JPH0223063Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a battery charging device for an automobile that can carry out battery charging safely, reliably, and easily when charging an automobile battery.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Conventional charging devices for charging automobile batteries have a clip attached to the end of the output cable, and the battery cannot be removed from the engine compartment or placed under the bonnet. With the battery open, I connected the clip at the end of the cable to the battery terminal to charge the battery.

However, there was a risk that someone inexperienced in handling electricity could damage the battery/charging device by connecting it with the wrong polarity, or that a spark when removing the clip could ignite the hydrogen generated from the battery and cause an explosion. Additionally, if the clip was not completely attached, it could come off and cause a shooting accident, so care had to be taken when handling it.

Related technology includes a power converter that converts commercial power to direct current, and a plug that is attached to the output end of this power converter and is detachably connected to a car's cigarette lighter, and the plug is inserted into the cigarette lighter. There has been a proposal for a ``compact car battery charger'' (Utility Application No. 121728/1983) that enables simple and error-free battery charging by There is a risk that the back electromotive force generated when the plug contacts are disconnected will cause a short circuit, which could ignite and explode the hydrogen in the battery that has entered through the wiring hole in the bulkhead that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. If the contacts of the plug are fixed to the contacts of the cigarette lighter socket, the contacts may not come into contact with each other due to the perceived difference in the amount of insertion (insertion depth), resulting in charging errors. It did not solve the problem of how easily this occurs.

The purpose of this invention was to prevent a short circuit from occurring due to back electromotive force when the plug contacts are disconnected from the contacts of the cigarette lighter socket, and to prevent a large amount of hydrogen generated in the battery from being released into the engine compartment after charging is complete. There is a risk of a hydrogen explosion if the wiring enters through the wiring hole in the bulkhead that separates the vehicle from the passenger compartment.If the plug contacts are fixed to the cigarette lighter socket contacts, )
It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery charging device for an automobile that effectively solves the problem that these contacts may not come into contact with each other due to differences in the battery voltage, and charging errors are likely to occur.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical plug that can be inserted into and removed from the cigarette lighter socket directly connected to the battery of an automobile, at the output end of the AC/DC source converter. is provided in this plug, and is projected from the tip of the plug toward the contact side of the socket by the biasing force of an elastic member provided in the plug, and comes into contact with the contact of the socket, and in this contact state, the plug A rod-shaped socket-side contact is provided that is relatively retracted into the plug against the biasing force of the elastic member according to the insertion amount, and the socket-side contact is predetermined on the retraction trajectory of the socket-side contact within the plug. It is equipped with a receiving contact that makes electrical contact with the socket side contact from the time it reaches the retracted position to the limit retracted position.

[Function] Before being inserted into the cigarette lighter socket, the socket-side contacts of the plug protrude to the maximum extent toward the contacts of the cigarette lighter socket due to the elastic force of the elastic member provided within the plug. In other words, when this maximum protruding socket side contact is energized with a force that resists the elastic force of the elastic member, the socket side contact will be relatively retracted and housed in the plug, and will move from the predetermined retracted position. It comes into electrical contact with the receiving contact provided on the retraction track of the socket side contact up to the limit retraction position.

Therefore, when inserting the plug into a cigarette lighter socket, the receiving contact and the socket side contact are electrically separated (opened state) by the elastic force of the elastic member, and the tip of the socket side contact is First, it comes into contact with the contacts of the cigarette lighter socket, creating electrical contact. Then, by increasing the amount of insertion of the plug from this insertion position, the tip of the socket side contact remains in contact with the cigarette lighter socket contact, and a reaction force is obtained from the cigarette lighter socket contact, and the socket side contact is recessed within the plug relative to the plug and is electrically connected to the receiving contact. In this plug connection operation, the resilient means causes the resilient force accompanying the retraction of the socket-side contact to act as a force for bringing the tip of the socket-side contact into close contact with the contact of the cigarette lighter socket, and also changes the resilient force. It is transmitted as a feeling of insertion. When the socket side contact exceeds the predetermined retracted position, the electrical connection has already been completed, but the socket side contact is retracted to its limit retracted position where you can no longer feel the change in elastic force. By doing so, a margin is provided in the stroke range in which the plug connection is electrically made, and charging errors due to plug connection errors are prevented from occurring. By inserting the plug into the cigarette lighter socket in this way, battery charging can be performed easily and reliably without any mistakes.

