JP2012181985A - Lock device of charging cable unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide good operability of a cable-side connector (detachability from a vehicle body-side connector).SOLUTION: A lock device A1 of a charging cable unit 25 is provided with a locking member 13 and a lock actuator 14 actuating it on a vehicle body 23 side. Also, a vehicle body-side connector 11 has a latching part (for example, projection) 11a, and a cable-side connector 12 has an engagement part (for example, hook) 12a, which can be engaged with and disengaged from the engagement part 11a. At an engagement position, where the engagement part 12a is engaged with the latching part 11a, the cable-side connector 12 is restrained from being detached from the vehicle body-side connector 11. Also, when the locking member 13 is at a locking position, the engagement part 12a is restrained from moving from an engagement position to a disengagement position, and when the locking member 13 is at an unlocking position, the engagement part 12a is allowed to move between the engagement position and the disengagement position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a locking device for a charging cable unit. For example, a cable-side connector of a charging cable unit used in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is provided on a vehicle body for charging a power storage location mounted on the vehicle. The present invention relates to a locking device (locking device) for restricting the removal of a vehicle body side connector.

  One example of this type of locking device is a charging plug locking device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2010-103003 A

(Problems to be solved by the invention)
In the charging plug locking device described in Patent Document 1 described above, the cable provided in the charging cable unit with respect to the vehicle body side connector provided in the vehicle body (described as a charging outlet in Patent Document 1). Side connector (described as a charging plug in Patent Document 1) is attachable / detachable (removable), and an electric key claw provided on the cable side connector in the attached state is provided on the vehicle body side connector. By engaging with the groove, the cable side connector is restricted (locked) from being removed from the vehicle body side connector.

  For this reason, the cable side connector may increase in weight due to the electric key claw, which may deteriorate the operability of the cable side connector (removability to the vehicle body side connector) and attach the cable side connector to the vehicle body side connector. In some cases, in order to prevent the cable side connector from falling off from the vehicle body side connector, it is necessary to lock the electric key claw, and the usability of the charging cable unit is poor. Also, if the electric key claw cannot be locked (cannot be engaged with the groove provided in the vehicle body side connector), the cable side connector cannot be fixed to the vehicle body side connector, and the cable side connector is not connected to the vehicle body side connector. There is a risk of falling off.

(Means for solving the problem)
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a locking device for a charging cable unit includes:
A vehicle body-side connector provided on the vehicle body for charging a power storage location mounted on the vehicle and having a locking portion (for example, a protrusion);
It is provided in a charging cable unit for charging the power storage location via the vehicle body side connector, and has an engaging portion (for example, a hook) that can be engaged with and detached from the engaging portion. In the state where the engaging portion is in the disengaged position where it is disengaged from the locking portion, attachment / detachment with respect to the vehicle body side connector is permitted, and the engaging portion is brought into the engaging position where the engaging portion is engaged with the locking portion. In a certain state, a cable side connector whose removal is restricted with respect to the vehicle body side connector,
A lock position provided on the vehicle body side that restricts movement of the engagement portion from the engagement position to the disengagement position, and an unlock position that allows movement between the engagement position and the disengagement position of the engagement portion. A movable locking member;
Provided on the vehicle body side, the lock member can be moved from the unlock position to the lock position by the locking operation and held, and moved from the lock position to the unlock position by the unlock operation and held. And a lock actuator that is possible.

  In this case, the lock member is an axially movable lock pin, and the movement direction between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock pin is the attachment / detachment direction of the cable side connector with respect to the vehicle body side connector. The lock member is an axially movable lock pin, and the direction of movement between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock pin is the attachment of the cable side connector to the vehicle body side connector. It is a lock rotor that intersects with the removal direction, or the lock member has an allowance portion (for example, a notch) and can be rotated. The allowance portion is in the unlocked position. It is also possible to allow the engagement portion to move from the engagement position to the disengagement position.

  The cable side connector is provided with a cover, and the cable side connector is attached to the vehicle body side connector, and the portion exposed to the outside at the lock position of the lock member is the cover. It is also possible to set so that it is covered by. In these cases, the lock actuator may be set to operate together with an actuator of a door lock device provided in the vehicle.

(Effects of the invention)
In the lock device for the charging cable unit according to the present invention, both the lock member and the lock actuator for operating the lock member are provided on the vehicle body side. For this reason, the cable-side connector is not increased in weight by the lock member and the lock actuator, and the operability of the cable-side connector (removability with respect to the vehicle body-side connector) can be improved.

