JP2023181710A - Charge connector holder - Google Patents

Abstract

To reliably and easily lock a charge connector held in a holder, and reliably and easily release the lock.SOLUTION: A holder H includes an electric lock 4 consisting of a latch 41 and a coil spring 42, a lock lever 43 and a coil spring 44, a solenoid 45, a guide lever 46 and a coil spring 47, and a trigger 48, and the electric lock 4 locks and unlocks the latch 41 that presses and holds the engaged state between a hook 93 and a hook engaging portion 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention provides a charging connector that is provided at the tip of a charging cable from a power source and is used to charge the on-vehicle battery of an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV). This invention relates to a holder for a charging connector that is used to hold the charging connector on a surface where the charging connector is installed, such as the wall of a building or fence.

In recent years, as electric vehicles powered by electric motors such as electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars have become more popular, it is necessary to supply electricity to these electric vehicles in public spaces along public roads and in facilities of private businesses. Electricity supply stations (also called charging stations) with charging devices are being installed in places such as the United States, and charging devices are also being installed in parking lots of general houses and condominiums. This type of charging device includes a charging device main body, a charging cable connected to the main body, and a charging connector attached to the tip of the charging cable, and the charging connector is connected to a charging port provided on various electric vehicles. It is designed to be charged.

Figure 11 shows an overview of a typical charging connector. As shown in FIG. 11, the charging connector 9 includes a substantially cylindrical body 90 and a cylindrical body 90 that protrudes along the axial direction from one axial end of the body 90 and has multiple terminals arranged on the opening surface at the tip. It integrally includes a shaped power feeding fitting part 91 and a grip 92 extending diagonally from the other end in the axial direction of the body 90, and is configured in a gun shape as a whole, and the power feeding fitting part 91 is provided at the charging port of the electric vehicle. By inserting it into the inlet, it is electrically connected to the on-board battery of an electric vehicle. Further, in order to mechanically connect this charging connector 9 and the charging port of the electric vehicle, a charging port of the electric vehicle is provided at one end of the body 90 in the axial direction on the outside of the power feeding fitting portion 91. A hook 93 is provided that is engaged with the hook engaging portion to maintain the connection between the charging connector 9 and the charging port on the electric vehicle side. This hook 93 has a claw 931 at its tip that projects toward the outer circumferential surface of the power supply fitting part 91, and the tip side of this hook 93 is configured to be able to move forward and backward in the protruding direction of the claw 931, and this claw 931 is normally spring-loaded. It is pressed against the power feeding fitting part 91 side by the biasing force 94 . A release button 95 for releasing the pressed state by the hook 93 is provided on the body 90 on the proximal end side of the hook 93. When the user presses the release button 95, the hook resists the biasing force of the spring 94. 93 moves in a direction away from the outer peripheral surface of the power feeding fitting part 91, and the locked state between the hook engaging part of the charging port on the electric vehicle side and the claw 931 is released. Further, in the case of this charging connector, a convex portion 96 is provided in the lower part of the power feeding fitting portion 91 in the axial direction and can be engaged with a concave portion formed as a guide in a charging port of an electric vehicle. Note that a charging cable C is connected to the lower end side of the grip 92 of the charging connector 9. The charging cable C consists of a power supply cable for supplying electric power and a communication cable for inputting and outputting control signals, and its base end is connected to the power supply section of the charging device in the case of a charging device, and When using a power source, a plug is installed so that it can be connected to a power outlet.

By the way, when the charging device is not in use, whether at a power feeding station or in a general home, place the charging connector at the power feeding mating area around the charging device, on the wall of a building, a fence, etc. within reach of a person. You will also need a holder to protect and hold the charging cable.

This type of charging connector holder has been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 1.
The charging connector holter of Document 1 includes a base that is fixed to the charging device main body using a fixing screw, and a holder main body that is attached to the front side of the base, and is generally shaped like a box that is long in the vertical direction. Ru. The upper part of the holder body is provided with a recessed part for hanging the charging cable, and the lower front corner of the holder body is provided with an obliquely inclined taper part. A holding part (connector holding part) into which the power supply fitting part) is inserted and connected is provided. In this case, the holding portion is formed into a round hole shape with a substantially circular bottom portion and a side portion protruding from the periphery of the bottom portion in a direction perpendicular to the bottom portion, and opens into a tapered portion. In addition, the inner diameter of the holding part is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fitting part of the charging connector, and it opens diagonally downward and forward, so that the fitting part is inserted into this holding part from the bottom. There is. Further, on the front surface of the holder main body, a recess into which the hook of the charging connector is inserted is provided above the holding part, and a protrusion into which the hook of the hook can be engaged is provided inside the recess. In addition, on the front side of the holder body, above the concave part, there is an integrated hood that slopes diagonally so that the amount of forward protrusion increases as it goes downward, making it difficult for rainwater etc. to get into the concave part or the holding part. It has become.

In this way, the holder body is attached around the charging device via the base with a plurality of screws. When holding the charging connector in the holder body, the fitting part of the charging connector is inserted and pushed into the holding part of the holder body. As a result, the hook is inserted into the recess, the hook's hook is engaged with the protrusion within the recess, and the charging connector is fixedly held on the holder body. Wrap the charging cable around the recess at the top of the holder body. To remove the charging connector from the holder body, press the release button to disengage the hook from the protrusion of the recess, and in this state, pull the charging connector out of the holder.

Further, in the case of this holder, a disc-shaped knob having a three-digit dial key is provided on the front surface of the holder body. A regulating piece made of a long sheet metal is screwed to the rotating shaft of this knob, and a resin cover is attached to the tip of this regulating piece. If the three-digit number on the dial key matches a predetermined number, the knob can be rotated, and when the knob is rotated forward or reverse, the regulation piece is rotated forward or reverse. The regulating piece is rotatable between a predetermined locked position and a predetermined unlocked position. In this way, when the user inserts the charging connector into the holder body, turns the knob to move the restriction piece to the specified restriction position, and locks the lock using the dial key, the hook of the charging connector is inserted into the cover at the tip of the restriction piece. If it hits the protrusion, it will not be able to move away from the protrusion, and the charging connector will be locked in the holder body. When the user operates the dial key to release the lock in this locked state, the knob can be rotated, and when the user turns the knob after unlocking and moves the restriction piece to the release position, the charging connector release button By pressing , you can move the hook away from the protrusion and remove the charging connector from the holder body.

