JPH10321294A - Charging connector for electric car - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging connector for electric cars which can be miniaturized without deteriorating the lock releasing operability. SOLUTION: In a housing 11 of a charging connector 10, a first lever 50 is installed and a second lever 60 is installed behind the first lever and when the rear end part (an operation piece 61) of the second lever 60 is operated by pushing, the function piece 63 of the tip end side of the second lever 60 lifts the rear end part (a reception piece 53) of the first lever 50 to shift a locking projected part 54 at the tip end of the first lever 50 in the unlocking direction. In this case, the lock lever 50 is installed in the housing 11 and protected and different from a conventional one, no protecting part is required to be installed, a connector with such a structure can be miniaturized. Since lock is released by pushing operation, the good operability is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for charging an electric vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional charging connector for an electric vehicle of this type. The charging connector 1 can be fitted inside a hood portion 4 of a vehicle-side connector 3 fixed to an electric vehicle. In order to lock both connectors 1 and 3 in this fitted connection state, the vehicle The outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 4 of the side connector 3 is provided with a lock projection 4A protruding outward, and the charging connector 1 is provided with a lock lever 5 that engages with the lock projection 4A. The lock lever 5 extends in the fitting direction, and has a rotation fulcrum 5A at an intermediate portion. By operating an operation portion 7 behind the rotation fulcrum, the front lock portion 6 causes the lock projection 4A to move. And disengage.

[0003]

However, in the charging connector 1 described above, since the lock lever 5 is engaged from outside the hood 4 on the other side, the lock 6 is fitted to the hood 4. It is arranged outside the mating insertion part 2,
There is a problem that the entire connector becomes large due to the protective cover 8 for protecting the lock portion 6. Further, a space (see FIG. 3, reference numeral 9) for securing a rotation area of the lock lever 5 is required around the hood portion 4 of the vehicle-side connector 3, and a large space is taken on the electric vehicle side. On the other hand, there is a demand that the lock release operation by the lock lever 5 can be performed by a pressing operation, and it has been desired to reduce the size of the charging connector without impairing the operability. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle charging connector that can be reduced in size without impairing the operability of unlocking.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charge connector for an electric vehicle which is fitted inside a hood portion of a vehicle-side connector and electrically connected to the hood portion. Extend the lever along the direction of insertion into the hood, and provide a lock projection at the end of the lock lever on the side to be inserted into the hood. It is characterized in that it can be engaged with the formed lock hole from the inside of the hood.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the charging connector for an electric vehicle according to the first aspect, a rotatable second lever is provided behind the lock lever, and the rear end of the second lever is pressed. This is characterized in that the tip of the second lever comes into contact with the lock lever, and the lock projection of the lock lever is displaced in the disengagement direction.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the place where the lock lever is provided is inside the housing, the lock lever is protected by the housing, and the lock lever is protected like the conventional charging connector. Since there is no need to provide a portion, the entire connector can be reduced in size. Further, since the lock lever engages with the engagement hole from the inside of the hood portion, unlike the conventional one, there is no need to provide a space for securing the rotation area of the lock lever in the mating connector. Connectors are also smaller.

According to the second aspect, when the second lever is pressed and rotated, the lock lever is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the second lever, and the lock projection is engaged. It shifts to the release direction. Here, even if the unlocking direction of the lock lever is in the direction in which the operability is poor, the second lever can reverse the direction to provide a pressing direction with good workability. Therefore, it is possible to provide a charging connector for an electric vehicle that can be reduced in size without impairing the operability of unlocking.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a charging connector 10 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a vehicle-side connector 20 that can be fitted and connected to the charging connector 10. The charging connector 10 includes the connector housing 1.
1 (hereinafter, referred to as “housing 11”), a charge-side terminal fitting 12 is provided. The housing 11 includes a main body 13 having a substantially cylindrical shape, and a cable C extending from a charging power supply (not shown) is introduced into the housing 11 from a cable introduction unit 14 provided below the main body 13, and a terminal of the cable C is connected to the housing 11. It is connected to the charging-side terminal fitting 12. The charge-side terminal fitting 12 is provided with a cylindrical connection portion 12B at the tip, and is electrically connected by abutting the tip end surface 12A of the connection terminal 12B to a mating terminal fitting.
The front end surface 12A is disposed closer to the front in the main body 13 with the front surface 12A facing the front surface of the housing 11.

At the front end of the main body 13 is provided a hood 16 having an open front surface.
7, a power receiving side terminal fitting 2 provided on the vehicle side connector 20;
An insertion opening (not shown in the drawing) for inserting the charging terminal fitting 12 is formed in the insertion opening.
2A is facing. The insertion hole can be opened and closed by a disk-shaped rotary shutter 18 rotatably mounted inside the back wall 17. The rotary shutter 18 is provided with a plurality of alignment holes 19 that are aligned with the insertion holes at predetermined rotation positions. And the rotary shutter 1
8 has a shaft 2 provided on the vehicle-side connector 20.
2 and a cam hole 23 forming a cam mechanism. When the shaft 22 is inserted into the cam hole 23, the cam hole 23
A cam projection (not shown) formed therein moves along a spiral groove formed in the shaft 22, whereby the rotary shutter rotates and the alignment hole overlaps the insertion port, and the insertion port is opened.

