JP2016110700A - Charging aperture mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a charging aperture cap and a charging aperture lid from being damaged, by locking the charging aperture lid so as not to be closed in the state where the charging aperture cap is open.SOLUTION: A charging aperture mechanism comprises: a recess 2 that is formed on a vehicle body 1; a charging aperture 3 that is formed within the recess 2; a charging aperture cap 4 which closes the charging aperture 3 in such a manner that the charging aperture is freely opened/closed; a cap hinge 5 which rotates the charging aperture cap 4 relatively to the charging aperture 3 in such a manner that the charging aperture cap is freely opened/closed; an angle sensor 6 which detects an opening/closing angle of the charging aperture cap 4; a charging aperture lid 7 which closes the recess 2 in such a manner that the recess is freely opened/closed; a lid hinge 8 which rotates the charging aperture lid 7 relatively to the recess 2 in such a manner that the charging aperture lid is freely opened/closed; an actuator 9 that is provided so as to be abutted to an extension part 11 that is rotated together with the charging aperture lid 7; and control means 10 which generates a solenoid drive signal for fixing an operation position of the actuator 9 at a predetermined position to the actuator 9 based on the angle or the like of the charging aperture cap 4 that is detected by the angle sensor 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging port mechanism for connecting a charging connector of an external power source when charging a battery of a vehicle such as an electric vehicle.

  A vehicle equipped with a battery such as an electric vehicle or the like often includes a charging port for directly charging the battery by connecting a charging connector of an external power source. The charging port is formed in a recess formed in the vehicle body (generally formed on the side of the vehicle body), and the charging port is closed by a charging port cap so that the recess can be opened and closed. The lid can be opened and closed freely. In this way, by closing the charging port with the charging port cap, water tightness is ensured, and troubles such as rain water entering the charging port and shorting of the internal conductive terminals are prevented. Furthermore, the concave portion is closed with the charging port lid so as to be flush with the vehicle body to ensure the appearance of the vehicle.

  In this way, in the configuration in which the charging port inside the recess is closed with the charging port cap and the recess is closed with the charging port lid, the charging port lid is normally closed even though the charging port cap is in a half-open state. In this case, the charging port lid often does not have water tightness, so moisture that has entered the recesses enters the charging port in a half-open state, causing a problem. There is a fear.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, for example, the charging port cap hinge of the charging port cap that closes the charging port so that it can be opened and closed and the hinge shaft of the lid hinge of the lid that opens and closes the recess can be made parallel, and the charging port On the other hand, the structure which has arrange | positioned both hinges on the opposite side is employ | adopted. When both hinges are arranged in this way, when the charging port cap is open, when the lid is to be closed, the lid comes into contact with the charging port cap and cannot be closed to the end. For this reason, the user notices that the charging port cap is not closed, and can reliably perform the operation of closing the charging port cap.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the rotation angle when the inner lid (corresponding to the charging port cap) is opened is the same as the rotation of the outer lid (corresponding to the charging port lid). It is comprised so that it may contact | abut on an outer cover. If the two lids are brought into contact with each other in this manner, the outer lid cannot be closed when the inner lid is open, and the user cannot determine that the inner lid is not closed as in the configuration of Patent Document 1. Recognizing this, it is possible to reliably perform the operation of closing the inner lid.

Japanese Patent No. 4967966 Japanese Patent No. 471085

  In the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the charging port cap (inner lid) and the lid (outer lid) are in contact with each other so that the user can know that the charging port cap is not closed. It has become. In this case, when the lid is closed with a strong force, an excessive force acts on the charging port cap with the contact, and damage such as distortion of the hinge that rotates the charging port cap or the lid occurs. There is. If this damage occurs, the charging port cap cannot be closed properly, and the charging port may not be sufficiently watertight.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent the charging port cap and the charging port lid from being damaged by preventing the charging port lid from being closed when the charging port cap is open.

  In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, a concave portion formed in a vehicle body of a vehicle, a charging port formed in the concave portion, a charging port cap for closing the charging port so as to be freely opened and closed, and the concave portion are provided. A charging port lid that can be freely opened and closed, an actuator that opens and closes the charging lid, and a controller that controls the actuator so that the charging port lid is locked at a predetermined angle when the charging port cap is in an open state; The charging port mechanism provided with was comprised.

