JP2013176227A - Charging connector connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging connector connection structure capable of preventing damage to a battery-side connector, an external power source-side connector and a charging cable due to undue detachment of the external power source-side connector from the battery-side connector.SOLUTION: In a state where an external power source-side connector 42 is connected to a battery-side connector 5, claws 27 of lock pieces 23 are fixedly disposed against the external power source-side connector 42. The lock pieces 23 are elastically supported by coil springs 24, and a state where the tips of the lock pieces 23 are fixedly disposed against the external power source-side connector 42 is kept by biasing force of the coil springs 24. When the lock pieces 23 are moved to the upstream side in the insertion direction in resistance to the biasing force of the coil springs 24, a fixed arranging state of the tips of the lock pieces 23 against the power source-side connector 42 is released and the external power source-side connector 42 becomes detachable from the battery-side connector 5.

Description

  The present invention connects an external power supply side connector at the tip of a charging cable to a battery side connector provided in the vehicle, and charges for charging a battery mounted on the vehicle with electric power supplied from the external power supply through the charging cable. The present invention relates to a connector connection structure.

  In an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid car, a battery is charged with electric power from an external power source such as a quick charging DC power source and a household power source (commercial AC power source).

  For this charging, a battery-side connector is provided in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. The battery-side connector is connected to the battery via a wire harness. When charging the battery, the external power supply side connector at the tip of the charging cable extending from the external power supply is connected to the battery side connector. Thereby, the external power supply and the battery are electrically connected, and power can be supplied from the external power supply to the battery.

  In order to secure a connection state between the external power supply side connector and the battery side connector, a lock mechanism for locking the external power supply side connector to the battery side connector is provided. If the vehicle is started with the external power supply side connector locked to the battery side connector, the connection between the external power supply side connector and the battery side connector is not released, so the charging cable, external power supply side connector, battery side connector and lock A large tension acts on the mechanism, and the lock mechanism is broken. Therefore, in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, starting of the vehicle in a state where the external power supply side connector and the battery side connector are connected is prohibited by control.

  However, if there is an inclination or a step in the part where the vehicle is parked, the vehicle may move after parking. At this time, if the external power supply side connector is connected to the battery side connector, the lock mechanism or the like may be damaged.

  For example, when the wire harness that connects the battery side connector and the battery is wound around the take-up reel, and the charging plug is removed from the grommet that holds it, the wire harness is sent out from the take-up reel. Proposed. By adopting this configuration, even if the vehicle moves a little with the external power supply side connector connected to the battery side connector, damage to the lock mechanism or the like can be prevented.

JP 2009-112076 A

  However, if the vehicle moves beyond the winding length of the wire harness on the take-up reel, the charging cable and the wire harness may extend and damage the lock mechanism or the like. Increasing the take-up length of the wire harness can prevent the wire harness from extending completely, but it can increase the size of the take-up reel, or it can get caught when the wire harness is fed from the take-up reel. Problems arise.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a charging connector connection structure that can prevent damage to a battery side connector, an external power source side connector, and a charging cable due to forcible detachment of the external power source side connector from the battery side connector.

  To achieve the above object, the charging connector connection structure according to the present invention connects the external power supply side connector at the tip of the charging cable to the battery side connector provided in the vehicle, and supplies it from the external power supply through the charging cable. It is a structure for charging a vehicle-mounted battery with electric power. The charging connector connection structure can swing about a swing shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector, and in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the battery side connector. A lock piece provided slidably and having a distal end portion fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector in a state where the external power supply side connector is connected to the battery side connector, and the lock piece is elastic And an elastic member that urges a portion of the lock piece closer to the tip than the swing shaft in the insertion direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector. In the charging connector connection structure, when the lock piece is moved upstream in the insertion direction against the urging force of the elastic member, the tip end portion of the lock piece is against the external power supply side connector. The fixed arrangement state is released.

  When the external power supply side connector at the tip of the charging cable is connected to the battery side connector of the vehicle, the external power supply and the battery mounted on the vehicle are electrically connected, and power is supplied to the battery from the external power supply through the charging cable. It becomes possible.

  With the external power supply side connector connected to the battery side connector, the tip of the lock piece is fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector. The lock piece is elastically supported by an elastic member, can swing about a swing axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector, and can be moved with respect to the battery side connector. It is slidable in the insertion / removal direction.

  Further, the elastic member biases the portion of the lock piece closer to the tip than the swing shaft in the insertion direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector. Due to the urging force of the elastic member, the state in which the distal end portion of the lock piece is fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the external power supply side connector from being easily detached from the battery side connector.

