Accessory type safety device

Abstract

An accessory-type safety device that can be interposed between a vehicle-side connector provided on the vehicle side and a charging connector provided in a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector, the accessory-type safety device being provided with: a first connection part that can be connected to the charging connector; a second connection part that can be connected to a vehicle-side connector; a circuit that electrically connects a primary-side terminal disposed in the first connection part and a secondary-side terminal disposed in the second connection part; a cut-off device capable of cutting off the current passing through the circuit during operation; and a control unit that operates the shut-off device when an abnormal event in which charging of the vehicle is to be interrupted has occurred.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an accessory safety device for use in vehicle charging devices. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicle charging devices are known to charge the onboard batteries of vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs). These charging devices are installed in various locations, including residences, public facilities, and convenience stores.

[0003] In the vehicle charging devices described above, there are known devices that instantly cut off the current in the event of an abnormality such as a lightning strike or leakage.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a safety system in which a heat-triggered electrical cut-off device is provided in a handle-type charging connector (plug) that can be freely plugged into and removed from a charging port (charging adapter) located on the vehicle side.

[0005] Existing technical documents Patent documents Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-118798 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 6920095 Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-057002 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve When a vehicle charging device has a cut-off device as described in Patent Document 1, it can cut off the current in case of an abnormal situation. However, such a cut-off device may not be included in the charging device itself. In particular, it is not uncommon for residential (household) charging devices to lack a cut-off safety device due to cost considerations. Therefore, if one wants to retrofit a vehicle charging device that does not have a current cut-off function, it is usually necessary to replace at least a portion of the vehicle charging device, which can easily increase costs.

[0007] The technology disclosed herein was made in view of the above-mentioned actual situation, and its purpose is to provide a technology that can impart a current cutting-off function to a vehicle charging device without changing the charging device for the vehicle.

[0008] Solution for solving the problem This disclosure addresses the aforementioned problems through the following solution. Specifically, the technical essence of this disclosure is as follows.

[0009] (Option 1) The present disclosure provides a device for solving the above-mentioned problems: an accessory-type safety device that can be clamped between a vehicle-side connector located on the vehicle side and a charging connector of a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector. The accessory-type safety device includes: The first connecting part can be connected to the charging connector; The second connecting part can be connected to the vehicle-side connector; The circuit electrically connects the primary side terminal disposed on the first connection portion to the secondary side terminal disposed on the second connection portion. A cutting-off device that, during operation, can cut off the current passing through the circuit; and The control unit activates the disconnection device when an abnormal situation occurs that should interrupt the charging of the vehicle.

[0010] (Option 2) Alternatively, the accessory safety device of Scheme 1 may also include an anomaly sensor for sensing the abnormal situation.

[0011] (Option 3) In the accessory-type safety device of Scheme 2, the abnormality sensor may monitor the current flowing in the circuit, and the control unit may activate the disconnection device when an abnormal current is sensed based on the output of the abnormality sensor.

[0012] (Option 4) In any of the options 1 to 3, the accessory safety device may be a smoke-actuated cutting device.

[0013] Invention Effects According to this disclosure, a technology can be provided that can impart a current-cutting function to a vehicle charging device without altering the charging device itself. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle charging device according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the overall configuration of the safety device in the implementation method.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the safety device implemented in this way.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal structure of the safety device in an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the cutting device according to the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The protective device according to embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the various components and combinations thereof in the embodiments are merely examples, and appropriate additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications to the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments, but only to the claims.

[0020] The safety device in this embodiment is an accessory-type safety device that can be clamped between a vehicle-side connector provided on the vehicle side and a charging connector of a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector.

[0021] Safety devices include: The first connecting part can be connected to a charging connector; The second connecting part can be connected to the vehicle-side connector; The circuit electrically connects the primary side terminal disposed on the first connection portion to the secondary side terminal disposed on the second connection portion. A cutting-off device that, during operation, can cut off the current flowing through a circuit; and The control unit activates the disconnect device when an abnormal situation occurs that should interrupt the charging of the vehicle.

[0022] <Implementation Method> Figure 1 This diagram illustrates an example configuration of the vehicle charging device 1 according to an embodiment. The vehicle charging device 1 is a device for charging the battery of a vehicle 2. Hereinafter, the vehicle 2 is, for example, an electric vehicle (EV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV, PHV), etc. The battery of the vehicle 2 can be, for example, a lithium-ion battery.

