JP3795225B2 - Electric vehicle charging unit structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging unit structure of an electric vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, electric vehicles have been researched and developed as environmentally friendly vehicles that do not emit exhaust gas. The electric vehicle can be driven by driving a driving motor using a battery as an energy source. And if the said electric vehicle drive | works a predetermined distance, it will be necessary to charge a battery. The battery is charged by connecting an external charging plug to a charging device mounted on the vehicle.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such an electric vehicle is currently in a prototype stage, and the specific structure of the charging unit has not yet been determined.
[0004]
Accordingly, the present invention aims to contribute to the practical use of an electric vehicle by providing a specific structure of a charging unit.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 1, a charging port into which an external charging plug can be inserted is formed in the radiator grill of an electric vehicle, and a lid is attached to the charging port so as to be freely opened and closed. The lid opening detector is attached to the rotation center axis of the lid , the vehicle body side mounting bracket for mounting the radiator grille on the side of the lid opening detector, the back of the radiator grille, and the lid opening detection A space surrounding the lid open detector is formed by a lid support bracket that is attached to the lid and pivotally supports the lid so as to be freely opened and closed .
[0006]
In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, charging can be performed from the front side of the electric vehicle. In addition, the lid opening detector can detect that the lid has opened. Further, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the lid opening detector on a rainy day or at the time of car washing.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the charging port has a substantially trapezoidal shape in which both sides thereof are slightly inclined toward the center as the front side advances forward, and the lid body is a platform having substantially the same shape as the charging port. It is characterized by its shape.
[0008]
In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the lid can be opened / closed with respect to the charging port in a state where the wedge is inserted and removed. As a result, the lid can be opened and closed more smoothly than when the charging port and the lid are rectangular, and at the same time, the gap between the sides of the charging port and the sides of the lid when closed is reduced. It becomes possible to do. In addition, the appearance quality can be improved.
[0011]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, a specific first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described together with illustrated examples.
[0012]
1 and 2 show Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0013]
First, the configuration will be described. In the first embodiment, a charging port 2 into which an external charging plug (not shown) can be inserted is formed in the radiator grill 1 of the electric vehicle. A lid 3 that can be opened and closed is attached to the charging port 2.
[0014]
The charging port 2 is formed at the center upper portion of the radiator grill 1. The charging port 2 extends in the left-right direction, and is inclined slightly toward the center as the both side sides 4 move forward, and has a trapezoidal shape close to a rectangle as a whole.
[0015]
The lid 3 is mainly composed of a lid portion 5 having a trapezoidal shape that is almost the same shape as the charging port 2. As shown in FIG. 2, lid support portions 6 are formed on both sides of the lid portion 5 so as to extend downward (inward of the radiator grill 1) at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the lid portion 5. ing.
[0016]
Further, lid support brackets 7 that are substantially parallel to the lid support portions 6 are attached to the back side of the radiator grill 1 so as to be positioned outside the lid support portions 6. Each lid support portion 6 is attached with a rotation center shaft 8 extending outward in the left-right direction from an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction. Each lid support portion 6 is attached to a corresponding lid support bracket 7 via the rotation center shaft 8. The shaft is pivotally supported. Therefore, by rotating the lid 3 rearward about the rotation center axis 8, the charging port 2 is greatly opened in a state where most of the lid 3 is hidden in the radiator grill 1 and part of the lid 3 protrudes outward. It has come to be.
[0017]
Further, a biasing means 9 such as a torsion spring is fitted on the outer periphery of the rotation center shaft 8. Then, both end portions 10 of the torsion spring (biasing means 9) are respectively engaged with the lid support portion 6 and the lid support bracket 7 so that the lid body 3 is always urged in the opening direction. ing.
[0018]
Furthermore, a lid opening detector 11 such as a rotary encoder is attached to one lid support bracket 7, and the lid opening detector 11 is connected to the rotation center shaft 8 on the corresponding side. The lid opening detector 11 sends a signal to a lid opening warning lamp 12 provided in the meter display section of the instrument panel so that the lid opening warning lamp 12 is turned on when the lid is opened.