  When the lock piece is moved upstream in the insertion direction against the urging force of the elastic member, the fixed arrangement state of the tip end portion of the lock piece with respect to the external power supply side connector is released, and the external power supply side connector is connected to the battery. It can be detached from the side connector. Therefore, when the charging cable is inadvertently pulled to the upstream side in the insertion direction, the external power supply side connector is easily removed from the battery side connector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the battery side connector, the external power source side connector, and the charging cable due to forcible detachment of the external power source side connector from the battery side connector without adopting the configuration including the take-up reel.

  The charging connector connection structure is provided so as to be movable in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the battery side connector, accepts the battery side connector from one end, accepts the external power source side connector from the other end, An intermediate member to which the external power supply side connector is fixedly coupled with the external power supply side connector connected thereto may be included. In this case, it is preferable that the front end of the lock piece is fixedly arranged with respect to the battery-side connector by engaging the front end of the lock piece with the intermediate member.

  According to the present invention, even if the charging cable is inadvertently pulled in a direction in which the external power supply side connector is pulled out from the battery side connector, the external power supply side connector is easily removed from the battery side connector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the battery side connector, the external power source side connector, and the charging cable from being damaged due to the detachment of the external power source side connector from the battery side connector.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a charging connector connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where an external power supply side connector is detached from a battery side connector. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the charging connector connection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the external power supply side connector is connected to the battery side connector. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism taken along a cutting line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the charging connector connection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the external power supply side connector is detached from the battery side connector integrally with the intermediate member.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a charging connector connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where an external power supply side connector is detached from a battery side connector. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the charging connector connection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the external power supply side connector is connected to the battery side connector.

  The vehicle 2 in which the charging connector connection structure 1 is adopted is an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid car.

  The vehicle 2 includes, for example, a motor generator (not shown) that functions as a traveling motor and a generator, and a battery 3 that stores electric power supplied to the motor generator. In the vehicle 2, the battery 3 can be charged with electric power supplied from the external power supply 4. The external power source 4 is, for example, a quick charging DC power source.

  A battery-side connector 5 is provided on the vehicle 2 for charging the battery 3.

  The battery-side connector 5 integrally includes, for example, a columnar base end portion 6 and a columnar tip end portion 7 having a smaller diameter than the base end portion 6. There is a step at the boundary between the base end portion 6 and the tip end portion 7.

  A recess 8 is formed in the vehicle body of the vehicle 2. The battery-side connector 5 is held in a state in which the base end portion 6 is inserted through the bottom wall 9 of the recess 8, and the distal end portion 7 is disposed in the recess 8. Further, the vehicle body 2 is provided with a charging port lid (not shown) for opening and closing the inside of the recess 8.

  A pin 10 is held at the distal end portion 7 of the battery-side connector 5 in a state of protruding from the distal end surface. A wiring 11 is connected to each pin 10. The predetermined wiring 11 is connected to the battery 3 mounted on the vehicle 2. A relay 12 is interposed in the middle of the wiring 11 connected to the battery 3.

  An intermediate member 14 is provided in the recess 8.

  The intermediate member 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape. One end portion of the intermediate member 14 has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the distal end portion 7 of the battery-side connector 5 and smaller than the outer diameter of the base end portion 6 of the battery-side connector 5. On the outer peripheral surface of the other end portion of the intermediate member 14, an annular flange portion 15 projecting in the radial direction is formed. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate member 14, locking projections 16 are formed at two positions facing each other across the center of the intermediate member 14 on one end side of the flange portion 15.

  In addition, a lock mechanism 21 for fixing the intermediate member 14 to the battery-side connector 5 is provided in the recess 8.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism taken along a cutting line AA shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lock mechanism 21 includes two support portions 22, two lock pieces 23, and four coil springs 24.

  The support portion 22 has a semicircular arc plate shape. The two support portions 22 have an annular shape surrounding the periphery of the base end portion 6 of the battery-side connector 5 so that both end portions of the one support portion 22 face each other with a gap therebetween. It is arranged to make.

  The lock piece 23 is disposed between each of the two support portions 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock piece 23 has a substantially L-shaped cross section. The locking piece 23 includes a connecting portion 25 extending along the support portion 22, and an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate member 14 spaced from the inner end of the connecting portion 25 (inner peripheral side of the support portion 22). The arm portion 26 extending toward the other end portion and the claw portion 27 protruding from the tip end portion of the arm portion 26 toward the intermediate member 14 are integrally provided.

  A swing shaft 28 is inserted through the outer end of the connecting portion 25. Then, by holding both ends of the swing shaft 28 on the support portion 22, the lock piece 23 is swingably provided with the swing shaft 28 as a fulcrum.