  At this time, a cap hinge that rotates the charging port cap so as to be openable and closable with respect to the charging port, and a lid hinge that rotates the charging port lid so as to be openable and closable with respect to the recess, It is preferable that the lid hinge is provided at a position opposite to the charging port.

  Further, when the charging connector is in a connected state, the control means is configured such that when the charging connector is disconnected and the charging port cap is in an open state, the charging port lid is locked in a fully opened position. It is desirable to control the actuator so that the charging port lid is locked at any position between the fully opened position and the position immediately before contacting the charging port cap in the opened state.

  The control device further includes an angle sensor that detects an opening / closing angle of the charging port cap, and the control unit locks the charging lid based on the opening / closing angle of the charging port cap detected by the angle sensor. It is desirable that the angle be determined.

  A load sensor that detects a load from the outside on the charging lid; and a warning device that issues a warning when the load detected by the load sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold; and It is desirable to do.

  According to the present invention, even if the charging port lid is to be closed while the charging port cap is open, the locked state in which the rotation of the charging port lid is prevented by the action of the actuator. For this reason, the charging port lid can be prevented from coming into contact with the charging connector inserted into the charging port or the charging port cap, and the charging port cap and the charging port lid can be prevented from being damaged. Thus, by preventing damage to the charging port cap and the like, water-tightness inside and outside the charging port can be ensured, and terminals formed at the charging port can be protected.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the connection state of the charge connector in embodiment of the charge port structure which concerns on this invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the non-connecting state of the charge connector in embodiment of the charge port structure which concerns on this invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically the modification of embodiment of the charging port structure which concerns on this invention The flowchart which shows the lock control process of the charging port lid in embodiment of the charging port structure which concerns on this invention

  An embodiment of a charging port structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The charging port structure is provided inside a recess 2 formed in a vehicle body 1 of a vehicle, as shown in a schematic diagram of a connected state of the charging connector C in FIG. 1 and a non-connected state of the charging connector C in FIG. The charging port 3, the charging port cap 4, the cap hinge 5, the angle sensor 6, the charging port lid 7, the lid hinge 8, the actuator 9, and the control means 10 are main components.

  A charging terminal (not shown) is formed in the charging port 3, and a charging connector C of an external power source is connected to this terminal. When the charging connector C is connected to the charging port 3 and the in-vehicle battery (not shown) is being charged, information related to the connection state is sent to the control means 10 described later (FIG. 1 and the like). (See symbol d1 in the middle).

  The charging port 3 is closed by a charging port cap 4 so as to be freely opened and closed. A cap hinge 5 is provided at one end portion of the charging port cap 4, and the charging port cap 4 is pivotably opened and closed with respect to the charging port 3 by rotating around the axis of the cap hinge 5. Instead of the cap hinge 5, another configuration that rotates the charging port cap 4 so as to be freely opened and closed can be employed. When the charging port cap 4 is closed, the charging port cap 4 is fitted into the charging port 3 without any gap, thereby ensuring watertightness inside and outside the charging port 3. The cap hinge 5 is provided with an angle sensor 6 that detects an opening / closing angle of the charging port cap 4. The detection result of the angle sensor 6 is sent to the control means 10 (see reference sign d2 in FIG. 1 and the like).

  The concave portion 2 is provided with a charging port lid 7 that closes the concave portion 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. When the concave portion 2 is closed by the charging port lid 7, the charging port lid 7 and the vehicle body 1 of the vehicle are substantially flush with each other, and the appearance of the vehicle is ensured. A lid hinge 8 is provided at one end portion of the charging port lid 7, and the charging port lid 7 is pivoted so as to be openable and closable with respect to the recess 2 by rotating around the axis of the lid hinge 8. Instead of the lid hinge 8, another configuration that rotates the charging port lid 7 so as to be freely opened and closed can be adopted. The charging port lid 7 is formed with an extending portion 11 that rotates around the axis of the lid hinge 8 as the charging port lid 7 rotates. Unlike the charging port cap 4, the charging port lid 7 is not configured to ensure watertightness inside and outside the recess 2.

  The cap hinge 5 and the lid hinge 8 are provided at positions opposite to the charging port 3. For this reason, the rotation directions when opening and closing the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 are opposite to each other.

