KR101308708B1 - Charging connector locking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging connector lock. The present invention is a charging connector locking device for locking the state in which the plug connector 150 is coupled to the inlet connector 110 in performing the charging by combining the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150 in the charging station. . The inlet housing 111 of the inlet connector 110 is provided with a mounting plate 112, the coupling plate 120 is supported by the elastic member 120 'is installed on the mounting plate. The coupling latch 120 is provided through an insertion hole 117 formed in the plug insertion portion 114 of the inlet housing 111. A lock bar 124 is provided to protrude from one surface of the latch body 121 forming the skeleton of the coupling latch 120. The lock bar 124 is normally in the insertion hole 117 so that the plug connector 150 does not interfere with the insertion of the plug connector 150, when the plug connector 150 is coupled to the inlet connector 110, the plug connector 150 Enter into the coupling hole 154 of the). Such operation is performed by the driving lever 148 or the lock lever 130 operated by the operator. According to the present invention, the state in which the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150 are coupled is not separated by an unexpected external force, carelessness, or ignorance.

Description

Charging connector locking apparatus

The present invention relates to a charging connector locking device, and more particularly, a charging provided in an inlet connector to lock a state in which a plug connector and an inlet connector for charging a battery in a vehicle are coupled to each other to maintain a coupled state at the time of charging. It relates to a connector lock.

In an automobile that uses electricity as the main power or at least a portion of the main power, an inlet connector is provided on one side of the vehicle for charging. The inlet connector is inserted and coupled to the plug connector of the charging station. The inlet connector and the plug connector are coupled and electrically connected to be charged by supplying power to the battery of the vehicle. Examples of such an inlet connector and the plug connector are well disclosed in Fig. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-85926.

In general, the inlet connector and the plug connector has a coupling structure such that the coupling state is not released by an unintended external force, but such a coupling structure can be easily released by human operation. Therefore, a party or a third party who performs the charging operation while the charging is in progress may detach or disconnect the plug connector from the inlet connector by mistake or ignorance. In this case, a spark occurs in the process of separating the plug connector from the inlet connector, and there is a risk of fire.

In order to prevent such a situation it is desirable to have a locking device for locking the engagement state to the inlet connector. In general, the inlet connector and the plug connector have a standard structure such that the inlet connector and the plug connector are mutually coupled even if they are produced by different manufacturers. Therefore, in the position of the automobile manufacturer it is good to put the locking device on the side of the car, even if the plug connector and the inlet connector without the locking device is coupled, it is good to make the locking state.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the need as described above, and to provide a locking device to be coupled to the plug connector and locked to the inlet connector for charging in the vehicle.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention is charged to lock the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector in performing the charging by combining the inlet connector with the plug connector in the charging station A connector locking device, comprising: a coupling latch installed at one side of an inlet housing of the inlet connector and supported by an elastic member at a position deviated from a moving path through which the plug connector moves, and controlling the movement of the coupling latch. A locking lever for moving and fixing the coupling latch to be seated in the coupling hole of the plug connector in a state in which the connector is coupled to the inlet connector, and the coupling latch is moved by the locking lever in a position adjacent to the coupling latch. And a switch for detecting a fixed state.

A driving source for driving the lock lever is further provided, wherein the driving source is operated while the terminal of the plug connector and the inlet connector are coupled.

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The coupling latch and the locking lever are installed on a mounting plate formed in the inlet housing of the inlet connector or a through plate of the adapter bracket.

The coupling latch has an interlocking inclined surface for guiding the driving inclined surface of the locking lever tip at one end of the latch body forming the skeleton, protrudes from one surface of the latch body and is located in the insertion hole of the inlet connector and the coupling hole of the plug connector. Lock bars are provided.

The elastic member for supporting the coupling latch is seated in a seating groove formed at a periphery of an insertion hole, one end of which is seated in a seating groove formed around the lock bar of the latch body, and the other end of which passes through a plug coupling part provided in the inlet connector. do.

The front end of the locking bar of the coupling latch is formed in a curved surface and is positioned in the insertion hole by the elastic member and then inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector by the locking lever.

According to another feature of the invention, the present invention is a charging connector lock device for locking the state in which the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector in performing the charging by combining the inlet connector with the plug connector in the charging station, the inlet A coupling latch supported in a direction away from a coupling hole formed in the plug connector by an elastic member so that one end is positioned in an insertion hole formed at one side of the inlet housing of the connector; and the coupling latch is inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector. A driving source providing a driving force, and controlled by the driving source to control the movement of the coupling latch, by moving the coupling latch to be seated in the coupling hole of the plug connector while the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector. Including locking lever The.