JP2013-093918

As mentioned above, this type of charging connector holder is attached to the surroundings of the charging device (main body), a building, a wall, etc., and allows charging when the charging device is in standby mode, that is, when the charging device is not in use. It is used to protect and hold the power feeding fitting part of the connector, and to wrap and organize the charging cable. In this case, the charging connector, especially in the case of a rapid charging device, has an output of several tens of kilowatts and a direct current of several hundred amperes and hundreds of volts, so when the charging device is in standby mode, the charging connector is Not only does it ensure that it is held securely in the main body, but it also prevents the charging connector from being tampered with or used improperly, and from the standpoint of preventing damage to the charging connector. From a safety standpoint, it is desirable that the charging connector be locked in the holder body so that the charging connector is not left unattended.

However, combination locks such as the conventional charging connector holder mentioned above, and even ordinary cylinder locks that use keys, are used for charging devices at power supply stations used by an unspecified number of users, and for many users. It is difficult to manage PIN numbers and keys and is not practical for use with charging devices in condominium parking lots.In addition, such manual lock units are difficult to use when introducing a charging system to the charging device. There is a problem that they cannot be used together.

The present invention solves these conventional problems, and is a holder for this type of charging connector that can be used in charging devices at power feeding stations used by an unspecified number of users, and in condominium parking lots used by many users. To provide a locking unit that securely and easily locks the state in which the charging connector is held in the holder body, and that can reliably and easily release the locked state, in a lock type that is optimal for use with a charging device, etc.; With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
A connector holding part to which the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector can be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle, and a hook engaging part of the charging port of the electric vehicle close to the periphery of the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector. The connector is normally biased by a spring toward the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part, and is moved away from the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part by operating a release button provided on the charging connector. a hook engaging part that can be engaged with a hook of a possible type, and the power supply fitting part of the charging connector is aligned with the connector holding part, and the hook and the hook engaging part are made to correspond to each other. By pushing and inserting the connector into the connector holding part, the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector is connected to the connector holding part, and the hook and the hook engaging part are engaged to hold the charging connector. In the connector holder,
an electric lock for locking the engaged state of the hook and the hook engaging portion;
The electric lock is
a latch that has a lock groove on its circumferential surface and is disposed around the hook engaging portion so as to be able to move forward and backward toward the hook engaging portion so as to be able to press the hook from behind; a latch pressing biasing spring member that presses and biases the hook so that it can be held and held toward the joint;
One end has a locking claw that can engage with the locking groove of the latch, and the locking claw can be rotated in a locking direction toward a surface having the locking groove on the circumferential surface of the latch or in the opposite unlocking direction. and a lock lever pivotally supported so as to be able to engage with the lock groove of the latch at a position where the hook is pressed by the latch, and a lock lever that rotates to bias the lock lever in the locking direction in a normal state. a spring member for force,
a solenoid installed at the other end of the lock lever, having a plunger operatively connected to the other end of the lock lever, and driving the lock lever in the unlocking direction when energized;
The lock lever is rotatably supported on one end of the lock lever in the same direction as the lock lever, and one end is operatively connected to the one end of the lock lever to rotate the lock lever in the locking direction or the unlocking direction. a guide lever for movably guiding the lock lever; and a guide lever for rotationally biasing the lock lever to rotationally guide the lock lever in the lock release direction with the guide lever in a normal state and to rotationally bias the lock lever so that the unlocked state of the lock lever can be maintained. a spring member for urging rotation of the guide lever, which has a larger spring force than the spring member;
A power supply fitting part of the charging connector is arranged within the connector holding part so as to be movable in the insertion/removal direction with respect to the connector holding part, and one end protrudes outside the connector holding part and is operatively connected to the other end of the guide lever; A trigger whose other end is pushed into the connector holding part by the power supply fitting part of the charging connector, and when the other end is pressed, the lock lever is rotationally guided in the locking direction via the guide lever. ,
Equipped with
By connecting the power supply fitting part of the charging connector to the connector holding part, the hook engaged with the hook engaging part is held down by the latch, and the lock groove of the latch and the lock of the lock lever are held down. Engagement with a pawl locks the latch;
The latch is unlocked by energizing the solenoid;
The gist is that.

This charging connector holder also has an emergency unlocking unit attached to the electric lock, the unlocking unit is attached in parallel with the connector holding part, has a keyhole at one end, and a key is inserted into the keyhole. a cylinder lock of a type that is inserted to rotate the rotor; and a cylinder lock that is attached to the rotor so as to rotate integrally with the rotor in the radial direction of the rotor, and that engages the lock lever by rotation of the rotor and locks the lock. It is preferable to include a lock release lever that rotates the lever in the lock release direction.

According to the charging connector holder of the present invention, the above-described configuration provides the following special effects unique to the present invention.
In other words, in this holder, the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector is aligned with the connector holding part, the hook and the hook engaging part are matched, and the charging connector is pushed into the latch with the hook against the biasing force of the spring. By pushing and inserting it into the connector holding part, the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector is connected to the connector holding part, and the hook and the hook engaging part are engaged, and the hook is held and held from behind by the latch. This latch is locked using an electric lock lever. By doing this, the charging connector can be held in this holder by simply inserting and pushing the charging connector into this holder, and the held state can be automatically locked. Therefore, we have created a lock type that is ideal for use with charging devices at power supply stations used by an unspecified number of users, and charging devices in condominium parking lots that are used by many users. The held state can be locked reliably and easily.
In addition, by energizing the solenoid of the electric lock, the lock lever is rotated in the unlocking direction and the hook is unlocked. By reading an IC card with a card reader, or by sending an electrical signal using the functions of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, it is possible to easily use contact or non-contact IC cards or smartphones. The locked state between the charging connector and this holder can be automatically released by operation, and the charging connector can be used as a charging device at a power supply station used by an unspecified number of users or in an apartment parking lot used by many users. The lock type is ideal for use with charging devices, etc., and allows you to reliably and easily unlock the charging connector and this holder.