  Various actuators such as a mechanical type and a hydraulic type can be adopted as the actuator 9. In this embodiment, a method is adopted in which the rod 9a protruding from the housing of the actuator 9 is locked or unlocked by a solenoid, and the protruding amount of the rod 9a can be freely controlled. The tip of the rod 9 a protruding from the housing is in contact with the extending portion 11 of the charging port lid 7. When the charging port lid 7 is closed, the extending portion 11 rotates so as to push the rod 9a. In addition, it is good also as a structure which makes the front-end | tip of the rod 9a contact | abut directly to the charging port lid 7, without forming the extending part 11 in the charging port lid 7. FIG. The actuator 9 is provided with a load sensor 12 so that a load acting on the charging port lid 7 can be detected. The detection result of the load sensor 12 is sent to the control means 10 (see symbol d3 in FIG. 1 and the like).

  The control means 10 collects the connection status of the charging connector C, the detection result of the angle sensor 6, and the detection result of the load sensor 12 (see symbols d1 to d3 in FIG. 1 and the like). Based on the connection status and the detection result, a solenoid drive signal (lock signal) for locking the movement of the rod 9a by a solenoid is issued to the actuator 9 (see reference numeral d4 in FIG. 1 and the like). Based on the solenoid drive signal from the control means 10, the movement of the rod 9a is locked, so that the charging port is further determined from the opening / closing angle of the charging port lid 7 when the rod 9a and the extending portion 11 contact each other. The lid 7 cannot be rotated in the closing direction.

  The predetermined angle of the charging port lid 7 when the control means 10 issues the solenoid drive signal can be different depending on whether the charging connector C is inserted into the charging port 3 or not.

  That is, when the charging connector C is inserted into the charging port 3, as shown in FIG. 1, when the charging port lid 7 is slightly closed from the fully opened position, the charging port lid 7 and the charging connector C come into contact with each other. Due to this contact, both the charging port lid 7 and the charging connector C may be damaged. In this case, the rod 9a of the actuator 9 is brought into contact with the extending portion 11 so that the charging port lid 7 does not rotate in the closing direction from the fully open position, and the rod 9a is locked to charge the lid 7 The rotation of the is prevented.

  On the other hand, when the charging connector C is not inserted into the charging port 3 and the charging port cap 4 is open, the charging port 7 is opened from the position where the charging port lid 7 is fully opened as shown in FIG. It is allowed to open and close until a position immediately before contacting the charging port cap 4 in a state where the mouth lid 7 is opened. In this case, an actuator is provided so that the charging port lid 7 does not rotate in the closing direction from any position between the position where the charging port lid 7 is fully opened and the position immediately before contacting the charging port cap 4. Nine rods 9a are brought into contact with the extending portion 11 to prevent its rotation. In this case, rotation prevention is performed so that the opening angle of the charging port lid 7 in a half-opened state is made as small as possible so that the charging port lid 7 is not opened by being blown by the wind or the surrounding people accidentally touch the charging port lid 7. It is desirable to position.

  The control means 10 may be incorporated in an electronic control unit that controls the vehicle, or may be an independent device different from the electronic control unit.

  FIG. 3 shows another example of the charging port structure according to the present invention. This charging port structure is substantially the same as the charging port structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but is different in that a warning device 13 is connected to the control means 10. In the warning device 13, when the load sensor detects that the external load applied to the charging lid exceeds a predetermined threshold value, that is, the actuator 9 is pushed by the solenoid drive signal from the control means 10. In the case where an excessive load is applied to the rod 9a in an attempt to forcefully close the charging port lid 7 even though the charging port lid 7 is locked, the sound or light emission, or those Both warn the user. By stopping the operation of closing the charging port lid 7 by the user according to this warning, it is possible to prevent a large force from acting on the charging port lid 7 and to prevent the charging port lid 7 from being damaged.

  As warning means by the warning device 13, a horn mounted on the vehicle may be sounded or a hazard lamp may be blinked. In this way, if equipment already mounted on the vehicle is used, there is no need to provide a separate device on the vehicle, and cost increases can be prevented.

  In each of the above embodiments, the load sensor 12 detects the load acting on the charging port lid 7, sends the detection result to the control means 10, and sends a solenoid drive signal from the control means 10 to the actuator 9. Although the movement of the rod 9a can be locked, an angle sensor for detecting the opening / closing angle of the charging port lid 7 is further provided in the lid hinge 8 instead of the load sensor 12 or in addition to the load sensor 12, and this angle sensor It is also possible to send a solenoid drive signal from the control means 10 to the actuator 9 by using the detection result.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the hinges 5 and 8 of the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 are provided on the opposite side to the charging port 3, and the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 are opened and closed. However, the hinges 5 and 8 are provided on the same side of the charging port 3, and the rotation direction of the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 is shown. Or when the hinges 5 and 8 are provided at a relative angle of 90 degrees around the charging port 3 and the rotation angles of the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 are orthogonal, for example. The configuration of the present invention can be applied. Even in these cases, the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 or the charging connector C and the charging port lid 7 may come into contact with each other and may be damaged, which needs to be prevented.