On the other hand, when removing the plug, the tip of the socket-side contact is in electrical contact with the contact of the cigarette lighter socket due to the elastic force of the elastic member, and the rear end of the socket-side contact is first pulled from the receiving contact. electrically disconnected. At this time, a back electromotive force is generated and a short circuit occurs between the rear end of the socket side contact and the receiving contact, but a spark due to the short circuit is generated within the plug and disappears instantly. In other words, since the tip of the plug is substantially closed by the socket-side contact and the rear end of the plug is substantially closed by the output end of the AC/DC source converter, short-circuit sparks will not fly outside the plug. Therefore, the risk of a hydrogen explosion caused by ignition of hydrogen gas leaking after charging is avoided.

[Example of idea]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a converter that converts a commercial power source into a low-voltage DC power source for battery charging;
The converter 1 includes a transformer, a rectifier, and the like.
Commercial power is input to the converter 1 through a power plug 3 inserted into a commercial power outlet 2, while DC power is output from the converter 1 through a plug 5 provided at the end of the cable 4. . The plug 5 can be detachably connected to a cigarette lighter socket 6 mounted on a dash board of an automobile. In addition, the cigarette lighter socket 6 is connected to the battery 8 via the connection cord 7.
is connected to.

As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, the plug 5 includes a hollow cylindrical case 9 and a bottomed cylindrical cover 10 screwed to cover the tip of the case 9. Both the case 9 and the cover 10 are molded from plastic to provide insulation. An outer peripheral contact 11 is riveted to the outside of the case 9 and contacts the inner peripheral surface of a cup-shaped outer peripheral contact 17 of the cigarette lighter socket 6 shown in FIG. In addition, a case 9 is provided at the center of the bottom of the cover 10.
A rod-shaped socket-side contact 12 having a flange 12a for slidably guiding in the axial direction is provided, and a tulip-shaped socket-side contact 12 is fitted into the center of the tip of the case 9 so as to be able to make contact and release. A receiving contact 13 is provided. A return spring 1 is provided between the flange 12a of the socket-side contact 12 and the front end surface of the case 9, which elastically biases the socket-side contact 12 in a direction to separate it from the receiving contact 13.
4 is interposed.

A bolt-shaped center contact 20 is attached to the center of the bottom of the outer peripheral contact 17 of the cigarette lighter socket 6 via insulating washers 18 and 19. When the plug 5 is inserted into the socket 6, the socket side contact 12 comes into contact with this center contact 20.As the plug 5 is inserted, the socket side contact 12 is brought into contact with the return spring 14.
Approach the receiving contact 13 while compressing the receiving contact 13
It is configured to be inserted into the plug 5
A cord 21 leading to the negative side of the converter 1 is connected to the outer peripheral contact 11 of the converter 1, and a receiving contact 1
3 is connected to a cord 22 leading to the positive side of the converter 1. Further, a cord 7b is connected to the outer peripheral contact 17 of the cigarette lighter socket 6 in order to ground it, and a cord 7a is interposed between these to connect the central contact 20 to the positive terminal of the battery 8. (In recent cars, the negative side of socket 6 is standardly grounded.) In addition, inside case 9,
A pilot lamp 15 for displaying charging is provided facing a window 16 provided on the side wall of the case 9. One end of the pilot lamp 15 input is connected to a cord 21, and the other end is connected to an annular terminal 23 attached to the front end surface of the case 9.

With the above configuration, the battery 8 can be charged by simply inserting the power plug 3 into the outlet 2 and the plug 5 into the cigarette lighter socket 6. That is, by inserting the plug 5 into the cigarette lighter socket 6, the outer circumferential contact 11 of the plug 5 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outer circumferential contact 17 of the socket 6, while the socket side contact 12 comes into contact with the center contact 20, and the return spring is activated. It slides toward the receiving contact 13 against the elastic force of the receiving contact 14, and is inserted into the receiving contact 13 and connected. Therefore, the DC current of the converter 1 flows from the socket side contact 12 to the center contact 20, passes through the battery 8, flows out from the outer contact 17 to the outer contact 11, and charges the battery 8.

In this way, charging can be performed simply by inserting the plug 5 into the cigarette lighter socket 6, so even if used by someone inexperienced in handling electricity, there is no possibility of connection errors such as incorrect polarity.
There will be no damage to the converter 1, or a shot accident due to the clip coming off. You can also open the bonnet for battery charge,
You can perform charging work with one touch without having to take the trouble of removing the battery, and you don't have to worry about getting your hands dirty during the work. Furthermore, since the plug 5 is removed from the cigarette lighter socket 6 inside the car instead of removing the clip from the terminal of the battery 8, even if hydrogen is generated from the battery 8 during charging, the spark during removal will be removed from the socket. Since it only flies within 6, there is no risk of explosion.

