charging inlet

Abstract

[Problem to be solved] To reduce wear of components in a charging inlet. [Solution] The charging inlet 1 includes a housing 2, a cover 3, and a biasing mechanism 4. In the housing 2, a second connection portion 6 to be connected to a counterpart connector and a cover support portion 23 are provided. The cover 3 includes a shaft support portion 32 rotatably attached to the cover support portion 23 to expose the second connection portion 6 at an open position and to cover the second connection portion 6 at a closed position. The biasing mechanism 4 is arranged between the housing 2 and the shaft support portion 32 to bias the shaft support portion 32 toward a direction away from the housing 2. The biasing mechanism includes a spring 14, a retainer 8 housing the spring 14, and a contact portion 7 arranged between the retainer 8 and the shaft support portion 32 to contact the shaft support portion 32.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a charging port. Background Technology

[0002] A charging port is known, which is equipped in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and a charging connector located in a charging station or the like is connected to the charging port.

[0003] Figure 7 and Figure 8 The charging port 501 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is shown. The charging port 501 includes a housing 502, a cover 503, a pin 542 attached to a shaft support 532 of the cover 503, a compression spring 544, and a retainer 545 that accommodates the compression spring 544.

[0004] The housing 502 is provided with a first connecting portion 505 and a second connecting portion 506 for connecting the charging connector, a pair of bearings 541 for the axial support pin 542, and a receiving recess 540 for accommodating the compression spring 544 and the retainer 545.

[0005] The cover 503 is configured to expose the second connection portion 506 in the open position and cover the second connection portion 506 in the closed position.

[0006] The compression spring 544 and the retainer 545 bias the shaft support portion 532 of the cover 503 in a direction separating it from the housing 502. Furthermore, the retainer 545 contacts the abutment portion 533 of the shaft support portion 532 in the open position to hold the cover 503 in the open position.

[0007] Reference List

[0008] Patent documents

[0009] Patent document 1 JP 2024-60745A. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] The charging port 501 of the aforementioned Patent Document 1 is configured with a structure in which the shaft support 532 made of resin and the retainer 545 made of resin slide when the cover 503 is opened and closed, causing wear to occur in the two components due to repeated opening and closing.

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to reduce wear on the components in the charging port.

[0013] Solution to the problem

[0014] The present invention is a charging port, comprising: a housing having a connection portion for connection to a mating connector and a cover support portion; a cover including a shaft support portion rotatably attached to the cover support portion to expose the connection portion in an open position and cover the connection portion in a closed position; and a biasing mechanism disposed between the housing and the shaft support portion to bias the shaft support portion in a direction separating from the housing, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a spring, a retainer, and a contact portion, the retainer accommodating the spring, and the contact portion disposed between the retainer and the shaft support portion to contact the shaft support portion.

[0015] Effects of the present invention

[0016] According to the present invention, wear on components in the charging port can be reduced. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a view showing the charging port according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It shows the setting Figure 1 A view of the bias mechanism in the charging port.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Exploded view of the biasing mechanism

[0020] Figure 4 Viewed from the opposite side Figure 3 View of the retainer.

[0021] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 1 The view shows the charging port cover in the open position.

[0022] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 The view shows the lid in the closed position.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a view showing the conventional charging port.

[0024] Figure 8 It shows the setting Figure 7 A view of the bias mechanism in the charging port. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Will be through reference Figures 1 to 6 A "charging port" is described according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 1The charging port 1 shown is a configuration provided in electric and hybrid vehicles, and a charging connector located in a charging station or similar facility is connected to the charging port 1. The charging port 1 is referred to as a "charging plug" or "charging port".

[0027] The charging port 1 has a housing 2, a cover 3, and a biasing mechanism 4.

[0028] The housing 2 includes a first connecting portion 5 and a second connecting portion 6, an outer peripheral portion 22 surrounding the first connecting portion 5 and the second connecting portion 6, a flange portion 21 protruding from the outer peripheral portion 22, a receiving recess 24 for accommodating the biasing mechanism 4, and a pair of cover support portions 23.

[0029] The first connecting portion 5 and the second connecting portion 6 are the portions that connect to the aforementioned charging connector (equivalent to a "pairing connector"). The first connecting portion 5 consists of a terminal receiving portion 25 and a terminal. The terminal receiving portion 25 is made of synthetic resin, and the terminal is housed in the terminal receiving portion 25.

[0030] The second connector 6 (equivalent to "connection part") consists of a terminal receiving part 26 and a terminal. The terminal receiving part 26 is made of synthetic resin, and the terminal is housed in the terminal receiving part 26.

[0031] The outer peripheral portion 22 and the flange portion 21 are made of synthetic resin and are integrally molded with the terminal receiving portions 25 and 26. The flange portion 21 is the part to be bolted to the vehicle body.