[0019]
A plurality of vehicle body side mounting brackets 15 (four in the figure) extend rearward from the rear surface side of the radiator grille 1 so that the radiator grille 1 can be attached to the vehicle body side panel 13 via the resin clip 14. ) Projected. 3 and 4, the lid opening detector 11 is composed of a vehicle body side mounting bracket 15 a located on the side of the lid opening detector 11, the rear surface of the radiator grill 1, and the lid support bracket 7. By forming the surrounding space 16, water or the like from the outside is prevented from getting on the lid opening detector 11. At this time, the radiator grill 1 is formed with a plurality of air port forming portions 18 having air ports 17 for allowing air to pass inwardly on both sides, but at least corresponds to the vehicle body side mounting bracket 15a. The air port forming part 18 is not formed at the position, or the simulated air port forming part 19 without the air port 17 is formed. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a bolt for fixing the vehicle body side mounting bracket 15 a to the radiator grill 1, 21 denotes a bolt for fixing the lid support bracket 7 to the radiator grill 1, and 22 denotes a bolt attached to the lid support bracket 7. This is a stopper for restricting the rotation of the lid 3.
[0020]
In addition, the radiator grill 1 is provided with a lock mechanism 23 for the lid 3 as shown in FIG. The lock mechanism 23 has an actuator 26 that swings the swing lever 25 left and right about a swing center shaft 24 that extends in the front-rear direction, and one end pivotally attached to the tip of the swing lever 25 toward the charging port 2. The arm 27 mainly extends, and a locking claw component 28 attached to the other end of the arm 27. The locking claw constituting portion 28 is located substantially at the rear side of the central portion of the charging port 2. A flange 30 is formed on the outer periphery of the casing 29 of the locking claw constituting portion 28, and the casing 29 is locked to a locking bracket 31 attached to the radiator grill 1 at a portion of the flange 30. . Further, a claw portion 32 is housed in the casing 29 of the locking claw constituting portion 28 so as to protrude and retract. A flange 33 is formed on the outer periphery of the claw portion 32, and a spring 34 that constantly biases the claw portion 32 in the protruding direction is interposed between the flange 33 and the rear end portion of the casing 29. Yes. A locking member 36 having a locking portion 35 locked to the claw portion 32 is attached to the lid 3. The claw portion 32 is formed with a tapered surface 37 whose front side is longer and the rear side is shorter at the end portion, and the claw portion 32 can be forcibly pushed into the locking portion 35 substantially parallel to the tapered surface 37 on the front side. A tapered surface 38 is formed. The actuator 26 is electrically driven by operating a switch in the passenger compartment.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0022]
When charging the battery, first, the actuator 26 of the lock mechanism 23 is electrically driven by operating a switch in the passenger compartment. Then, the swing lever 25 is swung to the left in the figure around the swing center shaft 24, and the claw portion 32 is temporarily retracted into the casing 29 against the biasing force of the spring 34 via the arm 27. As a result, the locking state between the claw portion 32 and the locking portion 35 is released, and therefore, until the lid 3 hits the stopper 22 around the rotation center axis 8 by the biasing force of the biasing means 9 such as a torsion spring. The lid 3 is rotated rearward, the cover 3 is hidden in the radiator grille 1, and the charging port 2 is opened. By providing the lock mechanism 23 as described above, the charging port 2 can be easily opened from the passenger compartment. Further, a lid support portion 6 extending inward of the radiator grill 1 is formed on both sides of the lid portion 5, and a rotation center shaft 8 extending from the middle portion in the front-rear direction to the left-right direction is attached to the lid support portion 6. Then, by opening the lid 3 around the rotation center shaft 6, the charging port 2 is opened so that a large part of the lid 3 is hidden in the radiator grill 1 and a part protrudes outward. Thus, the lid 3 can be opened and closed with a small amount of operation, the charging port 2 can be opened widely, and the lid 3 can be protected from external force. In addition, the lid 3 can be efficiently built and accommodated in the radiator grill 1.
