Charger

Abstract

The charger includes: an outer housing; a frame accommodated inside the outer housing; a linear guide rail disposed on one surface of the frame and extending in the vertical direction; the cable guiding device comprises a pulley guiding device which ascends and descends in the vertical direction along the linear guide rail and a pulley which is rotatably arranged on the pulley guiding device; the upper take-up device is arranged at the upper part of the frame and is provided with a spring wound with an upper cable connected with the pulley guide device; and a lower take-up device disposed at the lower part of the frame and having a spring around which a lower cable connected to the pulley guide is wound.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charger with a charging cable. Background Art

[0002] A charger is a device used to charge batteries.

[0003] An example of a charger is an electric vehicle charger for charging a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. By connecting a charging connector provided at the end of a charging cable to a connection port provided in the electric vehicle, electric energy is supplied to the battery of the electric vehicle.

[0004] In order to use the charging cable, the tangled charging cable needs to be untangled and pulled out before use. Due to the length of the pulled-out charging cable, a portion of the middle portion may touch the ground. The portion touching the ground may be damaged by wear and tear due to repeated use, and may be contaminated by pollutants on the ground.

[0005] An example of a charging device capable of charging a battery is the electric vehicle charging device disclosed in Korean Authorization Patent Publication 10-2423210B (published on July 21, 2022), which includes: a charger that provides a plurality of charging cables of different types from each other; a communication control unit connected to the charger and controlling the charging cables; a motor driver that communicates with the communication control unit; a support pole as a fixing facility located at the upper end of the charger; a plurality of electric winches fixed to the support pole and arranged on the upper part of the charger; and a plurality of spring balancers each connected to the plurality of electric winches on one side and to the plurality of charging cables on the other side. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] This embodiment aims to provide a charger that allows a user to pull out or retract a charging cable with less force.

[0008] This embodiment aims to provide a charger that can prevent the charging cable from dropping sharply when the charging cable is retracted.

[0009] Means used to solve problems

[0010] The charger of this embodiment includes: an outer shell; a frame housed inside the outer shell; a linear guide rail arranged on one side of the frame and extending in the up-down direction; a cable guide device for guiding the charging cable, including a pulley guide device that rises and falls in the up-down direction along the linear guide rail and a pulley rotatably arranged on the pulley guide device; an upper wire take-up device arranged at the upper part of the frame and having a spring wound around the upper cable connected to the pulley guide device; and a lower wire take-up device arranged at the lower part of the frame and having a spring wound around the lower cable connected to the pulley guide device.

[0011] The linear guide, upper wire take-up and lower wire take-up can be configured on the back of the frame.

[0012] The reaction force of the upper wire take-up may be different from the reaction force of the lower wire take-up.

[0013] The reaction force of the upper wire take-up may be smaller than the reaction force of the lower wire take-up.

[0014] The charger may also include a rear cover that conceals the linear guide, the cable guide, the upper cable take-up, and the lower cable take-up.

[0015] The rear cover may be disposed at the rear of the outer shell.

[0016] The charger may include a rear guide and a front guide disposed on an upper portion of the frame.

[0017] The height of the front guide device may be higher than the height of the rear guide device.

[0018] The rear guide device and the front guide device can be tilted in the same direction.

[0019] The upper wire take-up can be closer to the rear guide and the rear guide in the device.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to this embodiment, the upper cable of the upper cable take-up and the lower cable of the lower cable take-up are each connected to the pulley guide, which can minimize not only the force required when pulling out the charging cable but also the force required when retracting the charging cable.

[0022] In addition, the upper cable take-up cushions the pulley guide device when the charging cable is retracted, thereby preventing the lower end of the charging cable from dropping sharply and minimizing damage or breakage that may occur due to the lower end of the charging cable dropping sharply.

[0023] Additionally, the hidden cable in the charging cable can be maximized when the charging cable is not in use, while the exposed cable length can be maximized when the charging cable is pulled out. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the charger of this embodiment,

[0025] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the charger of this embodiment,

[0026] Figure 3 is a side view showing the charger of this embodiment,

[0027] Figure 4 is a side view showing the interior of the charger of this embodiment,

[0028] Figure 5 This is a diagram of the embodiment when the outer shell and the back cover are separated.