A perspective view showing the external appearance of a charging connector holder according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a charging connector Side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the holder together with the configuration of the main parts of the charging connector Rear view showing the configuration of the holder Diagram showing an example of normal use of the holder (before the charging connector is held in the holder) Diagram showing an example of normal use of the holder (with the charging connector inserted into the holder and in the middle of insertion) An example of normal use of the holder (the charging connector is inserted into the holder, the insertion is completed, the hook is engaged with the hook engaging part, and the hook is pressed down with the latch and locked) figure A diagram showing an example of normal use of the holder (the latch that presses and locks the hook of the charging connector held in the holder is unlocked by energizing the electric lock) A diagram showing an example of normal use of the holder (after unlocking the latch that presses and locks the hook of the charging connector held in the holder, the charging connector is pulled out from the connector holding part, and in the middle of being pulled out) A diagram showing an example of normal use of the holder (a state in which the charging connector is pulled out from the connector holding part after the latch that presses and locks the hook of the charging connector held in the holder is unlocked, and the pulling is completed) A diagram showing an example of the use of the emergency lock release unit of the same holder ((1) shows each state before unlocking (2) shows each state after unlocking) Diagram showing a typical charging connector used to charge the on-board battery of electric vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid cars (PHVs).

Next, a mode for carrying out the invention will be explained using the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the charging connector holder together with the main parts of the charging connector. 2 and 3 each show the structure of the charging connector holder.
The configuration of the charging connector 9 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has already been described, and will be referred to as "power feeding fitting part 91 of charging connector 9" or "power feeding fitting part 91" used in the following description. " refers to the "power feeding fitting part of a charging connector for connecting to the charging port of an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid car," and the "hook 93 of the charging connector 9" or "hook 93" refers to the "charging connector is arranged close to the periphery of the power supply fitting part of the electric vehicle to engage with the hook engaging part of the charging port of the electric vehicle, and is normally urged toward the outer peripheral surface of the power supply fitting part by a spring, A hook that can be moved away from the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part by operating a release button provided on the charging connector, and the ``convex part 96'' refers to a ``hook that can be moved away from the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part'', and the ``convex part 96'' refers to a ``charging port for an electric vehicle located at the bottom of the power feeding fitting part. A convex part that can be engaged with a concave part formed as a guide in the Please refer to FIG. 11 if necessary.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging connector holder H has the external shape of this holder H, and includes a holder main body 1 for incorporating each functional part of this holder H, and a charging connector holder H as a functional part of this holder H. It includes a connector holding part 2 to which the power feeding fitting part 91 of the connector 9 can be connected, and a hook engaging part 3 which can engage with the hook 93 of the charging connector 9, and holds the feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 to the connector. By aligning the hook 93 with the hook engaging part 3 and pushing the charging connector 9 into the connector holding part 2, the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 is inserted into the connector holding part 2. By connecting the hook 93 and the hook engaging portion 3, the charging connector 9 is held.

This charging connector holder H particularly includes an electric lock 4 that locks the engagement state between the hook 93 and the hook engaging portion 3, and an emergency unlocking unit 5.

In this charging connector holder H (hereinafter simply referred to as holder H), the holder main body 1 includes a holder base 11 that is fixed to the holder installation surface such as around the charging device, a building, a wall of a fence, etc. using mounting screws. , a connector holding part 2 that is attached to the front side of the holder base 11 with a mounting screw, has an opening at the lower part of the front part 121, and can hold the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9; and an opening in the vertical middle part of the front part 121. a hook engaging part 3 that can be locked through the hook 93 of the charging connector 9, and a lock release unit mounting part that is opened in the vicinity of the hook engaging part 3 of the front part 121 and that allows the emergency unlock unit 5 to be attached thereto. The holder case 12 has a holder case 130.

The holder base 11 is a vertically long substantially flat plate made of a metal material such as stainless steel, and has an upper edge formed in a large arc shape and a lower edge formed in a small arc shape, so that the entire holder base 11 extends from the top to the bottom. It is formed into a tapered shape that gradually becomes narrower. The upper part P1 of this holder base 11 forms a part of the suspension part 1221 of the charging cable, the lower part thereof is the attachment part P2 of the holder case 12, and the receiving part 111 for the holder case 12 is formed on the upper part. A plurality of screw insertion holes (not shown) are bored at appropriate positions. The receiving part 111 on the holder base 11 side is formed in the upper center of the mounting part P2 of the holder base 11 to have a substantially L-shaped cross section, and extends in the width direction of the holder base 11 continuously from the front surface of the mounting part P2. It has a horizontal part 111a and a vertical part 111b rising from the front end of the horizontal part 111a and extending in the width direction of the holder base 11, and an insertion opening is formed through the horizontal part 111a along the extending direction. .

The holder case 12 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyester plastic, and has a front part 121, a top part 122, left and right side parts 123, 124, and a bottom part 125. is formed so that it can be attached to the mounting portion P2 of the holder base 11. The upper surface portion 122 is formed into a generally arcuate shape that gradually slopes downward from the center in the left-right direction toward both left and right sides as the remainder of the suspension portion 1221 of the charging cable C connected to the charging connector 9. 121t extends above the height of the upper surface portion 122 and forms a substantially concave shape together with the upper portion P1 of the holder base 11 (when the holder base 11 and the holder case 12 are assembled). The left and right side surfaces 123 and 124 are each formed to gradually become wider from the bottom to the top, so that the top side of the front side 121 is farthest from the holder base 11, and the front side 121 gradually approaches the holder base 11 from the top side toward the bottom. form an inclined surface (that is, a downwardly inclined surface). A suspension portion 1221, a connector holding portion 2, and a hook engaging portion 3 of the upper surface portion 122 are formed perpendicularly to the front portion 121, respectively. The holder base 11 side is high and the front part 121 side is low and is formed diagonally (that is, the front part 121 side is diagonally downward).