The coupling latch has an interlocking inclined surface for guiding a driving inclined surface of the lock lever end at one end of the latch body forming a skeleton, protrudes from one surface of the latch body and is pressed by the lock lever to insert the plug and the plug of the inlet connector. The lock bar is provided in the coupling hole of the connector.

The elastic member for supporting the coupling latch is seated in a seating groove formed at a periphery of an insertion hole, one end of which is seated in a seating groove formed around the lock bar of the latch body, and the other end of which passes through a plug coupling part provided in the inlet connector. do.

The front end of the locking bar of the coupling latch is formed in a curved surface and is positioned in the insertion hole by the elastic member and then inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector by the locking lever.

The switch adjacent to the coupling latch is further provided with a switch for detecting a state in which the coupling lever is moved by the locking lever.

The rear end of the inlet housing is formed with a mounting plate, the adapter bracket surrounding the edge of the mounting plate is provided, the adapter bracket is formed with a bracket body having a predetermined height along the edge of the mounting plate, the bracket body A penetrating portion through which the plug insertion portion of the inlet housing is exposed is formed through the center of the inlet housing, and one side of the bracket body is provided with a mounting piece for mounting the adapter bracket on the panel of the vehicle.

One side of the adapter bracket is integrally formed with a drive source housing in which the drive source is seated and penetrates the lock lever so that the inside of the drive source housing communicates with the through part through the bracket body.

In the charging connector locking device according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In the present invention, when the inlet connector provided on the vehicle side and the plug connector in the charging station are coupled to the vehicle for charging, the locking lever driven by the driving source is fixed so as not to move. Therefore, the plug connector is not disconnected arbitrarily during charging, and thus charging can be performed more safely.

In the present invention, the driving source for driving the lock lever is fixed to the inlet housing of the inlet connector or fixed to the adapter bracket fixed to the inlet housing, so that the lock lever is operated at a position adjacent to the engaging latch, so that the power transmission efficiency is good and the operating characteristics are improved. It also works.

In addition, in the present invention, since the adapter bracket is used, the inlet connector can be shared, and a driving source is installed in the adapter bracket, and the locking lever is connected to the driving source through the adapter bracket, thereby increasing the waterproof effect.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a switch for detecting a state in which the coupling latch is coupled to the plug connector, it is also possible to check the coupling state of the charging connector by the coupling latch.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an inlet connector employing a preferred embodiment of the charging connector locking device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the main components of the present invention embodiment.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inlet housing constituting an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the locking lever and the engaging latch constituting an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view showing the coupling latch constituting the embodiment of the present invention from another direction.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the adapter bracket constituting the embodiment of the present invention.
7 is an operating state diagram showing the operating state of the embodiment of the present invention sequentially.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the charging connector lock device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in the drawings, the inlet connector 110 is for charging the vehicle and is mounted on one side of the vehicle to which the plug connector 150 of the charging station is coupled. The inlet housing 111 forms the appearance and skeleton of the inlet connector 110. The inlet housing 111 is made of a synthetic resin material. The rear end of the inlet housing 111 is provided with a plate-shaped mounting plate 112 made of an insulating synthetic resin. The mounting plate 112 is formed to protrude a plug coupling portion 114 is substantially cylindrical. The terminal mounting portion 115 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the plug coupling portion 114. The terminal seating space 116 is formed by penetrating the terminal installation portion 115 back and forth. The terminal 116 ′ made of a conductive metal material is positioned in the terminal seating space 116.

Through the plug coupling portion 114, as shown in Figure 3, the insertion hole 117 is formed. The insertion hole 117 is a portion through which the coupling latch 120 to be described below. The insertion hole 117 is a portion positioned in line with the coupling hole 154 provided in the plug connector 150 of the charging station when the plug connector 150 of the charging station is coupled to the inlet connector 110. . For reference, a description of a portion of the inlet connector 110 that does not correspond to the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

The coupling plate 120 is installed in the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111 to penetrate the insertion hole 117 of the plug insertion unit 114. The coupling latch 120 is supported by the elastic member 120 ′ and receives a force in a direction to be pulled out of the insertion hole 117. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 120 'is a cylindrical coil spring. The coupling latch 120 is locked in a state in which the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150 are coupled by being positioned at the coupling hole 154 of the insertion hole 117 and the plug connector 150 at the same time.

The coupling latch 120 is well illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The coupling latch 120 has a latch body 121 forms a skeleton. The latch body 21 has a substantially flat hexahedron shape. Of course, the shape of the latch body 121 is not necessarily so. Interlocking slopes 122 are formed at one end of the latch body 121. The interlocking slope 122 is formed to be inclined downward in the direction of the locking lever 130 to be described below.

