JP2011192591A - Outlet plug of charging cable for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outlet plug of a charging cable for an automobile, surely exhibiting a waterproof function of a packing regardless of the shape of an outdoor outlet when the automobile charging cable inserted in the outdoor outlet is put in a half-inserted state. <P>SOLUTION: The outlet plug disposed at an end part of the charging cable for the automobile includes an outlet connecting part at the tip of the outlet plug, and has the packing 60 bending toward the center direction of an outlet abutting surface 12a constituting the tip surface of the outlet connecting part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an outlet plug of a charging cable used for charging a charging vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.

  Charging a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle is performed by connecting a charging stand and a charging vehicle with a charging cable. There are two types of charging cables: a type that is integrated with the charging stand (stand integrated cable) and a type that can be carried on a charging vehicle (portable cable).

  All of the charging cables have the common feature of having a connector for connection with the charging vehicle at one end. On the other hand, the other end of the cable is drawn into the charging stand with a stand-integrated cable and cannot be removed by the user, whereas with a portable cable, it is connected to a power outlet on the charging stand or the like when charging. An outlet plug to be plugged in is provided. In addition to a charging stand, a normal outdoor outlet installed outside a general household may be used as this power source.

  Some outlet taps of a charging stand incorporate a protective device that interrupts energization when an outlet plug is accidentally pulled out during charging (Patent Document 1). However, such a protective device is usually not incorporated in an outdoor outlet installed outside a general household. In addition, since the internal structure of the outlet tap cannot be visually recognized from the outside, the user of the charging cable cannot confirm the existence of the protective device even when charging from a power source other than a general household. For this reason, when charging from an outlet tap that does not have a built-in protective device, if you accidentally pull out the outlet plug during charging, an arc will jump between the outlet tap and the outlet plug, and your hand holding the outlet plug There was a possibility of burns.

  Therefore, the present inventors are developing an outlet plug having a structure capable of instantaneously interrupting energization by opening an internal contact when the outlet plug is accidentally pulled out during charging. For this purpose, it is preferable to mechanically link the linear movement caused by plugging in and pulling out the outlet plug and the contact opening / closing mechanism. A structure in which an insertion detection unit that is urged outward and protrudes and is pushed inward when plugged into an outlet is effective.

  When this structure is adopted, the size of the outlet plug increases and the weight increases. Therefore, when an external impact or vibration is applied to the outlet plug inserted in the outdoor outlet, it tends to be half-inserted. . Thus, in order to ensure the waterproofness of the outlet plug portion even in the half-inserted state, a structure in which packing is provided on the outer peripheral side of the outlet plug portion is conceivable. The packing provided on the outer peripheral side of the outlet plug portion is deformed by the elastic side being pressed against the contact surface, thereby obtaining an elastic force and exhibiting a waterproof function. However, the shape of the outdoor outlet is not uniform, and for example, it is assumed that the elastic side of the packing does not have enough space to deform, and in such a case, the waterproof function of the packing cannot be exhibited. was there.

JP 2005-294080 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an outlet for an automotive charging cable that can reliably perform the waterproof function of the packing regardless of the shape of the outdoor outlet when the automotive charging cable that has been inserted into the outdoor outlet is half inserted. Is to provide a plug.

  The present invention made to solve the above problems is an outlet plug disposed at an end portion of a charging cable for an automobile, and has an outlet connection portion at the tip of the outlet plug, and the tip of the outlet connection portion. A packing that bends toward the center of the outlet contact surface constituting the surface is provided on the outer periphery of the outlet connection portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the outlet plug of the charging cable for an automobile according to the first aspect, the tip end portion is normally attached to the outside by an elastic means from the hole provided in the outlet contact surface. It has an insertion detection part that is pushed out and pushed inward when plugged into the outlet, and the packing that covers the side of the outlet connection part extends beyond the outlet contact surface, and the tip of the packing is connected to the outlet. It is characterized by being formed in a substantially U shape toward the center direction of the contact surface.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the outlet plug of the charging cable for an automobile according to the second aspect, a recess is provided in the outer casing of the outlet contact surface, and the U-shaped protruding end portion of the packing is always the outlet contact surface. When the outlet is inserted, the tip of the packing is pushed into the recess, and the U-shaped protruding end of the packing is arranged on the same surface as the outlet contact surface.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the outlet plug of the charging cable for an automobile according to the third aspect, the contact surface between the U-shaped projecting end portion of the packing is provided on each of the side surface of the outlet connection portion and the outlet contact surface. A plug cap is provided.