[0029] Figure 6 1 is a rear view showing a retractor of the present embodiment,

[0030] Figure 7 It is a side view showing the interior of the wire take-up device of this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the charger of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the charger of this embodiment, Figure 3 is a side view showing the charger of this embodiment, Figure 4 is a side view showing the interior of the charger of this embodiment, Figure 5 This is a diagram of the embodiment when the outer shell and the back cover are separated.

[0033] The charger may include an outer housing 1 .

[0034] The outer shell 1 can constitute the appearance of the charger.

[0035] The outer housing 1 may include a main housing 2 and an upper body 3 .

[0036] The main housing 2 may form a connector holder 6 for accommodating a connector 5 of a charging cable 4 .

[0037] A connection portion (not shown) for connecting to a power supply unit disposed inside the outer housing 1 may be formed at one end of the charging cable 4 , and a connector 5 may be formed at the other end of the charging cable 4 .

[0038] The connector 5 may be a charging gun or a plug that can be connected to a vehicle such as an electric car.

[0039] The connector bracket 6 may be formed on at least one of the left and right sides of the housing 2 .

[0040] The main housing 2 may be provided with a display 7. The display 7 may be provided on the front surface of the main housing 2.

[0041] The upper body 3 may be arranged on the upper portion of the main housing 2. An opening 8 for the charging cable 4 to pass through may be formed in the upper body 3 (see Figure 2 ).

[0042] The charging cable 4 may be a 500A-rated cable for charging electric vehicles.

[0043] The charging cable 4 can be divided into an external cable 4A pulled out of the charger and an internal cable 4B located inside the charger, depending on whether it is located inside the charger.

[0044] The outer cable 4A may be an exposed cable that is exposed to the outside of the charger. The outer cable 4A may be defined as a portion from the opening 8 to the connector 5 .

[0045] The inner cable 4B may be a hidden cable that is concealed by the charger.

[0046] The inner cable 4B can be defined as a portion extending from the power supply portion to the opening 8 .

[0047] The charger may include a frame 10 , a linear guide 20 , a cable guide 30 , an upper spring device 40 , and a lower spring device 50 .

[0048] The frame 10 may be accommodated inside the outer housing 1 .

[0049] The linear guide rail 20 may be disposed on one side of the frame 10. The linear guide rail 20 may extend in the up-down direction Z.

[0050] The linear guide rail 20 may be disposed on the back side of the frame 10 .

[0051] The inner cable 4B may pass through the linear guide 20 , and the inner cable 4B may be reversed by means of the linear guide 20 .

[0052] The inner cable 4B may include a rear cable 4C located at the rear of the charger and extending substantially in the up-down direction, and an upper cable 4D which is a portion extending from the rear cable to the opening 8 .

[0053] The rear cable 4C may be substantially U-shaped.

[0054] The upper cable 4D is preferably arranged so as to be as free from bending as possible.

[0055] The linear guide 20 , the cable guide 30 , the upper spring device 40 , and the lower spring device 50 may be disposed at the rear of the frame 10 and constitute a dispenser or cable management system for managing the charging cable 4 .

[0056] The cable guide 30 may include a pulley guide 32 that is raised and lowered in the vertical direction along the linear guide 20 and pulleys 34 and 36 rotatably provided on the pulley guide 32. The cable guide 30 may guide the charging cable 4.

[0057] The cable guide 30 can bend a portion of the inner cable 4B into a U-shape. The cable guide 30 can rise along with the inner cable 4B.

[0058] A plurality of pulleys 34 and 36 may be provided on the pulley guide 32. The plurality of pulleys may include an upper pulley 34 and a lower pulley 36 that is lower than the upper pulley 34.

[0059] The upper pulley 34 and the lower pulley 36 may be opposed to each other in the up-down direction Z.

[0060] A passage for the charging cable 4 , particularly a portion of the inner cable 4B, may be formed between the upper pulley 34 and the lower pulley 36 .

[0061] According to the height of the cable guide 30 , the length of the outer cable 4A and the length of the inner cable 4B are variable.

[0062] When the cable guide device 30 approaches the upper end position from the middle position, the length of the inner cables 4B, especially the rear cable 4C, gradually decreases, and the length of the outer cable 4A gradually increases.

[0063] When the cable guide device 30 approaches the lower end position from the middle position, the length of the inner cables 4B, especially the rear cable 4C, gradually increases, and the length of the outer cable 4A gradually decreases.