The coupling latch 120 is provided with a locking bar 124 that passes through the insertion hole 117 and is engaged with the coupling hole 154 of the plug connector 150. The lock bar 124 is formed to protrude from the center of one outer surface of the latch body 121. The tip, particularly the tip edge, of the lock bar 124 is preferably curved. This is to allow the lock bar 124 to be more smoothly inserted into the coupling hole 154.

The outer surface of the lock bar 124 is formed in the latch body 121 is formed around the locking bar 124, a seating groove 126 (see Fig. 2). One end of the elastic member 120 ′ is seated in the seating groove 126. The other end of the elastic member 120 'is seated in a seating groove 114' formed in the plug coupling portion 114.

The lock lever 130 is provided to be interlocked with the coupling latch 120. The locking lever 130 is provided on the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111 or the mounting plate 146 of the adapter bracket 140 to be described below to drive the coupling latch 120. . As shown in FIG. 2, the locking lever 130 receives the force acting by the coupling latch 120 while being supported by the mounting plate 112 or the mounting plate 146. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking lever 130 is supported by the cover 149 to be described below, but the cover 149 is also supported by the mounting plate 112 or the mounting plate 146 side. Therefore, since the mounting plate 112 or the seating plate 146 is responsible for dividing the force by the coupling latch 120 transmitted to the lock lever 130 relatively to the size or strength of the lock lever 130. You can make it weak.

The locking lever 130 has a long rod shape, the front end is formed with a driving inclined surface 132 that is interlocked with the interlocking inclined surface 122 of the coupling latch 120. The driving inclined surface 132 is guided along the interlocking inclined surface 122 to operate the coupling latch 120. The lock lever 130 is driven by the drive source 148 to be described below. To this end, the rear end of the lock lever 130 has a connection portion 134 for connection with the drive source 148 side.

On the other hand, the switch 138 is provided adjacent to the coupling latch 120. The switch 138 is pressed by the tip of the interlocking slope 122 of the engaging latch 120. The switch 138 detects the position of the coupling latch 120, and detects that the coupling latch 120 is in the locked state of the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150.

An adapter bracket 140 is provided to be attached along the front edge of the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111. The adapter bracket 140 is configured to mount the inlet connector 110 to various types of panels of the vehicle. That is, the adapter bracket 140 is used to mount the same inlet connector 110 to various types of panels. This is to produce a single inlet connector 110, so that the same inlet connector 110 can be used for a variety of models, except the adapter bracket 140.

The bracket body 141 forms a skeleton of the adapter bracket 140. The bracket body 141 is formed to have a predetermined height along the edge of the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111. The through part 142 is formed through the center of the bracket body 141. The plug coupling part 114 and the like are positioned and exposed in the through part 142.

The bracket body 141 has a coupling hole 143 for coupling with the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111 in a plurality of places. On one side of the bracket body 141, the mounting piece 145 is formed. The mounting piece 145 is for mounting the adapter bracket 140 to the panel of the vehicle.

A mounting plate 146 is provided to be positioned at the through part 142 of the bracket body 141. The seating plate 146 is a plate having a predetermined area and is located at a position corresponding to the coupling latch 120 and the locking lever 130. A communication hole 146 ′ is formed at a position at which the seating plate 146 is formed to communicate with the inside of the drive source housing 147 to be described below. The locking lever 130 penetrates through the communication hole 146 '.

One side of the bracket body 141, the drive source housing 147 is formed. The drive source 148 is mounted inside the drive source housing 147, and a drive source cover 147 ′ is provided to shield the drive source housing 147 from the outside.

For reference, the driving source 148 does not necessarily need to be installed on the bracket body 141. The driving source 148 may be mounted on the mounting plate 112 of the inlet housing 111. For this purpose, the mounting plate 112 should be larger than in the illustrated embodiment. In this case, the driving source 148 is located at a position corresponding to the through part 142 of the bracket body 141.

On the other hand, the drive source 148 in the present invention may not only provide power, but may also include a configuration for changing the power to the linear reciprocating motion of the lock lever 130. For example, in this specification, the driving source 148 is defined as including all of the configurations in which the rotational force of the motor is changed into linear motion using the pinion and the rack. Of course, if the solenoid is adopted instead of the motor, for example, it is not necessary to change the direction of movement separately. In this case, the solenoid itself is the drive source 148.

In the present invention, the driving source 148 is operated to move to the position where the lock lever 130 can lock the coupling latch 120 after the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150 is completed. After the charging is completed, the lock lever 130 is operated to move to a position where the coupling latch 120 can be released. Reference numeral 149 denotes a latch cover that shields the front end of the coupling latch 120 and the locking lever 130 and the switch 138.