At the rear end of the main body 13, a handle 40 for grasping when operating the charging connector 10 is extended obliquely downward and to the right in FIG. This handle 40
An opening 41 communicating with the internal space of the housing 11 is formed at a base end of the housing 11, and an operation piece 61 of a second lever 60 described later is disposed inside the opening 41.

The charging connector 10 is provided with a lock mechanism that engages with an engagement hole 24 provided in the vehicle-side connector 20. This locking mechanism is provided in the housing 1
1 comprises a first lever 50 (corresponding to a lock lever of the present invention) rotatably supported in the first lever 50 and a second lever 60. The first lever 50 includes a lock piece 52 and a receiving piece 53 that cross diagonally.
1 is arranged. The rotation center 51 is disposed at a position adjacent to the ceiling surface of the main body 13, the lock piece 52 extends forward from the rotation center 51, and the receiving piece 53 extends obliquely downward and backward from the rotation center. . A not-shown torsion spring is provided at the rotation center 51, so that the lock piece 52 abuts on the ceiling surface in a natural state.

A lock projection 54 projecting upward in FIG. 1 is formed at the tip of the lock piece 52. The lock projection 54 projects upward from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11 through an access hole 55 formed in the ceiling surface of the housing 11, and rotates the lock lever 50 against the torsion spring to lock the lock lever 50. When the piece 52 rotates downward in FIG. 1, the lock projection 54 retracts into the housing 11.
Then, the lock projection 54 is engaged with the engagement hole 24 provided in the vehicle-side connector 20 in a state of protruding from the housing 11. The lock projection 54 has a tapered surface 54A whose front surface is inclined rearward and obliquely rightward and upward in FIG. 2, and the tapered surface 54A is attached to the vehicle-side connector 20.
Of the lock member 52 is pressed down to lower the lock piece 52 downward. On the other hand, a protrusion 56 is formed on the lower surface side near the front end of the receiving piece 53, and as described in detail in the operation to be described later, the first lever 50 is moved by the second lever 60 riding on the protrusion 56. It turns greatly. In the present embodiment, the rotation area of the first lever 50 depends on the wiring connected to the charging-side terminal fitting 12 and the like.
1 is provided by skillfully utilizing the gap originally existing in 1.

The second lever 60 is disposed behind the first lever 50, and extends upward and obliquely to the right in FIG.
The operating piece 61 includes an operating piece 63 extending in a J-shape from the lower surface of the right end of FIG. 1, and the left end of the operating piece 61 in FIG. As described above, the operation piece 61 is disposed in the opening 41 of the handle 40 and is exposed outside the housing 11, and is rotated by pressing the operation piece. The tip of the action piece 63 is the first
It extends below the receiving piece 53 of the lever 50, and when it presses the operation piece 61, it rotates upward to lift the receiving piece 53 and rotate the first lever 50. Further, the action piece 63
A torsion spring 64 is attached to an intermediate portion of the housing 11 in a natural state.
And is separated from the receiving piece 53.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-side connector 20 accommodates a plurality of power-receiving-side terminal fittings 21 in a connector housing 26 (hereinafter referred to as “housing 26”) fixed to a body B of an electric vehicle. The electric wire D connected to the power receiving side terminal fitting 21 is connected to a battery (not shown) mounted on the electric vehicle. The housing 26 is provided with a cylindrical hood 27 that is open toward the outside of the body B, and on the upper surface of the hood 27,
An engagement hole 24 with which the lock mechanism is engaged is formed through. In addition, a lid 30 is provided at the tip of the hood part 27, and the tip end opening part of the hood part 27 can be opened and closed.

A connection portion 28 of the power receiving terminal fitting 21 protrudes from a back surface 27A of the hood portion 27. The connecting portion 28 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is electrically connected by abutting a tip surface 28A of the connecting portion 28 against the charge-side terminal fitting 12.
Then, in order to obtain the contact pressure, the power receiving side terminal fitting 2
1 is accommodated in the cavity 26A of the housing 26 so as to be movable in the abutting direction, and is urged by a coil spring 29 in the abutting direction. Further, the rotary shutter 1 is provided at the center of the back surface 27A of the hood 27.
A shaft 22 for opening and closing the shaft 8 is projected.
In addition, the tubular space 2 which is deeper than the inner surface 27A is located closer to the inner peripheral surface of the inner surface 27A of the hood portion 27.
7B, and the charging connector 10
The hood part 16 provided in is inserted.

