JPH0917667A - Coupler for battery charger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the breakage of a power transmitting-side coupler and a power receiving-side coupler by forming a passing route for an inner coil which is put in the internal space of an outer coil by bending the outer coil. CONSTITUTION: A power transmitting-side coupler 4 is composed of an E-shaped power transmitting-side core 5 and a power transmitting-side electromagnetic coil 6. A power receiving-side coupler 7 is fixed to the rear-side bottom face of an automobile. The coupler 7 is composed of an I-shaped power receiving-side core 8 and a power receiving-side electromagnetic coil 9. The coil 9 is fixed to the lower surface of the core 8. The length of the core 9 in the forward- backward direction is made longer than that of the core 8 so that the front- and rear-side end parts of the core 9 can protrude from the core 8 and the rear-side end part of the coil 9 protruding from the core 8 is bent upward. Therefore, a passing route 12 is formed on the rear side or the lower surface of the core 8, because the bent part of the coil 9 becomes higher than the lower surface of the core 8 and no obstacle exists on the rear side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupler for a charging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A charging device is indispensable to an electric vehicle, and widespread use of the charging device leads to widespread use of the electric vehicle. Therefore, a charging device that is easier to handle is desired.

Generally, the charging device is installed in advance in a garage or the like. Charging becomes possible by vertically stacking a power transmission side coupler provided on the charging device side and a power reception side coupler provided on the bottom surface of the vehicle. The power transmission side coupler is composed of a power transmission side electromagnetic coil (primary side coil) and a power transmission side core, and the power receiving side coupler is a power receiving electromagnetic coil (2
The secondary coil) and the power receiving core. When the power-transmitting-side coupler and the power-receiving-side coupler are vertically stacked, the power-transmitting-side electromagnetic coil is provided inside the power-receiving-side electromagnetic coil, and the power-transmitting-side core and the power-receiving-side core are in contact with each other. Then, a charging current is passed through the charging-side electromagnetic coil to generate an induced electromotive force in the power-receiving-side electromagnetic coil to charge the battery mounted on the vehicle.

A method of superposing the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler is performed as follows. First, the charging device moves the power transmission side coupler in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and guides it directly below the power reception side coupler. The charging device moves the power transmission side coupler, which is guided immediately below the charging device, upward. By stopping the movement of the power transmission side coupler when the power transmission side coupler comes into contact with the power reception side coupler, the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are in a superposed state.

[0005]

By the way, when the vehicle is moved forward while the power transmission side coupler and the power receiving side coupler are overlapped with each other during charging or after the completion of charging, the power receiving side installed on the bottom surface of the vehicle. The coupler moves forward with the vehicle. Since the power receiving side coupler moves horizontally forward, the power receiving side electromagnetic coil collides with the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil and is damaged. That is, in the state where the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are overlapped, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil is inside the power reception side electromagnetic coil.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and even when the vehicle is moved in a state where the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are superposed on each other, the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a coupler for a charging device that will not be damaged.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a power transmission side coupler provided on the power supply means side and comprising a power transmission side electromagnetic coil and a power transmission side core, and a vehicle. When the power receiving side coupler and the power transmitting side coupler are in contact with each other, the power receiving side electromagnetic coil and the power receiving side coupler are installed, and one of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil and the power receiving side electromagnetic coil is placed. Is installed inside the other coil, and when a charging current is applied to the power-transmitting-side electromagnetic coil, the coupler of the charging device is configured to generate an induced electromotive force in the power-receiving-side electromagnetic coil. In order to prevent both coils from colliding with each other due to the relative movement of the coils, the other coil outside the one coil inside is bent to form a passage path of the one coil inside. What is formed is the gist.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the power receiving side coupler is provided on the rear bottom surface of the vehicle, the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is present inside the power receiving side electromagnetic coil, and the power receiving side electromagnetic coil is present. The gist of the invention is that a passage is formed at the rear of the coil.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power transmission side coupler provided on the power supply means side, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil including a power transmission side electromagnetic coil and a power transmission side core, and a power receiving side electromagnetic coil and a power receiving side core installed in a vehicle. When the power receiving side coupler and the power transmitting side coupler are brought into contact with each other, one coil of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil and the power receiving side electromagnetic coil is inside the other coil, and In a coupler of a charging device configured to generate an induced electromotive force in a power receiving side electromagnetic coil when a charging current is applied to the side electromagnetic coil, it is possible to prevent both coils from colliding with each other due to relative movement of both coils based on movement of a vehicle. In order to avoid it, the gist is that the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are installed so as to be inclined with respect to the moving direction of the vehicle.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, the power receiving side coupler is provided on the rear bottom surface of the vehicle, and the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is present inside the power receiving side electromagnetic coil. To do.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the other coil outside the one coil existing therein is bent to form the passage path, the one coil existing within the passage path is formed even if the vehicle moves. Pass through.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the passage route is formed in the rear portion of the power receiving side electromagnetic coil, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil passes through the passage route even if the vehicle moves forward, for example. According to the invention of claim 3, the power transmitting side coupler and the power receiving side coupler are installed so as to be inclined with respect to the moving direction of the vehicle.
The moving locus of the power receiving electromagnetic coil does not hit the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, even if the vehicle moves forward, the locus of movement of the power receiving electromagnetic coil does not hit the power transmitting electromagnetic coil.