Next, only the main components of the plug connector 150 coupled to the inlet connector 110 will be described. Plug connector 150 is provided in the charging station, as shown in Figure 7, the plug housing 152 constitutes the appearance. In FIG. 7, a part of the plug housing 152 is shown in a cross-sectional perspective view.

A coupling hole 154 is formed at one end of the plug housing 152. The coupling hole 154 does not necessarily need to penetrate the plug housing 152 but may have a groove shape.

It will be described below that the charging connector lock device operating according to the present invention having the configuration as described above.

In FIG. 7A, the coupling latch 120 and the locking lever 130 of the inlet connector 110 are illustrated in a state where the plug connector 150 is not coupled to the inlet connector 110. The coupling latch 120 is relatively up by the elastic member 120 '. Therefore, the tip of the locking bar 124 of the coupling latch 120 is located in the insertion hole 117 of the plug coupling portion 114. That is, the coupling latch 120 is in a position outside the movement path into which the plug connector 150 is inserted.

In this state, when the plug connector 150 enters into the plug insertion unit 114, the terminal 116 ′ of the inlet connector 110 and the terminal of the plug connector 150 are coupled to each other to make an electrical connection. Can be. However, power is not yet available through the terminal.

In addition, one of the terminals 116 ′ has a relatively long length, and thus is combined first to provide a combined signal. When the combined signal is provided, the driving source 148 operates. That is, the inlet connector 110 and the plug connector 150 are coupled to each other so that the coupling hole 154 of the plug connector 150 is located at a position corresponding to the insertion hole 117 of the plug coupling portion 114. When the driving source 148 operates, the lock lever 130 moves forward.

When the locking lever 130 is advanced, the driving inclined surface 132 of the locking lever 130 is moved along the interlocking inclined surface 122 of the coupling latch 120 to press the coupling latch 120. . That is, the coupling latch 120 enters the coupling hole 154 of the plug connector 150 while overcoming the elastic force of the elastic member 120 '.

As the locking bar 124 of the coupling latch 120 enters the coupling hole 154, as shown in FIG. 7B, the locking lever 130 is connected to the coupling latch 120 based on the drawing. It is fully raised to the top of the 120.

In this state, the tip of the interlocking slope 122 of the coupling latch 120 presses the switch 138. When the switch 138 is pressed, it can be seen that the coupling latch 120 is in a position for locking the plug connector 150. In addition, charging is also performed through energization through the terminals 116 ′.

In FIG. 7C, the plug connector 150 and the inlet connector 110 are coupled to each other, and the coupling latch 120 is pressed by the lock lever 130 and thus cannot be operated. This is the state when charging is made. In this state, even if a force is applied to the plug connector 150 to be separated from the inlet connector 110, the plug connector 150 is not separated due to the coupling latch 120.

On the other hand, when charging is completed, a charging completion signal is provided. The drive source 148 is operated in accordance with this signal. Of course, when the charge completion signal is provided, the electricity between the terminal 116 ′ of the inlet connector 110 and the terminal of the plug connector 150 is cut off.

When the locking lever 130 moves away from the coupling latch 120 by the operation of the driving source 148, the coupling lever 120 moves away from the coupling latch 120. Moved by 120 '. That is, the lock bar 124 is released from the coupling hole 154 of the plug connector 150. When the locking bar 124 of the coupling latch 120 is released from the coupling hole 154, the plug connector 150 is in a state that can be separated from the inlet connector 110, the operator is a plug connector ( Applying a force to 150 is separated from the inlet connector (110).

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is defined by the claims, and various changes and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the claims. It is self evident.

For example, although the switch 138 is used in the illustrated embodiment, the switch 138 detects whether the engagement latch 120 is in a position for locking and is not necessarily used. Of course, by using the switch 138 it is possible to detect the inoperable due to damage of the coupling latch 120, the use of the switch 138 can further increase the reliability of the device.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the lock lever 130 is operated using the driving source 148, but may be directly operated by an operator. In this case, a part of the lock lever 130 connected to the driving source 148 is exposed to the outside so that the operator can directly operate the lock lever 130.