In such a holder case 12, the connector holding part 2 is opened at the lower part of the front part 121 of this holder case 12, and the connector holding part 2 is opened at the lower part of the front part 121 of the holder case 12, and the connector holding part 2 is opened at the rear part 126 of the holder case 12 ( The holder case 12 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom and extends to the rear surface 126 side of the holder case 12 . In this case, the connector holding part 2 has a cylindrical part with a small diameter at the center of the bottom, and the bottom part consists of a cylindrical part at the center and a flat part around the cylindrical part. The surface portion 126 extends to the opening (surface). In this bottom part, an insertion hole 21 is bored in the plane around the cylindrical part, in this case, in the upper part, so that a trigger 48, which will be described later, can be inserted therethrough. A groove 22 is formed in the lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the connector holding part 2 in the axial direction, and a convex part 96 provided at the lower part of the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 is engaged with this groove 22. It is now possible to

In addition, in this holder case 12, the hook engaging part 3 has a recess 31 formed in the front part 121 of the holder case 12, just above the connector holding part 2, and a locking hole 30 formed approximately in the center of the inner surface thereof. It will be done. The recess 31 is formed around the locking hole 30 so that the charging connector 9 or the charging connector of other models can be fitted around the hook 93 of the body 90, that is, the tip end of the hook storage part 901 of the body 90. It is expanded and formed to have a shape and size corresponding to the distal end side of the storage portion 901. The locking hole 30 is formed on the inner surface of the recess 31 so that a hook 93 of the charging connector 9 can be inserted thereinto and locked therein. In this case, the inner surface of the lower edge of the locking hole 30 (the inner surface of the lower edge of the locking hole 30 when viewed from inside the holder case 12) becomes the locking surface of the hook 93. Furthermore, a convex portion having a downwardly inclined surface toward the front is formed at the tip on the outside of the lower edge of the locking hole 30 within this recess 31, and this convex portion has a downwardly inclined surface facing forward, and this allows the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 to be attached to the locking hole 30. The inner surface (locking surface) of the lower edge is a guide portion 32 that guides the movement. The area from the upper surface including the tip inclined surface of the guide portion 32 to the inner surface (locking surface) of the lower edge of the locking hole 30 becomes the engagement surface of the hook 93 of the charging connector 9.

Furthermore, in this holder case 12, a lock release unit mounting part 130 is provided on the front face part 121 in proximity to the hook engaging part 3. In this case, as this attachment part 130, a hole is formed above the hook engaging part 3 of the front part 121 on one side, here on the right side, into which the lock release unit 5 can be inserted.

In this way, the connector holding part 2 , the hook engaging part 3 , and the lock release unit mounting part 130 are formed on the front part 121 of the holder case 12 , and the hook engaging part 3 and the lock release unit are attached inside the holder case 12 . An electric lock attachment part and a lock release unit attachment part are provided behind the attachment part 130, respectively.

In addition, this holder case 12 has a locking part 14 on the holder case 12 side that corresponds to the receiving part 111 on the holder base 11 side at the upper part of the case and protrudes toward the rear surface 126 opening of the holder case 12. It is formed to be able to engage with the receiving portion 11 on the base side. In this case, the locking part 14 on the holder case 12 side is formed of a rigid metal material such as stainless steel and has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and is a protrusion extending from the front part 121 side of the holder case 12 to the rear part 126 opening. 141, and a claw portion 142 that is formed in a hook shape at the end of the protruding portion 141 on the rear surface portion 126 side and can be engaged with the receiving portion 111 on the holder base side through an insertion opening. Further, a plurality of screw insertion portions are formed at appropriate positions within the case so as to be able to communicate with each screw insertion portion on the holder base 11 side.

The electric lock 4 is attached to the electric lock attachment portion of this holder case 12.
The electric lock 4 includes a latch 41, a spring member 42 for pressing and urging the latch, a lock lever 43 and a spring member 44 for urging rotation of the lock lever, a solenoid 45, a guide lever 46 and a rotation guide lever. It is configured to include a spring member 47 for force, a trigger 48, and an emergency lock release unit 5.

The latch 41 has a locking groove 410 on its circumferential surface, and moves forward and backward toward the hook engaging portion 3 so that the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 can be pressed from behind around the hook engaging portion 3 in the holder case 12. Possibly arranged.

In this case, the latch 41 is made of a block with a rectangular horizontal cross section and a length that is approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the locking hole 30 of the hook engaging portion 3 and a width that is slightly larger than the width of the hook 93 of the charging connector 9. . Note that this latch 41 may be plate-shaped. The lock groove 410 is located on the back surface of the latch 41, in other words, on the surface facing the opening of the rear surface 126 of the holder case 12 when the latch 41 is installed in the holder case 12, at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). A lock pawl 43L of a lock lever 43, which will be described later, is formed to be engageable. In this case, the lock groove 410 is formed in a substantially circular arc shape in a side view and a substantially linear shape in a rear view so that a lock claw 43L can be fitted in the rear surface of the latch 41 at approximately the center in the vertical direction. Note that the front end (lower end) of this latch 41 is a guide surface that slopes downward toward the front (downward).

Further, in this case, a latch guide 411 for guiding the movement of the latch 41 is provided in the electric lock mounting portion in the holder case 12. This latch guide 411 is arranged around the hook engaging part 3 by inserting the latch 41 into the upper inner surface of the recess 31 at a position facing the hook engaging part 3 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hook engaging part 2. Possibly formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. In this case, in this latch guide 411, a convex part is formed on the inner surface of the front part 121 of the holder case 12, and a plate is attached to the rear of this convex part. (intermediate plate portion). This plate is also used as a mounting plate for each part of the electric lock 4, and includes an intermediate plate part parallel to the front part 121 of the holder case 12, and a pair of upper parts extending from the left and right upper parts of the intermediate plate part toward the opening of the rear part 126. A bearing plate portion, a pair of lower bearing plate portions extending from the left and right lower portions of the intermediate plate portion toward the opening of the rear surface portion 126, an upper plate portion extending from the upper end of the intermediate plate portion toward the front portion 121, and an intermediate plate portion. It consists of a lower plate portion extending from the lower end toward the opening of the rear surface portion 126, and a lower extension plate portion extending downward at right angles from the end of the lower plate portion.