[0023]
When the charging port 2 is opened, a lid opening detector 11 such as a rotary encoder connected to the rotation center shaft 8 detects the rotation of the rotation center shaft 8, and a lid provided on the meter display portion of the instrument panel A signal is sent to the opening warning lamp 12 to turn on the lid opening warning lamp 12 and notify the opening. Thus, by making it possible to detect the opening, it is possible to recognize that the lid 3 has been forgotten to be closed. It is also possible to use a signal from the lid opening detector 11 to stop energization of the traveling motor when the lid is opened.
[0024]
In this state, by inserting an external charging plug (not shown) into the charging port 2, the battery is charged via the charging device mounted on the vehicle. Thus, by forming the charging port 2 in the radiator grill 1, it becomes possible to perform charging easily from the front side of the electric vehicle without opening a hood or the like.
[0025]
When the charging of the battery is completed, an external charging plug (not shown) is removed from the charging port 2, the lid 3 is moved by hand, and the charging port 2 is closed. At this time, the claw portion 32 of the lock mechanism 23 is formed with a tapered surface 37 having a long front surface and a short rear surface at the end, and the locking portion 35 of the lid 3 is substantially the same as the tapered surface 37 on the front surface side. Since the parallel taper surface 38 is formed, the taper surface 38 of the locking portion 35 pushes the taper surface 37 of the claw portion 32 by performing an operation of closing the lid 3 by hand, and thus the spring 34. The claw portion 32 is forcibly pushed into the casing 29 against the urging force. When the locking portion 35 exceeds the claw portion 32, the claw portion 32 is again protruded from the casing 29 by the urging force of the spring 34, and the locking portion 35 is locked, so that the lid 3 is locked. The
[0026]
Further, the charging port 2 has a trapezoidal shape that is close to a rectangle that is slightly inclined toward the center as the side edges 4 thereof move forward, and the lid portion 5 of the lid 3 is close to a rectangle that is substantially the same shape as the charging port 2. Since it has a trapezoidal shape, the lid 5 can be opened / closed with respect to the charging port 2 in a state where the wedge is inserted and removed. Thereby, compared with the case where the charging port 2 and the cover part 5 are made into a perfect rectangle, the opening and closing of the cover part 5 becomes smooth, and at the same time, both sides 4 of the charging port 2 and both sides of the cover part 5 when closed. It is possible to reduce the gap between the sides. In addition, the appearance quality can be improved.
[0027]
Further, the vehicle body side mounting bracket 15 a located on the side of the lid opening detector 11, the back surface of the radiator grill 1, and the lid support bracket 7 form a space 16 surrounding the lid opening detector 11. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from being applied to the lid opening detector 11 on a rainy day or a car wash.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, charging can be performed from the front side of the electric vehicle. In addition, the lid opening detector can detect that the lid has opened. Further, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the lid opening detector on a rainy day or at the time of car washing.
[0029]
According to the invention of claim 2, the lid can be opened / closed with respect to the charging port in a state where the wedge is inserted and removed. As a result, the lid can be opened and closed more smoothly than when the charging port and the lid are rectangular, and at the same time, the gap between the sides of the charging port and the sides of the lid when closed is reduced. It becomes possible to do. In addition, the appearance quality can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view taken along arrow BB in FIG. 1;
4 is a view taken along the line CC in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a radiator grill.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Radiator Grill 2 Charging Port 3 Lid 4 Side Side of Charging Port 2 Lid Support Bracket 8 Rotation Center Shaft 11 Lid Opening Detector 15a Car Body Side Mounting Bracket 16 Space

Claims (2)

A charging port into which an external charging plug can be inserted is formed in the radiator grill of the electric vehicle, and a lid is attached to the charging port so that the lid can be opened and closed .
A vehicle body side mounting bracket for mounting the radiator grille on the vehicle body side, located on the side of the lid open detector, the rear surface of the radiator grille, and a lid support for attaching the lid open detector and pivotably supporting the lid body A charging unit structure for an electric vehicle, wherein a space surrounding the lid open detector is formed with the bracket .   2. The charging port according to claim 1, wherein the charging port has a substantially trapezoidal shape in which both sides thereof are inclined slightly toward the center as it advances forward, and the lid body has a trapezoidal shape substantially the same as the charging port. Electric vehicle charging section structure.

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