  A lock control process of the charging port lid 7 in the charging port mechanism according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. First, in a state where the charging port lid 7 is open (S10), it is determined whether or not the charging port cap 4 provided in the charging port 3 is open (S11). This determination is made by the control means 10 based on the detection result of the angle sensor 6 provided on the cap hinge 5. When it is determined that the charging port cap 4 is open (YES in S11), the rod 9a is locked by issuing a solenoid drive signal from the control means 10, and the angle of the charging port lid 7 is a predetermined value or a predetermined angle range. (S12).

  The angle of the charging port lid 7 when locked by the rod 9 a can be varied depending on whether or not the charging connector C is inserted into the charging port 3. That is, when the charging connector C is inserted into the charging port 3, as shown in FIG. 1, when the charging port lid 7 is slightly closed from the fully opened position, the charging port lid 7 and the charging connector C come into contact with each other. There is a fear. Therefore, the charging port lid 7 is locked by the rod 9a at the fully opened position, and the charging port lid 7 is restricted from rotating.

  On the other hand, when the charging connector C is not inserted into the charging port 3, as shown in FIG. 2, immediately before contacting the charging port cap 4 in a state where the charging port lid 7 is opened from the fully opened position. Can be opened and closed between positions. Therefore, the rod 9a is locked at any position between the position where the charging port lid 7 is fully opened and the position immediately before contacting the charging port cap 4, and the charging port lid 7 is restricted from rotating. .

  After the charging port lid 7 is locked, the process returns to the step (S11) for determining whether or not the charging port cap 4 is open, and the monitoring of the opening / closing state of the charging port cap 4 is continued.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the charging port cap 4 is closed (NO in S11), the solenoid drive signal is released from the control means 10 so as to turn off the locking state of the charging port lid 7 (S13). . When not locked from the beginning, the state where the lock is OFF is maintained. The charging port lid 7 can be closed by turning off the locked state of the charging port lid 7 (S14). This series of lock control processes starts when the charging port lid 7 is opened, and ends when the charging of the battery is completed and finally the charging port lid 7 is closed.

  The above embodiment is merely an example, and in a state where the charging port cap 4 is open, the charging port lid 7 cannot be closed to prevent the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7 from being damaged. As long as the problems of the present invention can be solved, various changes are allowed in relation to the opening / closing direction of the charging port cap 4 and the charging port lid 7, addition of sensors, shape and arrangement of members, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body 2 Recess 3 Charging port 4 Charging port cap 5 Cap hinge 6 Angle sensor 7 Charging port lid 8 Lid hinge 9 Actuator 9a Rod 10 Control means 11 Extension part 12 Load sensor 13 Warning device C Charging connector

Claims (6)

A recess formed in the vehicle body;
A charging port formed in the recess;
A charging port cap for freely closing and opening the charging port;
A charging port lid for freely opening and closing the recess,
An actuator for opening and closing the charging lid;
Control means for controlling the actuator so that the charging port lid is locked at a predetermined angle when the charging port cap is in an open state;
Charging port mechanism equipped with. A cap hinge that pivotably opens and closes the charging port cap with respect to the charging port;
A lid hinge for pivotally opening and closing the charging port lid with respect to the recess;
The charging port mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: the cap hinge and the lid hinge provided at positions opposite to the charging port.   The charging port mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the actuator so that the charging port lid is locked at a fully opened position when the charging connector is in a connected state.   When the charging connector is disconnected and the charging port cap is in an open state, the control means includes a position where the charging port lid is fully opened and a position immediately before the charging port cap is in contact with the opened charging port cap. The charging port mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is controlled to be locked at any position therebetween. An angle sensor for detecting an opening / closing angle of the charging port cap;
The charging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means determines the predetermined angle at which the charging lid is locked based on an opening / closing angle of the charging port cap detected by the angle sensor. Mouth mechanism. A load sensor for detecting an external load on the charging lid;
A warning device that issues a warning when the load detected by the load sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold;
The charging port mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

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