  Further, the vehicle body side connector has a locking portion (for example, a protrusion), and the cable side connector has an engaging portion (for example, a hook) that can be engaged / disengaged with respect to the locking portion. In a state where the engagement portion is in the engagement position engaged with the locking portion, the cable side connector is restricted from being removed from the vehicle body side connector. Therefore, when the cable side connector is attached to the vehicle body side connector, even if the lock member is in the unlock position, if the engagement portion is engaged with the locking portion, the cable side connector Can be prevented from falling off from the vehicle body side connector. Therefore, it is possible to use the charging cable unit (charging the power storage place mounted on the vehicle) without locking the lock actuator, and the usability of the charging cable unit is good.

  In carrying out the present invention, the cable side connector is provided with a cover, and the cable side connector is attached to the vehicle body side connector. When the exposed portion is set to be covered by the cover, the lock member at the lock position can be hidden by the cover, and mischief or the like to the lock member from the outside of the vehicle can be prevented. is there.

  Further, when the lock actuator is set to operate together with the actuator of the door lock device installed in the vehicle when the present invention is implemented, each operation of the lock actuator and the actuator of the door lock device is performed. It can be controlled by a single electric control device (the electric control device can be shared) and can be implemented at low cost.

It is a side view which shows roughly 1st Embodiment (locking state) of the locking device of the charging cable unit by this invention. It is a principal part side view which shows the unlocking state of 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a principal part side view of the partial fracture | rupture which shows schematically 2nd Embodiment (locking state) of the locking device of the charging cable unit by this invention. It is a principal part front view of the partial fracture | rupture of 2nd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a principal part side view which shows schematically 3rd Embodiment (unlocked state) of the locking device of the charging cable unit by this invention. It is a principal part front view of the partial fracture | rupture of 3rd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a principal part front view of the partial fracture | rupture which shows the locked state of 3rd Embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. It is a principal part side view which shows schematically 4th Embodiment (locking state) of the locking device of the charging cable unit by this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a locking device for a charging cable unit according to the present invention. The locking device A1 includes a vehicle body side connector 11, a cable side connector 12, a lock member 13, and a lock actuator 14. ing. The vehicle body side connector 11 is provided on the vehicle body 23 via a bracket 22 in order to charge an electricity storage location 21 mounted on the vehicle, and has a protrusion (locking portion) 11a. In addition, the vehicle body side connector 11 is connected to the power storage location 21 via the charging control device 24 so as to be rechargeable.

  The cable-side connector 12 has a charging cable unit 25 for charging the storage battery 21 via the vehicle body-side connector 11 (configurations other than the side connected to the vehicle body-side connector 11 (configuration on the power supply side) are not shown). It has a hook (engagement portion) 12 a that is provided and can be engaged with and detached from the protrusion 11 a of the vehicle body side connector 11. The hook 12a is formed integrally with the operation knob 12b, and is supported so as to be tiltable (rotatable) about the axis by a support shaft 12c. The position shown in FIG. Is biased toward the engagement position engaged with 11a. Note that the hook 12a in the state shown in FIG. 2 can tilt upward against the return spring 12d.

  The cable-side connector 12 is in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 with respect to the vehicle-body-side connector 11 when the operation knob 12b is pushed downward and the hook 12a is tilted upward and detached from the protrusion 11a. When the hook 12a is in the state shown in FIG. 1 and the hook 12a is in the engagement position engaged with the protrusion 11a, the removal of the vehicle body side connector 11 is restricted. .

  The lock member 13 is provided on the vehicle body 23 side, and is between a lock position (position shown in FIG. 1) that restricts movement of the hook 12a from the engagement position to the disengagement position and the engagement position and disengagement position of the hook 12a. This is a lock pin that is movable in the axial direction between unlock positions (positions shown in FIG. 2) that allow movement at. The movement direction of the lock pin 13 between the unlock position and the lock position is the same as the attachment / detachment direction of the cable side connector 12 with respect to the vehicle body side connector 11.

  The lock actuator 14 is an electric actuator whose operation is controlled by the electric control unit ECU, and is provided on the vehicle body 23 side together with the lock pin 13. The lock actuator 14 can move and hold the lock pin 13 from the unlock position shown in FIG. 2 to the lock position shown in FIG. 1 by a locking operation. Further, the lock actuator 14 can move and hold the lock pin 13 from the lock position to the unlock position by the unlocking operation.

  Although the detailed configuration of the lock actuator 14 is omitted, the lock actuator 13 is rotatably driven by a housing that supports the lock pin 13 so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof, an electric motor provided in the housing, and an output shaft of the electric motor. Can be slid into the groove provided with the lock pin 13 (groove extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the lock pin 13). And a connecting pin that rotates together with the sector gear.