[0064] The upper spring device 40 may be disposed on the upper portion of the frame 10. The upper spring device 40 may include an upper cable 42 connected to the pulley guide 32 (see FIG. Figure 1 ).

[0065] The upper portion of the frame 10 may be defined as a portion located above the center of the frame 10 in the vertical direction Z as a reference.

[0066] The upper spring device 40 may be disposed on the back side of the frame 10 .

[0067] The upper spring device 40 may be located at an upper side of the cable guide device 30 and spaced apart from the cable guide device 30 in the up-down direction Z.

[0068] The upper cable 42 may face the linear guide rail 20 and be spaced apart from the linear guide rail 20 in the front-rear direction X.

[0069] The upper spring device 40 may include a spring around which an upper cable 42 is wound.

[0070] Upper spring assembly 40 may be a pull-out load reducing spring assembly that reduces the pull-out load when charging cable 4 is pulled out. When a user pulls charging cable 4 from outside the charger, upper spring assembly 40 pulls pulley guide assembly 32 upward, allowing the user to pull charging cable 4 with less force.

[0071] The upper spring assembly 40 acts as a damper to prevent the charging cable 4 from dropping sharply when it is retracted. The user can retract the charging cable 4 from outside the charger back inside. The upper spring assembly 40 prevents this sudden retraction and ensures that the lower end of the charging cable 4 guided by the cable guide 30 descends more gently, rather than dropping sharply.

[0072] An example of the upper spring device 40 may be a wire take-up device, and the upper spring device 40 may be an upper wire take-up device including a spring (upper spring) wound around the upper wire 42. The spring (upper spring) may restore the upper wire 42 to its initial position.

[0073] If the upper spring device 40 is a cable take-up device, the force pulling the upper cable 42 can be the same as the force attempting to restore the upper cable 42. After pulling the upper cable 42 and releasing it, the device will attempt to return to its original state. The cable take-up device can be cylindrical, allowing for a longer upper cable 42 than a spring balancer. To maximize the pull of the upper cable 42, the cable take-up device may require a greater external force, and the reaction force may also be higher.

[0074] Another example of the upper spring device 40 can be a spring balancer in which a cable is connected to a drum and a spring is connected to the drum. The spring balancer can be a device for adjusting tension. If there is no pulling force (external force), it will return to its original state due to the restoring force of the spring, but if there is a pulling force (external force), it can resist the pulling force and maintain the stability of the position. The spring balancer can be a drum-type structure due to the drum, and the stroke length of the cable may be limited. If the stroke length of the cable is long, the size of the spring balancer will increase. The spring balancer can adjust the number of turns by the stroke of the cable wound on the drum, and maintain a constant force by the shape of the spring. If a force equivalent to the tension is applied to the cable, almost no additional external force is required during the period when the cable is unwound to the maximum stroke of the cable.

[0075] Although the following description will illustrate an upper wire take-up as the upper spring device 40, the upper spring device 40 is not limited to an upper wire take-up and can be any structure capable of pulling the cable guide 30 upward. The upper spring device and the upper wire take-up are both designated by the same reference numeral "40" in the following description.

[0076] The lower spring device 50 may be disposed at a lower portion of the frame 10. The lower spring device 50 may include a lower cable 52 connected to a pulley guide.

[0077] The lower portion of the frame 10 may be defined as a portion located below the center of the frame 10 in the vertical direction Z as a reference.

[0078] The lower spring device 50 may be disposed on the back side of the frame 10 .

[0079] The lower spring device 50 may be located at a lower side of the cable guide device 30 and spaced apart from the cable guide device 30 in the up-down direction Z.

[0080] The lower cable 52 may face the linear guide rail 20 and be spaced apart from the linear guide rail 20 in the front-rear direction X.

[0081] The lower spring assembly 50 may include a spring around which a lower cable 52 is wound.

[0082] The lower spring device 50 may be a retracting spring device for retracting the charging cable 4 into the charger.

[0083] After using the charging cable 4 , the user can retract the charging cable 4 into the charger. At this time, the lower spring device 50 will pull the pulley guide device 32 downward, so that the charging cable 4 is retracted to the initial position.

[0084] An example of the lower spring device 50 may be a cable take-up device, and the lower spring device 50 may include a spring (lower spring) wound around the lower cable 52. The spring (lower spring) may restore the lower cable 52 to its original position.