  As shown in FIG. 3, one coil spring 24 is arranged on the opening side of the concave portion 8 with respect to the connecting portion 25 of each support portion 22 and each lock piece 23. One end of the coil spring 24 facing each support portion 22 is connected to a position closer to the inner periphery at the center of the support portion 22 in the arc direction. Further, one end of the coil spring 24 facing the connecting portion 25 of each lock piece 23 is connected to a position closer to the arm portion 26 than the swing shaft 28 in the connecting portion 25. The other end of each coil spring 24 is connected to a plate-like spring connection portion 31 protruding from the side wall 29 of the recess 8. Thereby, the support part 23 and the lock piece 23 are elastically supported by the four coil springs 24.

  In addition, a plate-like operation portion 32 that protrudes from the side wall 29 of the recess 8 is provided between the coupling portion 25 of each lock piece 23 and the spring connection portion 31. Each operation portion 32 faces a portion on the opposite side to the arm portion 26 with respect to the swing shaft 28 in the connecting portion 25 of the lock piece 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a charging cable 41 is connected to the external power source 4. An external power supply side connector 42 that can be connected to and disconnected from the battery side connector 5 is provided at the tip of the charging cable 41.

  The external power supply side connector 42 has a cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the intermediate member 14. On the outer peripheral surface of the external power supply side connector 42, operation piece support portions 44 are formed to protrude at two positions facing each other across the center line of the external power supply side connector 42.

  Each operation piece support 44 supports a lock operation piece 45. The locking operation piece 45 extends in the insertion / removal direction of the external power supply side connector 42 with respect to the battery side connector 5, and is formed in a hook shape with a tip bent toward the external power supply side connector 42. The locking operation piece 45 is provided so as to be able to swing so that the tip end portion is in contact with and separated from the outer peripheral surface of the external power supply side connector 42. The locking operation piece 45 is urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction in which the distal end portion approaches the outer peripheral surface of the external power supply side connector 42.

  The vehicle 2 includes an ECU (electronic control unit) 51 having a configuration including a microcomputer.

  In a state where the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the tip end portion 7 of the battery side connector 5 is inserted into one end portion of the intermediate member 14 as shown in FIG. One end surface is in contact with the end surface of the base end portion 6 of the battery-side connector 5. In this state, the claw portion 27 of each lock piece 23 of the lock mechanism 21 is brought into contact with and locked from the other end side of the intermediate member 14 with respect to the locked protrusion 16. Further, the claw portion 27 presses the locked protrusion 16 by the elastic force of the coil spring 24. Thereby, the intermediate member 14 is fixedly provided on the battery-side connector 5.

  Further, when the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the relay 12 is opened (turned off).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the external power supply side connector 42 is inserted into the intermediate member 14 from the other end side, and is connected to the battery side connector 5 in the intermediate member 14. In the process in which the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5, the distal end portion of the locking operation piece 45 comes into contact with the flange portion 15 of the intermediate member 14. Thereafter, when the external power supply side connector 42 is further moved to the battery side connector 5 side, the distal end portion of the locking operation piece 45 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the external power supply side connector 42 against the urging force of the spring. When the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5, the distal end portion of the locking operation piece 45 gets over the flange portion 15 and comes into contact with the flange portion 15 from one end side of the intermediate member 14. Stopped. Thereby, the external power supply side connector 42 is fixed to the intermediate member 14, and the claw portions 27 of the lock pieces 23 are fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector 42 via the intermediate member 14.

  When the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5, the external power supply 4 and the battery 3 are electrically connected, and power can be supplied from the external power supply 4 to the battery 3 through the charging cable 41 or the like.

  The ECU 51 incorporates a connection detection circuit (not shown) that detects that the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5. When it is detected that the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5, the relay 12 is closed (turned on) by the ECU 51.

  When the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the base end portion of each locking operation piece 45 is pressed toward the external power supply connector 42, and the distal end portion of the locking operation piece 45 is the intermediate member 14. The state locked to the flange 15 is released. Thereafter, the external power supply side connector 42 is pulled away from the battery side connector 5 while the base end portion of each locking operation piece 45 is pressed.

  When the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the relay 51 is opened by the ECU 51.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the charging connector connection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the external power supply side connector is detached from the battery side connector integrally with the intermediate member.