110: inlet connector 111: inlet housing
112: mounting plate 114: plug coupling portion
116: terminal seating space 117: insertion hole
120: coupling latch 120 ': elastic member
121: latch body 122: interlocking slope
124: lock bar 126: seating groove
130: lock lever 132: driving slope
134: connection 138: switch
140: adapter bracket 141: bracket body
143: fastener 145: mounting piece
146: seating plate 146 ': communication hole
147: drive source housing 148: drive source
150: plug connector 152: plug housing
154: coupling hole

Claims (16)

In the charging connector lock device for locking the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector in performing the charging by combining the inlet connector with the plug connector in the charging station,
A coupling latch installed at one side of the inlet housing of the inlet connector and supported by an elastic member at a position deviated from the moving path through which the plug connector moves;
A locking lever for controlling the movement of the coupling latch to move the coupling latch to be seated in the coupling hole of the plug connector while the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector;
And a switch located at a position adjacent to the coupling latch to detect a state in which the coupling latch is moved and fixed by the locking lever.
The lock connector of claim 1, further comprising a driving source for driving the lock lever, wherein the driving source is operated in a state in which the plug connector and the terminal of the inlet connector are coupled to each other.
delete According to claim 2, wherein the rear end of the inlet housing is formed with a mounting plate, the adapter bracket surrounding the edge of the mounting plate is provided, the adapter bracket is a bracket body having a predetermined height along the edge of the mounting plate And a penetrating portion through which the plug insertion portion of the inlet housing is exposed to penetrate through the center of the bracket body, and on one side of the bracket body, a mounting piece for mounting the adapter bracket to the panel of the vehicle is formed. lock.
The method of claim 4, wherein one side of the adapter bracket is formed with a drive source housing in which the drive source is seated integrally and the locking lever penetrates through the bracket body so that the inside of the drive source housing and the through-hole communicates with each other. Charging connector lock.
6. The charging connector locking device of claim 5, wherein the coupling latch and the locking lever are installed on a mounting plate formed on an inlet housing of the inlet connector or a mounting plate formed on a through portion of the adapter bracket.

According to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 6, wherein the engaging latch is formed at one end of the latch body forming the skeleton is interlocking inclined surface for guiding the drive inclined surface of the lock lever tip is formed; And a locking bar protruding from one surface of the latch body and positioned at an insertion hole of the inlet connector and a coupling hole of the plug connector.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the elastic member for supporting the engaging latch is one end of the insertion hole which is seated in the seating groove formed around the lock bar of the latch body and the other end penetrates the plug engaging portion provided in the inlet connector Charging connector lock device characterized in that seated in the seating groove formed in.
9. The charging connector lock according to claim 8, wherein the leading end of the locking bar of the coupling latch is formed in a curved surface and is positioned in the insertion hole by the elastic member and then inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector by the locking lever. Device.
In the charging connector lock device for locking the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector in performing the charging by combining the inlet connector with the plug connector in the charging station,
A coupling latch supported in a direction away from a coupling hole formed in the plug connector by an elastic member such that one end is positioned in an insertion hole formed at one side of the inlet housing of the inlet connector;
A driving source providing a driving force to allow the coupling latch to be inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector;
And a locking lever operated by the driving source to control the movement of the coupling latch and moving and fixing the coupling latch to be seated in the coupling hole of the plug connector while the plug connector is coupled to the inlet connector. Connector lock.
The method of claim 10, wherein the engaging latch has an interlocking inclined surface for guiding the driving inclined surface of the locking lever tip is formed at one end of the latch body forming a skeleton, protrudes from one surface of the latch body is pressed by the locking lever Charging connector lock device characterized in that the locking bar is located in the insertion hole of the inlet connector and the coupling hole of the plug connector.

12. The peripheral portion of the insertion hole of claim 11, wherein the elastic member supporting the coupling latch is seated in a seating groove formed at one end of the lock bar around the latch body, and the other end penetrates the plug coupling part provided in the inlet connector. Charging connector lock device characterized in that seated in the seating groove formed in.
13. The charging connector lock according to claim 12, wherein the leading end of the locking bar of the coupling latch is formed in a curved surface and is positioned in the insertion hole by the elastic member and then inserted into the coupling hole of the plug connector by the locking lever. Device.
14. The charging connector locking device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein a switch for detecting a state where the coupling lever is moved and fixed by the locking lever is further provided at a position adjacent to the coupling latch.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rear end of the inlet housing is formed with a mounting plate, the adapter bracket surrounding the edge of the mounting plate is provided, the adapter bracket is a bracket body having a predetermined height along the edge of the mounting plate And a penetrating portion through which the plug insertion portion of the inlet housing is exposed to penetrate through the center of the bracket body, and on one side of the bracket body, a mounting piece for mounting the adapter bracket to the panel of the vehicle is formed. lock.
The method of claim 15, wherein one side of the adapter bracket is formed with a drive source housing in which the drive source is seated integrally and the locking lever penetrates through the bracket body so that the interior of the drive source housing and the through-hole communicates with each other. Charging connector lock.

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