[0023] The vehicle charging device 1 is configured, for example, as a charging pile-type charging device attached to the residence 3 to which it is installed. Of course, the vehicle charging device 1 can also be in other forms, for example, it can be a wall-mounted charging device installed on the exterior wall of the residence 3.

[0024] Inside the housing 1A of the vehicle charging device 1 is a power source 6, shown in dashed lines. The power source 6 may be, for example, a power supply source that supplies 200V AC power to the vehicle 2. Furthermore, the vehicle charging device 1 includes a charging cable 4 for supplying power from the power source 6 to the battery of the vehicle 2. The power source 6 in the vehicle charging device 1 may also be, for example, a power unit with a charging socket. In this case, a plug (connector) that can be detachably attached to the charging socket may be provided at one end of the charging cable 4. Alternatively, the charging cable 4 may be directly connected to the power supply line of the power source 6.

[0025] A charging connector 5 is installed at the top end of the charging cable 4 in the vehicle charging device 1. The charging connector 5 can be connected to the vehicle-side connector, which serves as a charging port, located on the side of the vehicle 2. The charging connector 5 is, for example, a connector with a handle-like shape, also known as a charging gun. Power from the power source 6 in the vehicle charging device 1 is supplied to the battery of the vehicle 2 via the charging cable 4 (including the charging connector 5) and the vehicle-side connector, thereby enabling the charging of the battery.

[0026] However, in the event of an abnormal situation such as backflow lightning or leakage during charging by vehicle charging device 1, it is necessary to quickly cut off the current supplied from vehicle charging device 1 to vehicle 2. Backflow lightning refers to the situation where a portion of the lightning current flows into power transmission lines, communication lines, and other wiring due to a rise in ground potential caused by a lightning strike on surrounding structures. When backflow lightning occurs during charging by vehicle charging device 1, there is a possibility that overcurrent will flow in vehicle 2, therefore it is necessary to quickly cut off the power supply from vehicle charging device 1 to vehicle 2.

[0027] If the charging device is equipped with a cut-off device (safety device) as described in Patent Document 1, the current can be cut off in case of an abnormal situation. However, such a safety device may not be included in the charging device. In particular, there are many cases where residential (household) charging devices do not include a safety device with current cut-off function due to cost considerations. Furthermore, residential (household) charging devices are not fast-charging types that use a three-phase AC 200V power source, as is the case with those installed in commercial facilities, etc. Therefore, charging takes a long time (approximately 8 to 16 hours for reference), making the presence of a "safety device" even more important.

[0028] Therefore, in this embodiment, a safety device 10 is provided for use with the vehicle charging device 1. The safety device 10 in this embodiment is a device for urgently cutting off the power supply from the vehicle charging device 1 to the vehicle 2 when an abnormal situation occurs that should interrupt the charging of the vehicle 2 using the vehicle charging device 1.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the safety device 10 in the embodiment. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the safety device 10 in the embodiment. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the safety device 10.

[0030] The safety device 10 of this embodiment is an accessory (connector type) safety device that can be clamped between the vehicle-side connector 7, which serves as a power supply port, located on the vehicle 2 side, and the charging connector 5, which charges the battery of the vehicle 2 via the vehicle-side connector 7. The safety device 10 can also be described as an adapter type safety device that can be clamped between the charging connector 5 on the vehicle charging device 1 side and the vehicle-side connector 7 on the vehicle 2 side. By retrofitting the safety device 10 between the charging connector 5 on the vehicle charging device 1 side and the vehicle-side connector 7 on the vehicle 2 side, an inexpensive safety device 10 can be provided without changing the equipment on the residential side or the vehicle charging device 1. Details of the safety device 10 will be described below.

[0031] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the example shown, the safety device 10 has a cylindrical housing 11 extending in one direction. A first connecting portion 21, which can be connected to the charging connector 5, is provided at one end of the safety device 10 (housing 11). Furthermore, a second connecting portion 22, which can be connected to the vehicle-side connector 7, is provided at the other end of the safety device 10 (housing 11). The first connecting portion 21 of the safety device 10 can be freely connected to the charging connector-side connecting portion 50 of the charging connector 5 provided in the vehicle charging device 1. Furthermore, the second connecting portion 22 of the safety device 10 can be freely connected to the vehicle-side connecting portion 70 of the vehicle-side connector 7 provided in the vehicle 2. It should be noted that there are no particular limitations on the positions of the first connecting portion 21 and the second connecting portion 22 in the safety device 10.