  The outlet plug of the charging cable for an automobile of the present invention has an outlet connecting portion at the tip of the outlet plug, and the outlet connecting the packing that is bent toward the center of the outlet contact surface constituting the tip end surface of the outlet connecting portion. For example, even if the elastic side of the packing does not have enough space to deform in the outer peripheral direction of the outlet plug part, regardless of the shape of the outdoor outlet part A waterproof function can be demonstrated.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tip end portion is normally urged outward by the elastic means from the hole provided in the outlet contact surface into the outlet plug body, and is pushed inward when the outlet is inserted. A packing that has an insertion detection part and covers the side of the outlet connection part extends beyond the outlet contact surface, and the tip of the packing is substantially U-shaped toward the center of the outlet contact surface. Even if the outlet contact surface has an insertion detection part that slides inside and outside the outlet plug body, there is a risk of moisture entering the outlet plug body from the insertion detection part. Can be avoided.

Conventionally, the sealing performance has been adjusted by adjusting the packing material and the cross-sectional shape. However, according to the invention of claim 3, a recess is provided on the outer surface of the outlet contact surface, and the U-shape of the packing is always provided. The protruding end of the packing is placed beyond the outlet contact surface, and when the outlet is inserted, the tip of the packing is pushed into the recess, and the U-shaped protruding end of the packing is placed on the same plane as the outlet contacting surface. The sealability can be adjusted by the material and cross-sectional shape of the packing and the shape of the recess, and the sealability can be easily adjusted.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the charging cable for an automobile is provided with a structure including a plug cap having a contact surface with the U-shaped projecting end portion of the packing on each of the side surface of the outlet connection portion and the outlet contact surface. Even when the outlet connection portion is covered with a plug cap without being used, waterproofness can be secured on the two sides of the outlet connection portion and the outlet contact surface.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows embodiment of this invention. It is internal structure explanatory drawing of FIG. It is an expansion explanatory view of an outlet connection part. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the outlet connection part of the state which pulled out the outlet. It is an expansion explanatory view of an outlet connection part of a state where an outlet is inserted and completed. It is the external appearance perspective view which protected the outlet connection part with the plug cap.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and reference numeral 10 denotes an outlet plug body provided at the tip of a charging cable 11. Although not shown, a connection portion to the automobile side is formed at the other end of the charging cable 11. An outlet connecting portion 12 is formed at the distal end portion of the outlet plug body 10, and the distal end surface of the outlet connecting portion 12 is an outlet contact surface 12 a, and two energizing plugs 13 and one earth plug 14 project. In addition, the tip of the trip bar 15 protrudes. The power plug 13 and the ground plug 14 are fixed to the outlet plug body 10 and are inserted into the outlet tap on the power supply side. The trip bar 15 is connected to the outlet plug body 10 as will be described in detail below. It can be infested. An energization indicator lamp 16 and a test button 17 are provided on the upper surface of the outlet plug body 10. The test button 17 is a button for testing whether or not an earth leakage tripping mechanism described later operates normally.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of FIG. First, referring to FIG. 2, the overall structure of the outlet plug of the automobile charging cable of the present invention will be described.