Further, a return spring 14 is interposed between the receiving contact 13 connected to the positive side of the converter 1 and the socket side contact 12, and the return spring 14 is inserted between the plug 5 and the socket 6.
When pulled out, socket side contact 12 and receiving contact 1
3 and the electrical connection is broken, so even if the socket side contact 12 touches the ground side of the vehicle body, a shot will not occur. Furthermore, when the plug 5 is completely inserted into the socket 6, the socket side contact 1
Since the flange 12a of No. 2 and the terminal 23 are electrically connected, a current flows to the piezo lamp 15 and it lights up. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the battery is being charged by lighting the pilot lamp 15.

Incidentally, since the cigarette lighter circuit normally uses a fuse of about 15A, it can sufficiently handle the current of the small converter 1. Furthermore, if constant voltage charging is performed using the converter 1, although it takes some time, there is less worry about overcharging, so even those who are inexperienced in handling the battery will not make mistakes.

Furthermore, the existing cigarette lighter socket in the car may be used, and the plug 5 may be a commercially available plug for extracting current from the cigarette lighter. Furthermore, the plug 5 of the device of the present invention
An adapter 24, as shown in FIG. 1, is contemplated for use in conventional clip-on charging. A connector 26 having the same structure as the cigarette lighter socket 6 is provided at one end of a connecting cord 25 of the adapter 24, and a clip 27 is provided at the other end.

In summary, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

(1) Simply insert the plug into the cigarette lighter socket to charge the battery.

(2) Therefore, even if the device is used by someone who is inexperienced in handling electricity, there is no need to make a mistake in polarity, and damage to the battery or converter due to connection errors can be prevented.

(3) Furthermore, there is no need to be careful when handling the clip, as there is no chance of shooting accidents caused by the clip coming off as in the past.

(4) In order to charge the battery, there is no need to open the bonnet or take out the battery, and charging can be done with one touch.
Moreover, there is no need to get your hands dirty.

(5) Even if hydrogen is generated from the battery when charging the battery, the spark when removing the plug from the cigarette lighter socket will only fly within the socket, so there is no risk of the hydrogen from the battery igniting and causing an explosion. .

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention provides the following excellent effects.

A cylindrical plug that can be inserted into and removed from a cigarette lighter socket directly connected to the car's battery is provided at the output end of the AC/DC source converter. The plug protrudes from the tip of the plug toward the contact side of the socket and comes into contact with the contact of the socket, and in this contact state, the plug relatively retreats into the plug against the biasing force of the elastic member depending on the amount of insertion of the plug. A rod-shaped socket-side contact is provided to be accommodated, and the socket-side contact is electrically connected to the socket-side contact on the retraction trajectory of the socket-side contact in the plug from when the socket-side contact reaches a predetermined retracted position to the limit retracted position. Since a receiving contact is provided that makes contact with the battery, short-circuit sparks can be generated and extinguished within the plug when the plug is removed, and the risk of ignition or explosion of hydrogen generated in the battery during the charging period can be avoided. On the other hand, when the plug is inserted, it is possible to intuitively check the connection state and completion of the plug, and the contacts of the plug and the cigarette lighter socket can be electrically connected by the biasing force accumulated by the elastic member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plug, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cigarette lighter socket into which the plug is inserted. It is. In the figure, 1 is a converter, 3 is a power plug, 4 is a cable, 5 is a plug, 6 is a cigarette lighter socket, 8 is a battery, 11 is an outer contact, 12 is a socket side contact, 13 is a receiving contact, and 14 is a A return spring (resilient member), 15 is a pilot lamp, 17 is an outer peripheral contact, 20 is a center contact, and 25 is an adapter.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A cylindrical plug that can be inserted into and removed from a cigarette lighter socket directly connected to an automobile battery is provided at the output end of the AC/DC source converter, and the plug includes:
Due to the biasing force of the elastic member provided in the plug, the plug is projected from the tip of the plug toward the contact side of the socket and comes into contact with the contact of the socket, and in this abutting state, the elastic member is moved in accordance with the insertion amount of the plug. A rod-shaped socket side contact is provided that is relatively retracted into the plug against the biasing force, and when the socket side contact reaches a predetermined retracted position on the retracting trajectory of the socket side contact within the plug. A battery charging device for an automobile, characterized in that a receiving contact is provided which electrically contacts a socket side contact during the period from the position to the limit retraction position. (2) For the automobile according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, wherein the plug includes a lamp for indicating that the socket side contact and the receiving contact are in electrical contact. Battery charge device.