[0032] The safety device 10 has a primary-side terminal 31 on its first connection portion 21 and a secondary-side terminal 32 on its second connection portion 22. When the safety device 10's primary-side terminal 31 is connected to the charging connector-side connection portion 50 via the first connection portion 21, it contacts the charging connector-side terminal on the charging connector-side connection portion 50, thereby making these terminals electrically connected to each other. Similarly, when the safety device 10's secondary-side terminal 32 is connected to the vehicle-side connection portion 70 via the second connection portion 22, it contacts the vehicle-side terminal on the vehicle-side connection portion 70, thereby making these terminals electrically connected to each other.

[0033] Inside the housing 11 of the safety device 10, there is a circuit 40 that connects the primary side terminal 31 and the secondary side terminal 32. The circuit 40 is an electrical channel formed by a metal conductor that electrically connects the primary side terminal 31 and the secondary side terminal 32. For example, it may be formed by an electric field line, a busbar, an electronic circuit, or a combination thereof.

[0034] Furthermore, an anomaly sensor 60, a control unit 80, and a cutting device 100 are housed inside the housing 11 of the safety device 10. The anomaly sensor 60, the control unit 80, and the cutting device 100 are fixed in predetermined positions inside the housing 11.

[0035] The anomaly sensor 60 is a device used to sense an abnormal situation (the occurrence of which) should interrupt the charging of the vehicle 2 using the vehicle charging device 1. Here, the case of the anomaly sensor 60 sensing an abnormal current (overcurrent) flowing through the circuit 40 will be described as an example. For example, if a backflow lightning accompanied by a lightning strike occurs as described above during the charging of the vehicle 2, an abnormal current (overcurrent) may flow through the circuit 40, and the anomaly sensor 60 senses such an abnormal current (overcurrent).

[0036] An anomaly sensor 60 monitors, for example, the current value flowing in circuit 40 and outputs the result to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 senses an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the current value output by the anomaly sensor 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold greater than the rated current. Alternatively, the anomaly sensor 60 may monitor the voltage or electrical power value flowing in circuit 40 instead of the current value. In the former case, the control unit 80 senses an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the voltage value output by the anomaly sensor 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold greater than the rated voltage. Similarly, in the latter case, the control unit 80 senses an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the electrical power value output by the anomaly sensor 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold greater than the rated electrical power. The anomaly sensor 60 may also be a current meter such as a clamp meter. Clamp meters are well known, and therefore a detailed description is omitted here.

[0037] Furthermore, the abnormality sensor 60 is not limited to sensing abnormal current (overcurrent) flowing through the circuit 40, but can also be configured to sense various abnormal situations that require an emergency interruption of charging of the vehicle 2 by the vehicle charging device 1, such as the occurrence of leakage, earthquake, flooding, or fire.

[0038] The control unit 80 may be, for example, a computer (e.g., a microcontroller) capable of performing a predetermined function by executing a predetermined control program. When the control unit 80 senses an abnormal situation based on the output of the abnormality sensor 60, it activates the cut-off device 100, causing the cut-off device 100 to cut off the current flowing in the circuit 40. It should be noted that the predetermined function implemented by the control unit 80 can also be implemented by corresponding hardware. The control unit 80 may also be constructed of electronic circuitry.

[0039] Next, the cutting-off device 100 will be described. The cutting-off device 100 is a device that cuts off the current flowing in the circuit 40 when the control unit 80 senses an abnormal situation such as the generation of an abnormal current (overcurrent) based on the output of the abnormality sensor 60. The cutting-off device 100 is not particularly limited as long as it can cut off the current flowing in the circuit 40 through operation. The cutting-off device 100 can be a cutting device that physically cuts off a portion of the metal conductor constituting the circuit 40, or it can be a fuse that melts a portion of the metal conductor constituting the circuit 40; various devices can be used. Here, a pyrotechnics-driven cutting-off device will be used as an example to describe the cutting-off device 100.

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a pyrotechnic-actuated cutting device 100. The cutting device 100 uses the energy generated by burning gunpowder to drive a piston at high speed, thereby physically cutting the conductor strip (busbar) that forms part of the circuit 40. Figure 5 A longitudinal section of the cutting device 100 before operation is shown.

[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, the cutting device 100 includes a housing 110, an igniter 120, a piston (launcher) 130, a conductor sheet (busbar) 140, a cooling element 150, etc.

[0042] The interior of the housing 110 forms a hollow receiving space 160, through which the conductor piece 140 is inserted transversely. The conductor piece 140 is a metal conductor that forms part of the circuit 40. In the receiving space 160 formed within the housing 110, a piston 130 is disposed in a piston receiving space 160A above the conductor piece 140, and an arc-extinguishing space 160B is formed below the conductor piece 140, in which a cooling element 150 is disposed.