  An insulating plate 20 is provided on the back surface of the outlet contact surface 12a, and a fixed contact 22 having a fixed contact 21 is fixed at a lower position thereof. The above-mentioned energizing plug 13 is bent. A movable contact 24 having a movable contact 23 is provided at the upper position. The base of the movable contact 24 is electrically connected to the charging cable 11. These fixed contact 21, fixed contact 22, movable contact 23, and movable contact 24 are all provided in pairs for two poles. As described above, since the fixed contact 21 and the movable contact 23 are interposed between the power plug 13 and the charging cable 11, charging is possible only when the movable contact 23 is in pressure contact with the fixed contact 21. In the state of FIG. 2, the contact is in an off state.

  The trip bar 15 functioning as an insertion detection unit is a narrow plate-like body that extends through the outlet contact surface 12a and extends toward the inside of the outlet plug body 10, and is always outward by an elastic means 25 such as a coil spring. Only the thin tip protrudes from the outlet connection surface 12. The rear part of the trip bar 15 is bent downward in an L shape, and the rear end part 26 has a triangular cross section. A protrusion 27 is formed on the rear lower surface of the trip bar 15.

  Below the trip bar 15, a link mechanism and a rotating body 30 as a contact input mechanism are provided. The link mechanism includes a link pin, a latch member, a cross bar, and a trigger lever. The rotating body 30 is located below the rear end portion 26 of the trip bar 15 and can rotate around an axis fixed to the frame. The rotating body 30 is a substantially L-shaped member as shown in FIG. 2, and a protrusion 36 that is pushed by the rear end portion 26 when the trip bar 15 is pushed inwardly projects from the upper end portion thereof. Yes. An elastic means (not shown) is provided around the shaft 35 and biases the rotating body 30 in a direction (an anticlockwise direction in the drawing) in which the upper portion where the projection 36 is always close to the outlet contact surface 12a. ing. For this reason, the rotating body 30 is in the basic position of FIG. A substantially U-shaped link pin 50 is rotatably provided at the tip of the rotating body 30.

  A latch 51 is connected to the tip of the link pin 50. A trigger lever 52 is pivotally supported by a shaft 53 between the trip bar 15 and the rotating body 30. When the trip bar 15 is pushed inward as described above and the rotating body 30 rotates clockwise, the upper end of the latch 51 is first engaged with the hook 54 of the trigger lever 52, and the rotating body 30 further rotates in the same direction. Then, the lower end of the latch 51 presses the cross bar 55 in the left direction in FIG. 4 to move the movable contact 24, and presses the movable contact 23 against the fixed contact 21 to close the contact. Charging is performed in this state. However, if the outlet plug is pulled out during charging, the tip of the trip bar pops out from the outlet contact surface 12a and the trip bar 15 moves to the left, so the protrusion 27 rotates the trigger lever 52 clockwise, The hook 54 of the trigger lever 52 is released from the upper end of the latch 51. At the same time, the rotating body 30 rotates and pulls back the latch 51 to the right, and the pressing of the cross bar 55 by the lower end of the latch 51 is released, so that the movable contact 24 is separated from the fixed contact 21 by the elasticity of the movable contact 24. The contact is turned off. In this way, the contacts are turned on and off in conjunction with the movement of the trip bar 15.

  A thin tip portion of the trip bar 15 is covered with a trip bar covering member 40. The trip bar covering member 40 is always present in the outlet plug body 10 and covers the tip end of the trip bar when the outlet is inserted, and the other end of the trip bar is disposed inside the outlet plug body 10. The elastic member is housed separately from the member and is disposed between the insulating plate 20 constituting the back surface of the outlet connection surface 12 and the main body of the trip bar 15.

  On the outer periphery of the outlet connection portion 12, a packing 60 that is bent toward the center of the outlet contact surface 12a is provided. The projecting end 61 of the packing 60 is formed in a substantially U shape toward the center of the outlet contact surface 12a. The front end portion 60 a of the packing faces the charging cable side of the outlet plug body 10. The packing 60 is made of a polymer elastic body, and the adjustment of the sealing property can be adjusted by appropriately selecting a preferable Young's modulus and cross-sectional shape.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view of the outlet connection portion 12 provided with the packing 60. As shown in FIG. 3, when the recessed part 62 is provided in the outer casing of the outlet contact surface 12a and is not connected to the outlet 64, the U-shaped protruding end portion 61 of the packing is disposed beyond the outlet contact surface 12a. ing.