In this way, the latch 41 is inserted into the latch guide 411 formed in the electric lock attachment part in the holder case 12, and the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 can be pressed from behind (from above). It is now possible to advance and retreat towards.

The latch press-biasing spring member 42 presses and biases the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 toward the hook engaging portion 3 with the latch 41 in the normal state so that it can be held. and is operatively connected to latch 41. In this case, a coil spring (hereinafter referred to as a coil spring 42) is adopted as the spring member 42, and the coil spring 42 is connected between the rear end of the latch 41 and the upper part of the latch guide 411 (the upper plate part of the mounting plate). is interposed in.

In this way, the latch 41 is inserted into the latch guide 411 provided in the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12, and the coil spring 42 for pressing and biasing the latch is inserted between the rear end of the latch 41 and the upper part of the latch guide 411. The hook 93 of the charging connector 9 can be pressed and held from behind (from above).

The lock lever 43 has a lock pawl 43L that can engage with the lock groove 410 of the latch 41 at one end, and the lock pawl 43L is directed toward the surface of the latch 41 having the lock groove 410 or the opposite direction. It is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable in the lock release direction and engageable in the lock groove 410 of the latch 41 at the position where the hook 93 is pressed by the latch 41 .

In this case, the lock lever 43 is a substantially U-shaped plate, and includes an upper part 431 extending diagonally downward from the front part 121 side of the holder case 12 toward the rear part 126 opening, and a lower part extending downward from the middle of the lower edge part of the upper part 431. It has a pair of rotating shafts 433 that protrude toward both left and right sides from the upper part of the lower part 432 directly below the upper part 431, and a pair of guide pins 434 that protrude from the lower part of the lower part 432 toward both left and right sides. has. The lock claw 43L has a shape similar to a trapezoid when viewed from the side, is integrally formed at the lower front edge of the lower part 432, and protrudes forward (toward the front surface 121 of the holder case 12) in a substantially arc shape. .

This lock lever 43 is rotatably attached in the front-rear direction through a pair of rotating shafts 433 between a pair of upper bearing plate portions of the mounting plate described above.

In this way, the lock claw 43L of the lock lever 43 can engage with the lock groove 410 of the latch 41 when the hook 93 is pressed down by the latch 41.

The spring member 44 for biasing the lock lever rotation is used to bias the lock lever 43 to rotate in the locking direction in the normal state, and is provided close to the mounting position of the lock lever 43 and is operatively connected to the lock lever 43. Ru. In this case, a coil spring (hereinafter referred to as coil spring 44) is adopted as the spring member 44, and the coil spring 44 is wound around the circumferential surface of each rotating shaft 433 of the lock lever 43, and one end is attached to the spring receiver of the mounting plate. The other end of the lock lever 43 is locked to a spring receiver of the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 so that the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 can be biased to rotate rearward.

In this way, the lock lever 43 is supported between the pair of upper bearing plates of the mounting plate attached to the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12, and the coil spring 44 is connected between the mounting plate and the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43. The lock lever 43 can be rotated in the lock direction (the lock claw 43L engages with the lock groove 410 of the latch 41) with the lock lever 43 in the normal state.

The solenoid 45 is installed at the other end of the lock lever 43, has a plunger 451 operatively connected to the other end of the lock lever 43, and drives the lock lever 43 in the unlocking direction when energized.

In this case, the solenoid 45 is a general-purpose product, and consists of a main body 45S and a plunger 451 that projects from one end of the main body 45S and is driven forward and backward. This solenoid 45 is installed on the upper plate part of the mounting plate installed in the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12 with the plunger 451 facing the opening of the rear surface part 126, and the wiring is connected to the controller of the charging connector holder (not shown). electrically connected via the

In this way, the solenoid 45 is installed on the upper plate part of the mounting plate provided at the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12, and when energized, the plunger 451 is pulled forward (toward the front surface 121 of the holder case 12). The lock lever 43 is actuated to drive the lock lever 43 in the unlocking direction.

The guide lever 46 is rotatably supported by one end of the lock lever 43 in the same direction as the lock lever 43, and has one end operatively connected to one end of the lock lever 43 (the end on the lock claw 43L side). The lock lever 43 is rotationally guided in the lock direction or the lock release direction.

In this case, the guide lever 46 includes a pair of left and right plates 461 that are vertically long, and a plate 462 that connects these plates 461 at the middle in the vertical direction. Each of the left and right plates 461 has a wide upper part, and a guide hole 4610 for the lock lever 43 is formed in the upper part in the shape of a long elongated hole in the horizontal direction (front and rear direction when attached to the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12). The guide hole 4620 for the trigger 48 is formed in a circular arc shape, and the lower part is narrow, and the guide hole 4620 for the trigger 48 is formed in the shape of a long hole in the vertical direction (in the vertical direction when attached to the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12). It is formed into a straight line. The left and right plates 461 each have a pair of rotating shafts 463 that protrude toward both left and right sides in the vertically intermediate portion thereof.

The guide lever 46 is rotatably mounted in the front-rear direction between the pair of lower bearing plate portions of the mounting plate described above through a pair of rotating shafts 463, and the lock lever 43 is inserted into the upper guide hole 4610. Each guide pin 434 of the lower portion 432 is threaded and engaged.

In this way, the guide lever 46 is operatively connected to the lock lever 43 by the engagement between the upper guide holes 4610 and the lower guide pins 434 of the lock lever 43, and moves the lock lever 43 in the locking direction or in the unlocking direction. Rotational guidance is possible.