[0043] Igniter 120 is disposed on the upper side of housing 110 and configured to hold gunpowder (detonating charge) in a cup. It is operated by being supplied with an operating current. When igniter 120 is activated, the gunpowder in the cup is ignited, and the resulting combustion gases are discharged into the receiving space 160 in housing 110. Piston 130 is disposed below igniter 120, and thus piston 130 is directed downward by the energy of the combustion gases discharged from igniter 120. Figure 5 (In the direction of arrow A) emission (high-speed drive). As a result, a portion of the conductor strip (busbar) 140 is cut off by piston 130, and the cut-off portion is accommodated in the arc extinguishing space. The electric arc generated when piston 130 cuts off the cut-off portion, which is part of conductor strip 140, and the heat energy of the cut-off portion are cooled by cooling element 150.

[0044] It should be noted that the control unit 80 can enable the cutting device 100 to operate at arbitrary timings by controlling the operating power supplied to it. The safety device 10 may also include a power system, distinct from the circuit 40, for supplying operating power to the fault sensor 60 and the cutting device 100. The operating power supplied to the fault sensor 60 and the cutting device 100 may also utilize a portion of the power supplied to the safety device 10 from the power source 6 of the vehicle charging device 1.

[0045] As described above, in the event of an abnormal situation, the control unit 80 activates the cutting device 100, thereby cutting off the conductor sheet 140, which constitutes part of the circuit 40 within the safety device 10, and thus cutting off the current flowing in the circuit 40. In particular, the cutting device 100 in this embodiment, by employing a pyrotechnic actuated cutting device, can cut off the current flowing in the circuit 40 extremely quickly.

[0046] It should be noted that the safety device 10 may also include a power system for supplying operating power to the abnormality sensor 60 and the cut-off device 100 as a system different from the circuit 40. The operating power of the abnormality sensor 60 and the cut-off device 100 may be a portion of the power supplied to the safety device 10 from the power source 6 of the vehicle charging device 1.

[0047] Furthermore, the safety device 10 in this embodiment is an accessory-type safety device, thus enabling the current cut-off function in case of an abnormal situation to be retrofitted without altering the vehicle charging device 1. It should be noted that "alteration" here refers to replacing at least a portion of the vehicle charging device 1. Moreover, according to the safety device 10 of this embodiment, no modification to the vehicle charging device 1 is required, therefore no engineering changes are needed, and the current cut-off function can be included very inexpensively.

[0048] In particular, residential (household) vehicle charging devices often require a long charging time for vehicle 2. Therefore, compared to fast charging, the probability of malfunctions during charging is relatively high, making the presence of a safety device even more important. Thus, it can be said that the accessory-type safety device 10, which allows for easy retrofitting of current-cutting functionality into residential vehicle charging devices, has extremely high utilization and added value. However, the application of the safety device 10 in this embodiment is not limited to residential vehicle charging devices; it can also be applied to charging devices used in commercial facilities (e.g., fast charging devices).

[0049] The embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, but the various solutions disclosed in this specification can also be combined with any other features disclosed in this specification.

[0050] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1: Vehicle charging device; 2: Vehicles; 3: Residential; 4: Charging cable; 5: Charging connector; 6: Power source; 7: Vehicle-side connector; 10: Safety devices; 21: First connecting part; 22: Second connecting part; 40: Circuit; 60: Anomaly sensor; 80: Control Department; 100: Cut-off device.

Claims

1. An accessory-type safety device, capable of being clamped between a vehicle-side connector located on the vehicle side and a charging connector of a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector, the accessory-type safety device comprising: The first connecting part can be connected to the charging connector; The second connecting part can be connected to the vehicle-side connector; The circuit electrically connects the primary side terminal disposed on the first connection portion to the secondary side terminal disposed on the second connection portion. A cutting-off device that, during operation, can cut off the current passing through the circuit; and The control unit activates the disconnection device when an abnormal situation occurs that should interrupt the charging of the vehicle.

2. The accessory-type safety device according to claim 1, wherein, The accessory safety device also includes an anomaly sensor for sensing the abnormal situation.

3. The accessory-type safety device according to claim 2, wherein, The anomaly sensor monitors the current flowing in the circuit. The control unit activates the disconnection device when it senses an abnormal current based on the output of the abnormal sensor.

4. The accessory-type safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The cutting device is a pyrotechnic-actuated cutting device.

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