[0085] If the lower spring device 50 is a cable take-up device, the force pulling the lower cable 52 can be equal to the force the lower cable 52 attempts to recover. After the lower cable 52 is pulled and released, the device attempts to return to its original state. The cable take-up device can be cylindrical, and the length of the lower cable 52 can be made longer than the spring balancer. To maximize the pull of the lower cable 52, the cable take-up device may require a greater external force, and the reaction force may also be higher.

[0086] Another example of the lower spring device 50 can be a spring balancer with a cable connected to a drum and a spring connected to the drum. The spring balancer can be a device for adjusting tension. If there is no pulling force (external force), it will return to its original state due to the restoring force of the spring, but if there is a pulling force (external force), it can resist the pulling force and maintain the stability of the position. The spring balancer can be a drum-type structure due to the drum, and the travel length of the cable may be limited. If the travel length of the cable is long, the size of the spring balancer will increase. The spring balancer can adjust the number of turns by the travel of the cable wound around the drum and maintain a constant force through the spring shape. If a force equivalent to the tension is applied to the cable, almost no additional external force is required during the period when the cable is unwound to the maximum travel of the cable.

[0087] Hereinafter, although the case where the lower spring device 50 is a lower take-up reel will be described, the lower spring device 50 is not limited to an upper take-up reel, and as long as it is a structure capable of pulling the cable guiding device 30 downward, it can of course be applied. The same reference numeral "50" is used for the lower spring device and the upper take-up reel for explanation.

[0088] The reaction force of the upper take-up reel 40 and the reaction force of the lower take-up reel 50 can be different.

[0089] The reaction force of the upper take-up reel 40 can be less than the reaction force of the lower take-up reel 50. For example, when using the charging cable 4 (when pulling out), the reaction force initially applied by the user of the upper take-up reel 40 can be 3.8 kgf, and when the charging cable 4 is retracted, the initial required reaction force of the lower take-up reel 50 can be 5.3 kgf.

[0090] When there is no external force acting on the charging cable 4, if the weight of the inner cable 4B is A, the force acting on the lower take-up reel 50 is B, and the force (restoring force) acting on the upper take-up reel 40 is C, then when A + B > C, the charging cable 4 can be retracted and held.

[0091] When pulling out, in the case where the external force is F, if F > C - B - A, the charging cable 4 can be pulled out, and the length of the inner cable 4B may decrease. Here, the external force F can be the value of the force applied by the user to pull the charging cable 4 plus the weight of the outer cable 4A.

[0092] When the charging cable 4 is retracted, when the external force is F', if F' < B + A - C, the charging cable 4 can be retracted, and the length of the inner cable 4B will increase. Here, the external force F' can be the value of the force applied by the user to retract the charging cable 4 horizontally minus the weight of the outer cable 4A.

[0093] The charger can apply a supporting force and a reaction force to the charging cable 4 through the upper cable take-up 40 and the lower cable take-up 50 .

[0094] The charger can smoothly move the charging cable 4 through the upper cable take-up 40 and the lower cable take-up 50 .

[0095] The charger may further include a rear cover 60 (see Figure 3 ).

[0096] The rear cover 60 may be disposed at the rear of the outer housing 1 .

[0097] The rear cover 60 may shield the linear guide 20 , the cable guide 30 , the upper spring assembly 40 , and the lower spring assembly 50 .

[0098] The rear cover may include a left rear cover and a right rear cover.

[0099] The left rear cover and the right rear cover may shield respective sides of the linear guide 20 , the cable guide 30 , the upper spring assembly 40 , and the lower spring assembly 50 .

[0100] The rear cover may include an upper rear cover.

[0101] The upper rear cover may shield the upper sides of each of the linear guide 20 , the cable guide 30 , the upper spring device 40 , and the lower spring device 50 .

[0102] The rear cover may include a back cover connecting the left rear cover and the right rear cover.

[0103] The back cover may shield the rear of each of the linear guide 20 , the cable guide 30 , the upper spring assembly 40 , and the lower spring assembly 50 .

[0104] In the charger, at least one of the linear guide 20 , the upper spring device 40 , and the lower spring device 50 may be disposed not on the frame 10 but on the rear cover 60 .

[0105] The charger may include a rear guide 70 and a front guide 80 disposed at an upper portion of the frame.

[0106] Each of the rear guide 70 and the front guide 80 may include a bracket mounted on the upper portion of the frame 10 , and a pulley rotatably disposed on the bracket and used to guide the upper cable 4D.