The spring member 47 for biasing the guide lever rotation has a larger spring force than the spring member 44 for biasing the lock lever rotation, and rotates and guides the lock lever 43 in the unlocking direction with the guide lever 46 in the normal state. It rotates and urges the lock lever 43 to maintain the unlocked state, and is provided close to the mounting position of the guide lever 46 and is operatively connected to the guide lever 46. In this case, a coil spring (hereinafter referred to as coil spring 47) is adopted as the spring member 47, and the coil spring 47 is wound around the circumferential surface of each rotating shaft 463 of the guide lever 46, and one end is attached to the spring receiver of the mounting plate. The other end of the guide lever 46 is locked to a spring receiver at the top of each plate 461 of the guide lever 46 so that the top of the guide lever 46 can be biased to rotate rearward.

In this way, the guide lever 46 is supported between the pair of lower bearing plate parts of the mounting plate attached to the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12, and the coil spring 47 is inserted between the mounting plate and the upper part of the guide lever 46. It is also operatively connected to the lower part 432 of the lock lever 43, so that the guide lever 46 is normally directed rearward (opening of the rear surface 126 of the holder case 12), and the lock lever 43 is moved in the unlocking direction. Rotation biasing is possible.

The trigger 48 is disposed within the connector holding part 2 so as to be movable in the insertion/removal direction of the power supply fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 with respect to the connector holding part 2 , and has one end protruding outside the connector holding part 2 and connected to the guide lever 46 . The other end is operatively connected to the other end, and the other end is pushed into the connector holding part 2 by the power supply fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9, and when the other end is pressed, the lock lever 43 is moved through the guide lever 46. rotationally guided in the locking direction.

In this case, the trigger 48 is made of a rectangular rod, with one end having a large rod portion 481 with a large cross-sectional area, and the other end having a small rod portion 482 with a small cross-sectional area. A pair of guide pins 483 that protrude toward both left and right sides are provided at the middle portion of the small rod portion 482 side on both left and right side surfaces of the large rod portion 481 .

This trigger 48 has a small rod portion 482 on the other end inserted into the connector holding portion 2 through the insertion hole 21 at the bottom of the connector holding portion 2, and a large rod portion 481 on the one end extending below the mounting plate described above. The guide pins 483 on both the left and right sides are inserted into the guide holes 4620 at the bottom of the left and right plates 461 of the guide lever 46, and are inserted through the holes in the plate part and arranged so as to be movable in the front and back direction of the holder case 12. threaded and engaged.

In this way, the trigger 48 is inserted between the lower extension plate part of the mounting plate attached to the electric lock mounting part in the holder case 12 and the bottom part of the connector holding part 2, and one end is inserted into the other end of the guide lever 47. When the other end of the trigger 48 is pressed, the lock lever 43 is rotationally guided in the locking direction via the guide lever 46.

An emergency lock release unit 5 is attached to the lock release unit attachment portion of the holder case 12.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, this unlocking unit 5 has a keyhole 50 at one end, and a key (not shown) is inserted into the keyhole 50 to rotate a rotor 51. A cylinder lock 52 is attached to the rotor 51 so as to be able to rotate integrally with the rotor 51 in the radial direction of the rotor 51, and as the rotor 51 rotates, it engages the lock lever 43 in the locked state and unlocks the lock lever 43. It consists of a lock release lever 53 that rotates in the direction. This lock release unit 5 is inserted through the mounting portion 130 of the front face portion 121 of the holder case 12 and is attached to the lock release unit mounting portion in the holder case 12 in parallel with the connector holding portion 2 . In this case, in the lock release unit 5, the rear lock release lever 53 is normally vertically oriented, does not engage (contact) the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4, and the lock release lever 53 of the lock release unit 5 is not engaged (contacted) with the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4, but the lock release lever 53 of the rear side is normally in a vertical position, and the lock release lever 53 of the lock release unit 5 is not engaged (contacted) with the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4. 93 is maintained in the locked state, and from this locked state, the rotor 51 is rotated 90 degrees by operating the key of the cylinder lock 52, so that the lock release lever 53 engages with the lower end of the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 and is locked. The upper part 431 of the lever 43 is rotated forward, and the lock pawl 43L of the lower part 432 is attached in an operating manner in which it can be removed from the lock groove 410 of the latch 41.

In this way, by inserting the key into the keyhole of the cylinder lock 52 and rotating it 90 degrees to the right to the unlock position, the lock release lever 53 engages with the lower end of the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 and locks. The lock is released by rotating the upper part 431 of the lever 43 forward to disengage the lock claw 43L of the lower part 432 from the lock groove 410 of the latch 41, and from this state, rotate the key to the left at 90 degrees to the locked position. The lever 53 is rotated in a direction away from the lower end of the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43, and the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 follows the lock release lever 43 rearward due to the biasing force of the coil spring 44 for biasing the lock lever rotation. The lock pawl 43L of the lower portion 432 engages with the lock groove 410 of the latch 41. In this case, the key can be inserted or removed only in the locked position.

This charging connector holder H has such a configuration, and the holder base 11 is installed on the holder installation surface, and the mounting screws are passed through each screw insertion part on the holder base side and fastened and fixed to the holder installation surface. The case 12 has the locking part 14 on the holder case 12 side engaged with the receiving part 111 on the holder base 1 side, and the mounting screw is passed from the screw insertion part on the holder case 12 side to the screw insertion part on the holder base 11 side. It is fastened and attached to the holder installation surface.
By connecting the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 to the connector holding part 2 in this way, the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 that is engaged with the hook engaging part 3 is held down by the latch 41, and the latch The latch 41 is locked by engagement between the lock groove 410 of the lock lever 41 and the lock claw 43L of the lock lever 43, and the latch 41 is unlocked by energizing the solenoid 45.