[0014]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a positional relationship between a charging device 1 and an electric vehicle (hereinafter, simply referred to as an automobile) 2. The charging device 1 is installed in advance in a garage or the like. The charging device 1 is provided with a support arm 3. The support arm 3 extends forward, moves in the vertical direction, and reciprocates in the vehicle width direction of the automobile 2. The power transmission side coupler 4 is attached to the tip of the support arm 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power transmission side coupler 4 has an E
It is composed of a power transmission side core 5 and a power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6. The power transmission side core 5 has a tip end portion of a support arm 3 fixed to a lower surface thereof, and a power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 is wound around a projecting piece 5a extending in the front-rear direction at a central portion of an upper surface. Collar portions 5c having a flat upper surface bulging inwardly in a wedge shape are formed on upper portions of the projecting pieces 5b formed on both sides of the power transmission side core 5 and extending in the front-rear direction. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the length D1 of the power receiving side core 5 in the front-rear direction is 100 mm, and the length D2 of the power receiving side core 5 in the vehicle width direction is 160 mm.

On the other hand, a power receiving side coupler 7 is fixed to the rear bottom surface of the automobile 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the power receiving side coupler 7 is composed of an I-shaped power receiving side core 8 and a power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9. The power receiving side core 8 has its upper surface fixed to the rear bottom surface of the automobile 2 via a fixing member 10 as shown in FIG. The power-reception-side core 8 has a rectangular flat plate shape, and the length D3 in the front-rear direction is 2 which is the length D1 of the power-transmission-side coupler 4.
Doubled to 200 mm. The length D4 of the power receiving side core 8 in the vehicle width direction is 160 mm, which is the same as the length D2 of the power transmitting side coupler 4.

A power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 is fixed to the lower surface of the power receiving side core 8. The power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 is a coil having a long front-rear direction and a short vehicle width direction. The length of the power-reception-side electromagnetic coil 9 in the front-rear direction is a length protruding from the power-reception-side core 8. The protruding portion of the rear portion is bent upward as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the bent protruding portion is located above the lower surface of the power receiving side core 8, and there is no obstruction behind the lower surface of the power receiving side core 8 to form the passage path 12.

Further, the space inside the power receiving side coil 9 is formed such that a sufficient space is generated even if the power transmitting side coil 6 is present inside. In particular, the distance in the front-rear direction is larger than the distance in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the power transmission side core 5 and the power reception side core 8 are correctly vertically overlapped,
And as shown in FIG. 4, the power transmission side coil 6 is the power reception side coil 9
It is internally provided with a certain interval.

The charging device 1 is installed at a predetermined position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 2. That is, in the present embodiment, the power transmission side coupler 4 can reciprocate in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction, but cannot move in the front-back direction. Therefore, in order for the power transmission side coupler 4 to correctly overlap with the power reception side coupler 7 provided on the bottom surface of the vehicle 2, the stop position of the vehicle 2 in the front-back direction needs to be determined in advance. For that purpose, a wheel stopper 13 is provided in the garage. When the rear wheel 2a of the automobile 2 hits the wheel stopper 13, the power transmission side coupler 4 and the power reception side coupler 7 in the front-rear direction.
The relative positions of will be the same.

Next, the operation of the coupler configured as described above will be described. The charging operation is started from the state where the vehicle 2 is stopped at the correct position in the front-rear direction with respect to the charging device 1. First, the support arm 3 at the lowest position moves from one end to the other end in the vehicle width direction, searches for a position directly below the power receiving side coupler 7, and guides the power transmission side coupler 4 to the position directly below. Then, the support arm 3 is lifted from the position directly below to bring the power transmission side coupler 4 into contact with the power reception side coupler 7. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power transmission and power reception side couplers 4 and 7 are vertically overlapped. When the power transmission and power reception side couplers 4 and 7 overlap each other, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 is provided inside the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9.
And the protrusions 5a, 5b of the charging-side core 5
Contacts the lower surface of the power transmission side core 8. Therefore, in this state, the power transmission side coupler 4 and the power reception side coupler 7 constitute a transformer, and the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 becomes the primary side coil and the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9 becomes the secondary side coil. In this state, the charging device 1
Applies a charging current to the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 to generate an induced electromotive force in the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9 to charge the battery mounted on the vehicle 2.