  Further, the lock actuator 14 is set so as to operate together with an actuator 26 (also an electric actuator whose operation is controlled by the electric control unit ECU) of the door lock device provided in the vehicle. The lock operation is performed by the lock operation of the remote controller 27 that can be operated outside the vehicle, and the unlock operation is performed by the unlock operation.

  In the locking device A1 of the first embodiment configured as described above, the cable side connector 12 is inserted and attached to the vehicle body side connector 11 with the lock pin 13 being in the unlocked position shown in FIG. Power can be supplied from the power supply (not shown) to the power storage location 21 via the charging cable unit 25 and the vehicle body side connector 11 and the power storage location 21 can be charged.

  When the cable-side connector 12 is attached to the vehicle-body-side connector 11, the hook 12a is tilted upward against the return spring 12d by the slope provided at the tip of the projection 11a, so that the operation knob 12b is operated. It is possible to attach the cable side connector 12 to the vehicle body side connector 11 without this.

  Further, during charging of the power storage location 21, the lock actuator 14 is normally locked by a lock operation of the remote controller 27 to obtain the locked state shown in FIG. 1. In this locked state, the lock pin 13 moves to above the hook 12a (lock position) and is disposed close to the hook 12a. Is restricted from moving. For this reason, the cable side connector 12 cannot be removed from the vehicle body side connector 11.

  If the lock pin 13 is in the locked position after the charging of the storage battery 21 is completed, the lock pin 13 is in the unlocked position after the lock pin 13 is moved to the unlocked position. In this case, the cable side connector 12 is detached from the vehicle body side connector 11 as it is. The lock pin 13 in the lock position moves the lock actuator 14 to the unlock position by unlocking the lock actuator 14 by the unlock operation of the remote controller 27. Further, when the cable side connector 12 is removed from the vehicle body side connector 11, the operation knob 12b is pushed to move the hook 12a to the disengagement position, allowing the cable side connector 12 to be detached from the vehicle body side connector 11, In this state, the cable side connector 12 is pulled out from the vehicle body side connector 11.

  By the way, in the locking device A1 of the first embodiment, both the lock pin 13 and the lock actuator 14 for operating the lock pin 13 are provided on the vehicle body 23 side. Therefore, the cable-side connector 12 does not increase in weight due to the lock member (13) and the lock actuator (14), and the operability of the cable-side connector 12 (detachability with respect to the vehicle body-side connector 11) can be improved. is there.

  Further, the vehicle body side connector 11 has a protrusion 11a, and the cable side connector 12 has a hook 12a that can be engaged / disengaged with respect to the protrusion 11a, and the engagement position where the hook 12a is engaged with the protrusion 11a. In the state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cable side connector 12 is restricted from being removed from the vehicle body side connector 11. Therefore, if the hook 12a is engaged with the protrusion 11a even if the lock pin 13 is in the unlock position shown in FIG. 2 with the cable side connector 12 attached to the vehicle body side connector 11, Further, it is possible to prevent the cable side connector 12 from being detached from the vehicle body side connector 11. Therefore, it is possible to use the charging cable unit 25 (charging the storage battery 21 mounted on the vehicle) without locking the lock actuator 14, and the usability of the charging cable unit 25 is good.

  Further, since the lock actuator 14 is set to operate together with the actuator 26 of the door lock device installed in the vehicle, each operation of the lock actuator 14 and the actuator 26 of the door lock device is controlled by a single electric control. It can be controlled by the device ECU (the electric control device ECU can be shared) and can be implemented at low cost.

  In the first embodiment described above, the movement direction between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock pin 13 that can move in the axial direction is the same as the attachment / detachment direction of the cable side connector 12 with respect to the vehicle body side connector 11. However, as in the locking device A2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the movement direction between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock pin 113 that can move in the axial direction is different. It is also possible to configure and implement such that the cable side connector 112 intersects (for example, substantially orthogonal) with respect to the attachment / detachment direction with respect to the vehicle body side connector 111. The vehicle body side connector 111 has a projection 111a similar to the above-described projection 11a. The cable side connector 112 has a hook 112a similar to the hook 12a described above.

  In the lock device A2 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock actuator 114 provided on the vehicle body 123 side supports the lock pin 113 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and houses the constituent members therein. 114a, an electric motor 114b provided in the housing 114a, a pinion 114c rotated by the output shaft of the electric motor 114b, and driven by the pinion 114c and integrally movable with the lock pin 113 in the axial direction. A rack shaft 114d and a guide 114e provided integrally with the housing 114a and slidably fitted with the tip of the lock pin 113 at the lock position are provided. Since the other configuration of the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Moreover, in this 2nd Embodiment, since the effect similar to the said 1st Embodiment is obtained, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the lock member is configured by the lock pin (13 or 113) movable in the axial direction, but the lock device A3 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. As described above, the lock member may be constituted by a lock rotor 213 that can be rotated and moved. The lock rotor 213 has a notch (allowable portion) 213a. When the lock rotor 213 is in the unlock position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the notch (allowable portion) 213a is used in the first embodiment. The engagement portion 212a corresponding to the hook 12a of the first embodiment is allowed to move from the engagement position to the disengagement position with respect to the engagement portion 211a corresponding to the protrusion 11a of the first embodiment, and is in the lock position shown in FIG. Then, it is comprised so that the movement from the engagement position of the engaging part 212a to a disengagement position may be controlled.