Next, the charging connector 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
The operation of 0 will be described. When charging an electric car,
Open the rotating lid 30 of the vehicle-side connector 20 and set the hood 27
Of the charging connector 10 into the inside of the device. Then
A tapered surface 54 </ b> A on the front side of the lock protrusion 54 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the charging connector 10 abuts on the hood 27. Further pushing the charging connector 10;
The lock piece 52 is pushed down by the sliding contact between the tapered surface 54A and the hood portion 27, and the lock protrusion 54 is retracted into the housing 11, and the charging connector 10 is inserted to the inside of the hood portion 27. . on the other hand,
In the course of this operation, the shaft 22 of the hood portion 27 enters the cam hole 23 of the rotary shutter 18, turns the rotary shutter 18 to open the insertion port, and the power receiving side terminal fitting 21 is turned through the insertion port. The charging connector 10 enters the housing 11. Then, the terminal fittings 12, 21
When they are in the normal connection state, the lock projection 54
And the engaging hole 24 face each other, and the first lever 50 is returned to the original state by the not-shown torsion spring, and the lock projection 5
4 enters the engaging hole 24 from the inside of the hood portion 27 and engages therewith.

Now, when the charging is completed and the charging connector 10 is pulled out of the vehicle side connector 20, the second lever 60 exposed at the base end of the handle 40 is gripped by the handle 40.
Is pressed. Then, the second lever 60 rotates, and the operation piece 63 on the distal end side is lifted. Then, the receiving piece 53 on the rear end side of the first lever 50 located above the action piece 63 is lifted, and the lock piece 52 on the distal end side of the first lever 50 is lowered. Thereby, the lock projection 54
Is retracted into the housing 11 and the engagement with the engagement hole 24 is released. The contacting operation between the first lever 50 and the second lever 60 will be described in detail. First, the action piece 63 of the second lever 60 firstly receives the receiving piece 53 of the first lever 50.
Abuts on the tip side from the protrusion 56. When further rotated, the acting piece 63 slides on the receiving piece 53 so as to approach the rotation center side of the receiving piece 53 while lifting the receiving piece 53, and rides on the projection 56. Then, the first lever 50 pivots largely by the amount of the protrusion 56. That is, the first lever 50 can be pressed by a small pressing operation of the second lever 60.
Pivots greatly. If the charging connector 10 is pulled in this state, the charging connector 10 is detached from the vehicle-side connector 20.

The effects of the charging connector 10 of the present embodiment are as follows. 1) Since the rotation direction of the first lever 50 is inside the housing 11 of the charging connector 10, the first lever 50
Numeral 0 is protected by the housing 11, and it is not necessary to provide a protection portion of the lever outside the housing as in the conventional charging connector (see FIG. 3), and the entire connector can be reduced in size. 2) Since the first lever 50 is configured to engage with the engagement hole 24 from the inside of the hood portion 27, there is no need to provide the vehicle-side connector 20 with a lever rotation area unlike the conventional one. The vehicle-side connector also becomes smaller. 3) Also, if the operation of releasing the lock only by the first lever 50 is the lifting operation of the rear end of the first lever 50, the operation of releasing the lock is provided by providing the second lever 60. Since the operation is converted into a push-down operation, the operability of unlocking is excellent. 4) In addition, the first lever 50 and the second lever 60 are naturally separated from each other (see FIG. 2), and when the charging connector 10 is inserted into the vehicle-side connector 20, only the first lever 50 rotates. As the second lever 60 does not rotate,
The torsion spring 64 of the second lever 60 does not need to be bent at the time of fitting, and the fitting resistance is small.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In addition to the following, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) The charging connector 10 of the above embodiment is a
The lock can be released by a pressing operation by combining the lever 50 with the second lever 60. For example, the receiving piece 53 of the first lever 50 is protruded below the housing 11 and pulled like a pistol trigger. The structure may be such that the lock can be released by operation. (2) In the present embodiment, the lock projection 5 of the first lever 50
4 is formed to protrude above the housing 11. For example, the structure may be such that it protrudes to the lower surface side of the housing 11 and the engagement hole 24 is provided on the lower surface side of the hood portion 27 of the vehicle-side connector 20. Then, the engagement hole 24 can be used as a drain port when water is applied to the vehicle-side connector 20.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a charging connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a mating vehicle-side connector.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a conventional charging connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Charge connector 11 ... Housing 20 ... Vehicle side connector 24 ... Engagement hole 27 ... Hood part 50 ... 1st lever (lock lever) 55 ... Outlet / inlet hole 56 ... Lock protrusion 60 ... 2nd lever

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kazunori Chikada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Pref. Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Shigehiro Tsuda 20-2 Asahi Kinsei Seiko Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A charging connector for an electric vehicle which is fitted inside a hood portion of a vehicle-side connector and electrically connected thereto, wherein a rotatable lock lever is provided in a housing of the charging connector in a direction of insertion into the hood portion. At the same time, the lock lever is provided with a lock protrusion at an end of the lock lever on the side of insertion into the hood portion, and the lock protrusion is made to enter and exit from the peripheral surface of the housing, and is inserted into a lock hole formed in the hood portion. A charge connector for an electric vehicle, wherein the connector can be engaged from inside the hood. 2. A second lever which is rotatable behind the lock lever is provided, and by pressing a rear end of the second lever, a tip of the second lever comes into contact with the lock lever, 2. The charging connector for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lock projection of the lock lever is displaced in a disengagement direction.