By the way, when the vehicle 2 is moved forward (in the direction away from the charging device 1) in a state where the power receiving and power transmitting side couplers 7 and 4 are vertically overlapped, the power receiving side coupler 7, that is, the power receiving side coil 9 is Move horizontally forward with the car 2. At this time, the power-reception-side electromagnetic coil 9 comes out of the power-transmission-side electromagnetic coil 6 without colliding with the power-transmission-side electromagnetic coil 6 included therein by the passage path 12 formed by bending the rear portion.

As described above, in this embodiment, the portion of the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 that extends only at the rear portion is bent upward to pass through the passage 12
Was formed. Therefore, even if the vehicle 2 is moved forward while the power transmitting electromagnetic coil 6 is inside the power receiving electromagnetic coil 9, the power transmitting electromagnetic coil 6 passes through the passage 12 formed in the power receiving electromagnetic coil 9. As a result, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 and the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9 do not collide.

Further, in this embodiment, the projecting piece 5 of the power transmission side core 5 is used.
A flange portion 5c is formed on b, and the upper surface of the protruding piece 5b is widened in the width direction. Therefore, even if the power transmission side coupler 4 overlaps the power reception side coupler 7 with a slight deviation in the vehicle width direction, both cores
The projecting piece 5b can surely contact the lower surface of the power receiving side core 7 to form a magnetic circuit.

Further, in this embodiment, the space formed inside the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 is sized so that a large gap is generated when the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil 6 is included. Therefore,
Even if the power transmission side coupler 4 overlaps with the power reception side coupler 7 in the front-rear direction, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 can be provided inside the power reception side coil 9.

Furthermore, the core 8 of the power receiving side coupler 7 is set to I
Since the core is formed into a shape, the weight is lighter than that of the E-shaped core, and the weight of the vehicle can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the core 8 of the power receiving coupler 7 is I-shaped and the core 5 of the power transmitting coupler 4 is E-shaped, but this may be reversed.
That is, the power-reception-side core 8 is E-shaped and the power-transmission-side core 5 is I-shaped. In this case, the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 is present inside the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil 6. Therefore, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 needs to be bent at the front to form the passage 12.

The power receiving side coupler 7 may be installed on the bottom surface of the front part of the automobile 2 for implementation. In this case, the vehicle 2 moves forward to approach the charging device 1 and moves backward to move away from the charging device 1. Therefore, the passage 12 of the power receiving electromagnetic coil 9 needs to be formed by bending the front portion of the power receiving electromagnetic coil 9. Of course, the passage route 12 is not limited to only one of the front and rear. That is, the passage 12 may be formed on both front and rear sides.

Further, the power receiving side coupler 7 may be installed on the rear side surface, the front side surface, the rear upper surface and the front upper surface of the automobile 2. In this case, when the power receiving side coupler 7 is installed in the front part, the passage path 12 is formed in the front part of the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9, and when it is installed in the rear part, the passage path 12 is formed. It is formed in the rear part. (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the method of mounting the power transmission and power reception side couplers 4 and 7, and the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9
Since only the shape of is different, only the different part will be described.

In FIG. 6, the power receiving side coil 9 of the power receiving side coupler 7 is not formed by bending the rear portion. Therefore, the power receiving side coil 9 of the present embodiment has no passage route. The power receiving side coupler 7 configured as described above is fixed in a state of being inclined in the front-rear direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. More specifically, the rear part is inclined so as to be higher than the front part. On the other hand, the power transmission side coupler 4 supported by the support arm 3 is also fixed in a state of being inclined at the same inclination angle θ as the power reception side coupler 7. More specifically, the rear part is inclined so as to be higher than the front part.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the couplers 4 and 7 are superposed at the correct position, the inclination angle θ of the couplers 4 and 7 is a horizontal line L1 passing through the uppermost end of the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6.
However, the angle is set to be lower than the horizontal line L2 passing through the lowermost end of the rear portion protruding from the core 8 of the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vehicle 2 with the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 inside the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9 is provided.
Even if is moved forward, the locus of movement of the lowermost end of the rear portion protruding from the core 8 of the power receiving electromagnetic coil 9 is the horizontal line L2, which is above the uppermost end of the power transmitting electromagnetic coil 6. As a result, the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 and the power reception side electromagnetic coil 9 do not collide with each other as in the first embodiment. That is, by moving the vehicle 2 forward, the power receiving side electromagnetic coil 9 and the coil 9
It is possible to easily and surely separate from the power transmission side electromagnetic coil 6 included therein.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to bend the power receiving side coil 8 to form the passage route 12 to form the passage route 12 as in the first embodiment, so that the component cost is reduced accordingly. Can be achieved.