[0107] The rear guide device 70 and the front guide device 70 may be arranged to be tilted in the same direction.

[0108] The rear guide device 70 and the front guide device 80 may be spaced apart from each other.

[0109] The height of the front guide 80 may be higher than that of the rear guide 70 .

[0110] The upper spring means 40 may be as follows Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the rear guide 70 is closer to the rear guide 70 of the rear guide 70 and the front guide 80.

[0111] A portion 4E of the charging cable 4 (see Figure 1 ) may be spaced apart from the upper spring device 40 in the left-right direction Y. A portion 4E of the charging cable 4 may be an opposing portion facing the side of the upper spring device 40 in the left-right direction Y, and may be a portion of the rear cable 4C in the inner cable 2B.

[0112] The charging cable 4 can be Figure 4 As shown, it passes by the side of the upper spring device 40 and is guided to the rear guide device 70.

[0113] Through the linear guide 20, the cable guide device 30, the upper spring device 40 and the lower spring device 50, the length of the outer cable 4A can be minimized, and when the charging cable 4 is used, the weight change of the charging cable 4 can be matched, reducing the weight in the up and down direction Z.

[0114] The user needs to support the weight that increases as the length of the charging cable 4 increases. Moreover, after using the charging cable 4 , the user needs to retract the charging cable 4 to its original setting position to hide the charging cable 4 .

[0115] The upper cable 42 of the upper spring device 40 pulls the pulley guide device 32 upward, so that the user can pull the charging cable 4 with less force, and the upper spring device 40 can reduce the pull-out load.

[0116] The lower cable 52 of the lower spring device 50 pulls the pulley guide device 32 downward, so that the charging cable 4 can automatically return to the initial setting position.

[0117] Figure 6 1 is a rear view showing the wire take-up device of this embodiment, Figure 7 It is a side view showing the interior of the wire take-up device of this embodiment.

[0118] The upper wire take-up 40 and the lower wire take-up 50 may be the same type of wire take-up.

[0119] The cable retractor may be a spring device in which the force pulling the cable is equal to the force the cable attempts to recover, and when the cable is released after being pulled, the cable returns to its original state.

[0120] The wire take-up device may have the wire 42 or the wire 52 wound around the outer periphery of the spring 44 .

[0121] As an example of the spring 44 , a leaf spring wound in a spiral shape may be used, and the spring 44 may have a cylindrical or barrel shape as a whole.

[0122] The cable 42 or the cable 52 may be wound around the outer circumference of the leaf spring.

[0123] The wire take-up device may further include a bracket 46 that supports the spring 44 .

[0124] The above description is merely an exemplary description of the technical concept of the present invention, and a person skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0125] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to explain the technical idea, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

[0126] The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the appended claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the right scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A charger, wherein: include: outer shell; a frame housed inside the outer shell; a linear guide rail, disposed on one side of the frame and extending in an up-down direction; a cable guide device for guiding the charging cable, comprising a pulley guide device that rises and falls in the vertical direction along the linear guide rail and a pulley rotatably provided on the pulley guide device; an upper cable take-up device, disposed on an upper portion of the frame and having a spring wound around an upper cable connected to the pulley guide; as well as The lower cable take-up device is arranged at the lower part of the frame and has a spring wound around the lower cable connected to the pulley guide device.

2. The charger according to claim 1, wherein: The linear guide rail, the upper wire take-up device and the lower wire take-up device are arranged on the back side of the frame.

3. The charger according to claim 2, wherein: The reaction force of the upper wire take-up is different from the reaction force of the lower wire take-up.

4. The charger according to claim 2, wherein: The reaction force of the upper wire take-up is smaller than the reaction force of the lower wire take-up.

5. The charger according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: A rear cover is used to shield the linear guide rail, the cable guide device, the upper wire take-up device and the lower wire take-up device.

6. The charger according to claim 5, wherein: The rear cover is arranged at the rear of the outer shell.

7. The charger according to claim 1, wherein: comprising a rear guide device and a front guide device arranged on the upper portion of the frame, The height of the front guide device is higher than that of the rear guide device.

8. The charger according to claim 7, wherein: The rear guide device and the front guide device are arranged to be inclined in the same direction.

9. The charger according to claim 7, wherein: The upper wire take-up is closer to the rear guide of the rear guide and the front guide.

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