to be telescopic, the supporting member can be stored in the interior of the vehicle body when it is not in use. In addition, when in use, the power line can be made to be supported on the supporting member which is then extended.

Since there is no fear that the power line contacts the vehicle body, the connecting portion of the power line can be disposed on the external surface of the vehicle body and in a relatively high position thereon, and hence, the connecting work of the power line to the vehicle body can be enabled in a relatively relaxed posture.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle power line supporting structure for a vehicle which is connected to an external power supply system through a power line, the vehicle power line supporting structure comprising: a connection portion where the power line and the vehicle are connected; and a supporting member, projecting outwards from an external surface of the vehicle in the vicinity of the connection portion, and configured to support the power line.
2. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to Claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes a connecting port where a connecting terminal of the power line is connected to the vehicle.
3. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to Claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes in an interior thereof a storage portion in which the power line is stored, and the connecting portion includes a pull-out port from which the power line stored in the storage portion is pulled out of the vehicle.
4. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein an openable lid member is provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion, when the lid member is opened, the lid member forms a part of the supporting member, and when the lid member is closed, the lid member covers the connecting portion and the lid member forms a part of the external surface of the vehicle.
5. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to Claim 1, wherein a telescopic member is provided at the connecting portion, when the telescopic member is extended, the telescopic member forms a part of the supporting member, and when the telescopic member is contracted, the telescopic member is stored inside of the external surface of the vehicle.
6. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to Claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle incorporating therein a battery which can be charged by the external power supply system and is driven by electric power stored in the battery, and the power line is a connecting cord connecting the battery with the external power supply system.
7. The vehicle power line supporting structure according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting member supports the power line in such a manner that the power line suspended from the supporting member is prevented from coming into contact with the external surface of the vehicle.