Examples of how this charging connector holder H is used are shown in FIGS. 4 to 9.
Note that FIG. 4 shows the initial state before the charging connector 9 is held in the holder H. In this state, the solenoid 45 (its plunger 451) is in its normal position (regular position when not energized), and the lock lever 43 is rotated by the guide lever 46 to the unlocked position (the lock claw 43L is latched onto the latch 41). is removed from the lock groove 410 and held at a position immediately in front of the lock groove 410). In this case, the guide lever 46 is in its normal position (when the charging connector 9 is not held in this holder H, the upper portions of the left and right plates 461 of the guide lever 46 are rotated backwards with respect to the front surface 121 of this holder H). The machine is placed on standby at the fixed position. Each guide pin 434 of the lock lever 43 is engaged with the front end of each guide hole 4610 in the upper part of each left and right plate 461 of this guide lever 46, and the lock lever 43 is in the unlocked position, that is, the lower part 432 is locked. The pawl 43L is held at a standby position immediately before the lock groove 410 where the pawl 43L is disengaged from the lock groove 410 of the latch 41.

When holding the charging connector 9 in this holder H, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, while pushing the charging connector 9 into the other end of the trigger 48 in the connector holding part 2 against the biasing force of the coil spring 47 for biasing the guide lever rotation. , press and insert into the connector holding part 2. As the charging connector 9 is pushed in, the hook 93 of the charging connector 9 is inserted into the recess 31 of the hook engaging part 3 and rides on the guide part 32 outside the locking hole 30 while being guided by the inclined surface at the tip. As a result, it rises toward the locking hole 30. Further, the tip of the hook 93 contacts the guide surface at the tip of the latch 41, and is guided by this guide surface to advance toward the hook engaging portion 3 while pushing up the latch 41. At the same time, the trigger 48 in the connector holding part 2 is pushed by the tip of the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 and is moved back. As the trigger 48 retreats, the upper portions of the left and right plates 461 of the guide lever 46 are rotated forward to rotationally guide the lock lever 43 in the locking direction. In this case, when the upper parts of the left and right plates 461 of the guide lever 46 are rotated forward, the engagement between the guide holes 4610 in the upper parts of the left and right plates 461 and the guide pins 434 of the lock lever 43 is released. Then, the lock lever 43 is rotated in the locking direction by the biasing force of the coil spring 44 for biasing the lock lever rotation, and the lock pawl 43L of the lower portion 432 is rotated forward toward the lock groove 410 of the latch 41. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 is connected to the connector holding part 2, the hook 93 climbs over the guide part 32, and the hook 93 and the hook engaging part 3 are engaged. Then, the lock claw 43L of the lock lever 43 engages with the lock groove 410 of the latch 41 and is locked. In this way, the charging connector 9 is held by the holder H, and the hook 93 in which the hook 93 and the hook engaging portion 3 are engaged is pressed and held by the latch 41 in the locked state. As a result, the movement of the hook 93 in the withdrawal direction is restricted, and even if the release button 95 of the charging connector 9 is operated, the hook 93 cannot be removed from the hook engaging portion 3, and the charging connector 9 is completely locked. Ru.

To unlock the holder H and the charging connector 9, the controller reads a contact or non-contact IC card with a card reader, or uses the function of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone to connect the solenoid 45. send an electrical signal to. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the solenoid 45 is energized, the plunger 451 is attracted into the main body 45S, and the lock lever 43 is rotated in the unlocking direction. In this case, by the pulling action of the plunger 451 of the solenoid 45, the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 is rotated forward, the lower part 432 is rotated backward, and the lock pawl 43L of the lower part 432 is moved from the lock groove 410 of the latch 41. Will be left. As a result, the latch 41 is unlocked and the hook 93 is unlocked. By unlocking the hook 93, the release button 95 of the charging connector 9 can be pressed down, as shown in FIG. All you have to do is pull out the connector 9 from the holder H.

Note that when the charging connector 9 is removed from the holder H, as shown in FIG. 9, each part of the electric lock 4 is returned to its initial state (see paragraph 0056) by elastic return. Thereby, even if the solenoid 45 is de-energized, the unlocked state of the lock plate 43 is maintained.

The emergency unlock unit 5 is used in an emergency. As shown in FIG. 10(1), the lock release lever 53 at the rear of the lock release unit 5 is normally in a vertical position and does not engage (contact) with the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4. , the locked state of the hook 93 by the electric lock 4 is maintained. In the case of emergency use, as shown in FIG. 10(2), when a predetermined key is inserted into the keyhole 50 of the cylinder lock 52 and rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position, the rotation of the rotor 51 causes the lock release lever to 53 is rotated toward the upper part 431 of the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4 and contacts the lower end of the upper part 431, and the lock lever 43 is pressed and rotated in the unlocking direction, that is, the upper part 431 is directed forward. , the lock pawl 43L of the lower portion 432 is retracted from the lock groove 410 of the latch 41 and removed. As a result, the locked state of the latch 41 caused by the engagement between the lock lever 43 and the latch 41 is released, and the hook 93 is released from the lock. Thus, the release button 95 of the charging connector 9 can be pressed down, and by pressing the release button 93, the hook 93 can be disengaged from the hook engaging portion 3, and the charging connector 9 can be pulled out from the holder H.

As explained above, according to this holder H, the power feeding fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 is aligned with the connector holding part 2, and the hook 93 and the hook engaging part 3 are matched, so that the charging connector 9 can be By pushing and inserting the latch 41 into the connector holding part 2 with the hook 93 against the urging force of the coil spring 42 for pressing and urging the latch, the power supply fitting part 91 of the charging connector 9 is inserted into the connector holding part 2. The hook 93 and the hook engaging part 3 are connected to each other, the hook 93 is engaged with the hook engaging part 3, the hook 93 is pressed and held from behind (from above) by the latch 41, and this latch 41 is locked by the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4. Therefore, by simply inserting and pushing the charging connector 9 into this holder H, the charging connector 9 can be held in this holder H, and this held state can be automatically locked. The lock type is ideal for use in charging devices at power supply stations used by users and charging devices in condominium parking lots used by many users, and allows the charging connector 9 to be held in this holder H securely and easily. Can be locked.