  The external power supply side connector 42 is operated without operating each locking operation piece 45 or the operation is incomplete, and the distal end portion of each locking operation piece 45 is formed on the flange 15 of the intermediate member 14. When a force in the direction of detaching from the battery side connector 5 is applied to the intermediate member 14, the intermediate member 14 moves integrally with the external power source side connector 42 in the detaching direction. Since the claw portion 27 of the lock piece 23 is locked to each of the locked projections 16 of the intermediate member 14, the lock piece 23 and the coil piece 24 are resisted against the elastic force of the coil spring 24 as the intermediate member 14 moves. The support part 22 moves integrally. As this movement proceeds, the connecting portion 25 of each lock piece 23 comes into contact with the operation portion 32. Thereafter, when the movement further proceeds, the connecting portion 25 of each lock piece 23 is pressed by each operation portion 32, and each lock piece 23 rotates about the swing shaft 28, so that the claw portion 27 of each lock piece 23 is rotated. Is disengaged from the locked protrusion 16. Thereby, the fixing of the intermediate member 14 with respect to the battery side connector 5 is released, and the external power source side connector 4 can be detached from the battery side connector 5.

  When the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the relay 12 is opened. Therefore, even if the intermediate member 14 is detached from the battery side connector 5 and the pin 10 is exposed, the exposed pin 10 is exposed. The high voltage of the battery 3 is not applied to the battery.

  As described above, when the external power supply side connector 42 at the tip of the charging cable 41 is connected to the battery side connector 5 of the vehicle 2, the external power supply 4 and the battery 3 mounted on the vehicle are electrically connected, Electric power can be supplied from the external power source 4 to the battery 3 through the charging cable 41 or the like.

  In a state where the external power supply side connector 42 is connected to the battery side connector 5, the claw portion 27 of the lock piece 23 is fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector 42. The lock piece 23 is elastically supported by a coil spring 24 and can swing about a swing shaft 28 extending in a direction orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction of the external power supply side connector 42 with respect to the battery side connector 5. It is slidable in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the side connector 5.

  Further, the coil spring 24 biases a portion of the lock piece 23 closer to the tip than the swing shaft 28 in the insertion direction of the external power supply side connector 42 with respect to the battery side connector 5. Due to the urging force of the coil spring 24, the state in which the distal end portion of the lock piece 23 is fixedly disposed with respect to the external power supply side connector 42 is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the external power supply side connector 42 from being easily detached from the battery side connector 5.

  When the lock piece 23 is moved upstream in the insertion direction against the urging force of the coil spring 24, the fixed arrangement state of the distal end portion of the lock piece 23 with respect to the external power supply side connector 42 is released, and the external power supply The side connector 42 can be detached from the battery side connector 5.

  Therefore, when the charging cable 41 is inadvertently pulled in the direction in which the external power supply side connector 42 is detached from the battery side connector 5, the external power supply side connector 42 is easily disconnected from the battery side connector 5. Therefore, damage to the battery-side connector 5, the charging cable 41, and the external power-side connector 42 due to forcible detachment of the external power-side connector 42 from the battery-side connector 5 can be prevented without employing a configuration including a take-up reel. Can do.

  Further, since the support portion 22 and the lock piece 23 are elastically supported by the coil spring 24, even if a force in a direction inclined with respect to the central axis is applied to the external power supply side connector 42, the intermediate member 14 Due to the movement, the connecting portion 25 of at least one of the lock pieces 23 comes into contact with and presses the operating portion 32, and the claw portion 27 of the lock piece 23 comes off from the locked protrusion 16, and the intermediate member 14 with respect to the battery side connector 5. Is released. Therefore, the external power supply side connector 42 can be removed from the battery side connector 5 without difficulty.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form.

  For example, although the configuration in which the external power supply side connector 42 and the intermediate member 14 are detachably coupled has been taken up, the intermediate member 14 may be formed integrally with the external power supply side connector 42.

  In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charging connector connection structure 2 Vehicle 3 Battery (vehicle-mounted battery)
4 External power supply 5 Battery side connector 23 Lock piece 24 Coil spring (elastic member)
28 Oscillating shaft 41 Charging cable 42 External power supply side connector

Claims (1)

A charging connector connection structure for charging an in-vehicle battery with electric power supplied from an external power source through the charging cable by connecting an external power source side connector at a tip of the charging cable to a battery side connector provided in the vehicle. ,
Swingable about a swing shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector, and slidable in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the battery side connector; In a state where the power supply side connector is connected to the battery side connector, a locking piece whose tip is fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector,
An elastic member that elastically supports the lock piece and urges a portion of the lock piece closer to the tip than the swing shaft in the insertion direction of the external power supply side connector with respect to the battery side connector. ,
When the lock piece is moved upstream in the insertion direction against the urging force of the elastic member, the tip of the lock piece is fixedly arranged with respect to the external power supply side connector. The connector connection structure for charging is released.

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