In this embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, the core 8 of the power receiving side coupler 7 is of the I type and the core 5 of the power transmitting side coupler 4 is of the E type. Shape, the power transmission side core 5 may be I-shaped.

Further, in the present embodiment, the power receiving side coupler 7 may be installed on the rear side surface and the rear upper surface, not on the rear bottom surface, in a state of being inclined with respect to the moving direction. When the power receiving side coupler 7 is installed on the rear side surface of the vehicle, the front portion is tilted so as to be positioned more laterally than the rear portion. When the power receiving side coupler 7 is installed on the upper surface of the rear part of the vehicle, the front part is inclined so as to be located higher than the rear part. That is, the power receiving side coupler 7 is inclined such that its front portion is farther from the vehicle than its rear portion.

Further, the power receiving side coupler 7 may be attached to the front bottom surface, the front side surface and the front upper surface instead of the rear portion. In this case, since the power transmission side coupler 4 is located on the front side (front side) of the automobile 2, the power reception side coupler 7 is installed in a state where its rear portion is inclined so as to be more distant from the vehicle with respect to the front portion. That is, the power receiving side coupler 7 is inclined such that the side of the power receiving side coupler 7 opposite to the power transmitting side coupler 4 is farther from the vehicle than the power transmitting side coupler 4 side. That is, the power receiving side coupler 7 is tilted in a direction facing the power transmitting side coupler 4. In this case, the power transmission side coupler 4 when the power reception side coupler 7 is attached to the side surface or the upper surface is inclined so as to be parallel to the inclination of the power reception side coupler 7.

The technical ideas other than the claimed invention which can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below together with their effects. The coupler of the charging device according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving side core 8 is an I-shaped core, and the charging side core is E.
Coupler of charging device which is a core. The I-shaped core is the other E
The weight of the vehicle can be reduced because it is lighter than the shape of the core.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the state where the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are superposed,
This has an excellent effect that the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are not damaged even if the vehicle is moved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a charging device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a power receiving side coupler and a power transmitting side coupler.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a power receiving side coupler and a power transmitting side coupler.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a power receiving side coupler and a power transmitting side coupler.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a charging device for explaining a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of a power receiving side coupler for explaining a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a power receiving side coupler and a power transmitting side coupler.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Charging device as power supply means, 2 ... Electric vehicle as vehicle, 4 ... Power transmission side coupler, 5 ... Power transmission side core, 6 ...
Power transmission side electromagnetic coil, 7 ... Power receiving side coupler, 8 ... Power receiving side core, 9 ... Power receiving side electromagnetic coil, 12 ... Passage path, θ ... Inclination angle.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power transmission side coupler provided on the power supply means side and comprising a power transmission side electromagnetic coil and a power transmission side core; and a power receiving side coupler installed on a vehicle and comprising a power receiving side electromagnetic coil and a power receiving side core. When the power receiving side coupler and the power transmitting side coupler are brought into contact with each other, one of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil and the power receiving side electromagnetic coil is inside the other coil, and the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is charged with the charging current. In the coupler of the charging device that generates an induced electromotive force in the power receiving side electromagnetic coil when the current flows, the internal coil is used to prevent both coils from colliding with each other due to the relative movement of both coils due to the movement of the vehicle. A coupler of a charging device in which the other coil outside the one coil is bent to form a passage path of the one coil therein. 2. The power-reception-side coupler is provided on the rear bottom surface of the vehicle, the power-transmission-side electromagnetic coil is present inside the power-reception-side electromagnetic coil, and a passage is formed in the rear of the power-reception-side electromagnetic coil. Charger Coupler. 3. A power transmission side coupler provided on the power supply means side and comprising a power transmission side electromagnetic coil and a power transmission side core; and a power receiving side coupler installed on the vehicle and comprising a power receiving side electromagnetic coil and a power receiving side core. When the power receiving side coupler and the power transmitting side coupler are brought into contact with each other, one of the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil and the power receiving side electromagnetic coil is inside the other coil, and the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is charged with the charging current. In the coupler of the charging device that generates an induced electromotive force in the power receiving side electromagnetic coil when the current flows, in order to prevent both coils from colliding with each other due to the relative movement of both coils based on the movement of the vehicle, A coupler for a charging device in which the power transmission side coupler and the power reception side coupler are installed with being inclined with respect to the moving direction of the vehicle. 4. The coupler of the charging device according to claim 3, wherein the power receiving side coupler is provided on a rear bottom surface of the vehicle, and the power transmitting side electromagnetic coil is provided inside the power receiving side electromagnetic coil.