Further, by sending an electric signal to the solenoid 45 using an arbitrary controller, the solenoid 45 is actuated, and the lock lever 43 is rotated from the latch 41 in the unlocking direction, thereby releasing the engagement between the latch 41 and the lock lever 43. For example, the controller side can send an electrical signal to the solenoid 45 by reading a contact or non-contact IC card with a card reader, or by using the function of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. By doing so, the locked state between the charging connector 9 and this holder H can be automatically released with a simple operation using a contact or non-contact IC card, smartphone, etc., and an unspecified number of users can The lock type is ideal for use in charging devices at power supply stations used by people, and charging devices in condominium parking lots used by many users, and the lock between the charging connector 9 and this holder H can be reliably and easily unlocked. can do.

Furthermore, in this holder H, an emergency unlocking unit 5 is attached to the electric lock 4, and this unlocking unit 5 is combined with a cylinder lock 52 in which a rotor 51 is rotated by inserting a key into a keyhole 50 at one end. , and a lock release lever 53 that is attached to the rotor 51 and can be engaged and detached from the lock lever 43 of the electric lock 4 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 51. There is a lock position where the lock lever 43 maintains the locked state of the latch 41, and a lock position where the lock release lever 53 engages with the lock lever 43 and presses and rotates the lock lever 43 in the unlocking direction. Since the latch 41 can be rotated between the unlocked position and the unlocked position, the key can be easily operated in the event of an emergency where the lock cannot be unlocked due to a problem with the electrical system such as the controller or solenoid 45. Thus, the locked state of the latch 41 by the lock plate 43 can be reliably released.

H Charging connector holder 1 Holder body 11 Holder base 111 Receiving part 111a Horizontal part 111b Vertical part 12 Holder case 121 Front part 122 Top part 1221 Suspension part 123 Side part 124 Side part 125 Bottom part 126 Rear part 130 Lock release unit mounting part 14 Locking part 141 Projection part 142 Claw part 2 Connector holding part 21 Insertion hole 22 Groove 3 Hook engaging part 30 Locking hole 31 Recessed part 32 Guide part 4 Electric lock 41 Latch 410 Lock groove 411 Latch guide 42 For latch pressing biasing Spring member (coil spring)
43 Lock lever 431 Upper part 432 Lower part 433 Rotating shaft 434 Guide pin 43L Lock claw 44 Spring member for biasing lock lever rotation (coil spring)
45 Solenoid 45S Main body 451 Plunger 46 Guide lever 461 Plate 462 Plate 4610 Guide hole 4620 Guide hole 463 Rotating shaft 47 Spring member for biasing guide lever rotation (coil spring)
48 Trigger 481 Large rod part 482 Small rod part 483 Guide pin 5 Emergency lock release unit 50 Keyhole 51 Rotor 52 Cylinder lock 53 Lock release lever

Claims (2)

A connector holding part to which the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector can be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle, and a hook engaging part of the charging port of the electric vehicle close to the periphery of the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector. The connector is normally biased by a spring toward the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part, and is moved away from the outer circumferential surface of the power feeding fitting part by operating a release button provided on the charging connector. a hook engaging part that can be engaged with a hook of a possible type, and the power supply fitting part of the charging connector is aligned with the connector holding part, and the hook and the hook engaging part are made to correspond to each other. By pushing and inserting the connector into the connector holding part, the power feeding fitting part of the charging connector is connected to the connector holding part, and the hook and the hook engaging part are engaged to hold the charging connector. In the connector holder,
an electric lock for locking the engaged state of the hook and the hook engaging portion;
The electric lock is
a latch that has a lock groove on its circumferential surface and is disposed around the hook engaging portion so as to be able to move forward and backward toward the hook engaging portion so as to be able to press the hook from behind; a latch pressing biasing spring member that presses and biases the hook so that it can be held and held toward the joint;
One end has a locking claw that can engage with the locking groove of the latch, and the locking claw can be rotated in a locking direction toward a surface having the locking groove on the circumferential surface of the latch or in the opposite unlocking direction. and a lock lever pivotally supported so as to be able to engage with the lock groove of the latch at a position where the hook is pressed by the latch, and a lock lever that rotates to bias the lock lever in the locking direction in a normal state. a spring member for force,
a solenoid installed at the other end of the lock lever, having a plunger operatively connected to the other end of the lock lever, and driving the lock lever in the unlocking direction when energized;
The lock lever is rotatably supported on one end of the lock lever in the same direction as the lock lever, and one end is operatively connected to the one end of the lock lever to rotate the lock lever in the locking direction or the unlocking direction. a guide lever for movably guiding the lock lever; and a guide lever for rotationally biasing the lock lever to rotationally guide the lock lever in the lock release direction with the guide lever in a normal state and to rotationally bias the lock lever so that the unlocked state of the lock lever can be maintained. a spring member for urging rotation of the guide lever, which has a larger spring force than the spring member;
A power supply fitting part of the charging connector is arranged within the connector holding part so as to be movable in the insertion/removal direction with respect to the connector holding part, and one end protrudes outside the connector holding part and is operatively connected to the other end of the guide lever; A trigger whose other end is pushed into the connector holding part by the power supply fitting part of the charging connector, and when the other end is pressed, the lock lever is rotationally guided in the locking direction via the guide lever. ,
Equipped with
By connecting the power supply fitting part of the charging connector to the connector holding part, the hook engaged with the hook engaging part is held down by the latch, and the lock groove of the latch and the lock of the lock lever are held down. Engagement with a pawl locks the latch;
The latch is unlocked by energizing the solenoid;
A holder for a charging connector characterized by: An emergency unlocking unit is attached to the electric lock, the unlocking unit is attached in parallel with the connector holding part, has a keyhole at one end, and the rotor is rotated by inserting the key into the keyhole. a cylinder lock, which is attached to the rotor so as to be able to rotate integrally with the rotor in a radial direction of the rotor, and when the rotor rotates, the lock lever is engaged with the lock lever and the lock lever is rotated in the unlocking direction. The charging connector holder according to claim 1, comprising a lock release lever.

Images