  The waterproof action of the outlet plug of the present invention will be described below.

  First, in a state where the outlet plug is not inserted into the outlet tap, the packing is in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the U-shaped protruding end portion 61 of the packing 60 is disposed beyond the outlet contact surface 12a.

  When the outlet plug is inserted into the outlet tap from this state, the trip bar 15 whose front end portion is normally urged outwardly by the elastic means from the outlet contact surface 12a resists the elastic force as shown in FIG. It is pushed inward. At this time, the U-shaped projecting end portion 61 of the packing 60 is pushed into the recess 62, and the U-shaped projecting end portion 61 of the packing is disposed on the same surface as the outlet contact surface 12a.

  The U-shaped projecting end portion 61 pushed into the recess 62 abuts at least the surface of the outlet 64 and can exert a sealing function by the contact pressure.

  When the deformation amount of the U-shaped projecting end portion 61 pushed into the recessed portion 62 is larger than the shape of the recessed portion 62, the U-shaped projecting end portion 61 comes into contact with the surface of the outlet 64, and The side wall 63 can also be brought into contact, and a stronger sealing function can be exhibited.

  As shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable to include a plug cap 65 for protecting the power plug 13, the ground plug 14, and the trip bar 15 when storing the outlet plug of the automobile charging cable.

  The plug cap 65 is structured to have a contact surface with the U-shaped projecting end portion 61 of the packing 60 on each of the side surface of the outlet connection portion 12 and the outlet contact surface 12a. Also when covering with the plug cap 65, the waterproofness of the outlet connection part 12 can be ensured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Outlet plug body 11 Charging cable 12 Outlet connection part 12a Outlet contact surface 13 Current plug 14 Ground plug 15 Trip bar 16 Current indicator 17 Test button 20 Insulating plate 21 Fixed contact 22 Fixed contact 23 Movable contact 24 Movable contact Child 25 Elastic means 26 Rear end portion 27 Protrusion 30 Rotating body 40 Trip bar covering member 41 Locking piece 50 Link pin 51 Latch 52 Trigger lever 53 Shaft 54 Hook 55 Cross bar 60 Packing 60a Tip portion 61 U-shaped protruding end 62 Recess Part 63 side wall 64 of recess part outlet 65 plug cap

Claims (4)

  An outlet plug disposed at an end portion of an automobile charging cable, having an outlet connection portion at a tip of the outlet plug, toward a center direction of an outlet contact surface constituting a tip surface of the outlet connection portion An outlet plug of a charging cable for an automobile, characterized in that a flexible packing is provided on the outer periphery of the outlet connection portion.   Inside the outlet plug body, there is always a plug detector that protrudes from the hole provided on the outlet abutment surface by being urged outward by elastic means and pushed inward when the outlet is inserted. The packing covering the side surface of the connecting portion extends beyond the outlet contact surface, and the tip of the packing is formed in a substantially U shape toward the center of the outlet contact surface. Item 1. A plug socket for an automobile charging cable according to Item 1.   A recess is provided on the outer surface of the outlet contact surface, and at the normal time, the U-shaped protruding end of the packing is disposed beyond the outlet contact surface, and when the outlet is inserted, the tip of the packing is pushed into the recess, 3. The outlet plug for an automotive charging cable according to claim 2, wherein the U-shaped protruding end of the packing is disposed on the same plane as the outlet contact surface. 4. The outlet plug of the charging cable for an automobile according to claim 3, further comprising: a plug cap having a contact surface with the U-shaped protruding end portion of the packing on each of the side surface of the outlet connection portion and the outlet contact surface. .

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