  Further, in the locking device A3 of the third embodiment, the lock actuator 214 provided on the vehicle body 223 side rotatably supports the lock rotor 213 and accommodates the constituent members therein, and the housing 214a includes the housing 214a. An electric motor 214b is provided, a worm 214c that is rotationally driven by the output shaft of the electric motor 214b, and a worm wheel 214d that is rotationally driven by the worm 214c and rotates integrally with the lock rotor 213. In addition, since the structure of this 3rd Embodiment other than the above is substantially the same as the structure of the said 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted. Moreover, in this 3rd Embodiment, since the effect similar to the said 1st Embodiment is obtained, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the lock member is exposed to the outside of the vehicle in a state where the cable side connector is attached to the vehicle body side connector, and is configured to be visible. In the state where the cable side connector 312 is attached to the vehicle body side connector 311 as in the locking device A4 of the fourth embodiment, the portion exposed to the outside at the lock position of the lock pin 313 (lock member) is It is also possible to implement the configuration so as to be covered by the cover 312f provided on the cable side connector 312. In addition, since the structure (for example, protrusion 311a, the hook 312a, the lock actuator 314, etc.) other than the above of this 4th Embodiment is substantially the same as the structure of the said 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted. Moreover, in this 4th Embodiment, while the same effect as the said 1st Embodiment is obtained, the following effect is obtained.

  In the locking device A4 of the fourth embodiment, the cover 312f is provided on the cable side connector 312 and the cable side connector 312 is attached to the vehicle body side connector 311. The portion exposed to the outside of the vehicle at the locked position is set so as to be covered by the cover 312f. Therefore, the lock pin 313 (lock member) in the lock position can be hidden by the cover 312f, and mischief or the like to the lock pin 313 (lock member) from the outside of the vehicle can be prevented.

A1 ... lock device, 11 ... vehicle body side connector, 11a ... projection (locking portion), 12 ... cable side connector, 12a ... hook (engagement portion), 13 ... lock member (lock pin), 14 ... lock actuator, 21 ... Power storage, 23 ... Body, 25 ... Charging cable unit

Claims (6)

A vehicle body side connector provided on the vehicle body for charging a power storage location mounted on the vehicle and having a locking portion;
It is provided in a charging cable unit for charging the power storage location via the vehicle body side connector, and has an engaging portion that can be engaged with and detached from the engaging portion. Is allowed to be attached / detached to / from the vehicle body side connector in a state of being detached from the locking portion, and the vehicle body is in a state of being in the engagement position where the engaging portion is engaged with the locking portion. A cable-side connector that is restricted from being removed from the side connector;
A lock position provided on the vehicle body side that restricts movement of the engagement portion from the engagement position to the disengagement position, and an unlock position that allows movement between the engagement position and the disengagement position of the engagement portion. A movable locking member;
Provided on the vehicle body side, the lock member can be moved from the unlock position to the lock position by the locking operation and held, and moved from the lock position to the unlock position by the unlock operation and held. A locking device for the charging cable unit comprising a lock actuator.   The lock member is an axially movable lock pin, and the movement direction between the unlock position and the lock position of the lock pin is the same as the attachment / detachment direction of the cable side connector with respect to the vehicle body side connector, The locking device of the charging cable unit according to claim 1.   The lock member is an axially movable lock pin, and the movement direction of the lock pin between the unlock position and the lock position intersects the attachment / detachment direction of the cable side connector with respect to the vehicle body side connector. The locking device for a charging cable unit according to claim 1.   The lock member is a lock rotor having an allowance portion and capable of rotational movement. When the lock rotor is in the unlock position, the allowance portion moves the engagement portion from the engagement position to the disengagement position. The locking device of the charging cable unit according to claim 1, which is allowed.   In the state where the cable side connector is provided with a cover and the cable side connector is attached to the vehicle body side connector, a portion of the lock member exposed to the outside at the lock position is covered by the cover. The charging cable unit locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is set to be   The lock device of the charging cable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lock actuator is set to operate together with an actuator of a door lock device provided in the vehicle.

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