[0032] The receiving recess 24 is formed to be recessed from the front surface of the outer peripheral portion 22. Then, the description as "the front surface of the outer peripheral portion 22" is based on... Figure 1 The paper orientation may be inconsistent with its orientation in the actual state of the charging port 1 being assembled in the vehicle.

[0033] A pair of cover supports 23 are arranged on both sides of the receiving recess 24. Each cover support 23 has an elongated hole through which the pin 13, described later, passes.

[0034] The cover 3 is made of synthetic resin. The cover 3 integrally includes a plate-shaped cover body 31 and a shaft support portion 32 that is continuous with one end of the cover body 31.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, a through hole 33 is formed in the shaft support portion 32, through which the pin 13 passes. Furthermore, a first abutting portion 32a and a second abutting portion 32b are formed in the shaft support portion 32 to abut against the contact portion 7 described below. The shaft support portion 32 is arranged between a pair of cover support portions 23. Additionally, one end of the pin 13 passes through the elongated hole of the cover support portion 23 on one side, and the other end of the pin 13 passes through the elongated hole of the cover support portion 23 on the other side.

[0036] Cover 3 rotates around pin 13, Figure 1 and Figure 5 The open position shown exposes the second connecting part 6. Figure 6 The closed position shown covers the second connecting part 6.

[0037] The biasing mechanism 4 is arranged between the housing 2 and the shaft support 32 in the direction separating it from the housing 2 (in Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this example, the biasing shaft support 32 is positioned downwards in the paper. The biasing mechanism 4 is housed in the receiving recess 24. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the biasing mechanism 4 includes a spring 14, a retainer 8 that houses the spring 14, and a contact portion 7 disposed between the retainer 8 and the shaft support portion 32 to contact the shaft support portion 32.

[0038] Spring 14 is a compression helical spring formed by winding wire into a coil. One end of spring 14 contacts the deep surface of receiving recess 24, and the other end of spring 14 contacts the inner surface of retainer 8.

[0039] The retainer 8 is made of synthetic resin. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the retainer 8 has a receiving space 81 that opens in one direction, and the other end of the spring 14 is received in the receiving space 81. Furthermore, as... Figure 3 As shown, a curved surface 82 is formed on the outer surface of the retainer 8, which contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 7.

[0040] In this example, the contact portion 7 is made of metal. Furthermore, the contact portion 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The curved surface 82 of the aforementioned retainer 8 extends approximately half (half a circumference) along the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 7. Therefore, the contact portion 7 is held between the retainer 8 and the shaft support 32 without slipping.

[0041] In the charging port 1, when the cover 3 is opened or closed, the shaft support portion 32 slides relative to the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 7. Then, when the cover 3 is in the closed position, the contact portion 7 abuts against the first abutment portion 32a of the shaft support portion 32 to hold the cover 3 in the closed position. Moreover, when the cover 3 is in the open position, the contact portion 7 abuts against the second abutment portion 32b of the shaft support portion 32 to hold the cover 3 in the open position.

[0042] In traditional products (see Figure 7 and Figure 8In the case of the structure where the resin-made shaft support 532 and the resin-made retainer 545 slide when the cover 503 is opened and closed, wear occurs in both components due to repeated opening and closing. To address this issue, in the charging inlet 1, a rotatable contact 7 is inserted between the resin-made retainer 8 and the resin-made shaft support 32. Furthermore, the contact 7 is made of a metal with a lower coefficient of friction than resin. Due to this arrangement, wear occurring in the retainer 8 and the shaft support 32 can be reduced compared to conventional products. Therefore, wear in each component is reduced in this way, making it possible to suppress abnormal noise and changes in feel when opening and closing the cover 3.

[0043] According to the above embodiment, the shaft support portion 32 is made of resin and the contact portion 7 is made of metal; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a combination of materials that reduces the coefficient of friction between the shaft support portion and the contact portion can be appropriately used.

[0044] In the foregoing, the embodiments described are merely representative examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As long as such modifications still have the structure according to the present invention, they are naturally included within the scope of the present invention.

[0045] List of reference numerals

[0046] 1 Charging port

[0047] 2. Shell

[0048] 3 lids

[0049] 4. Bias Mechanism

[0050] 6. Second connecting part (connecting part)

[0051] 7 Contact Department

[0052] 8. Retaining components

[0053] 14 Springs

[0054] 23 Cover support section

[0055] 32. Shaft support section.

Claims

1. A charging port (1), comprising: The housing (2) is provided with a connecting part (6) and a cover support part (23), and a mating connector is connected to the connecting part (6). Cover (3), comprising a shaft support (32) rotatably attached to the cover support (23) to expose the connection (6) in an open position and cover the connection (6) in a closed position; and A biasing mechanism (4) is arranged between the housing (2) and the shaft support (32) to bias the shaft support (32) in a direction that is separated from the housing (2). The biasing mechanism (4) includes a spring (14), a retainer (8), and a contact portion (7). The retainer (8) accommodates the spring (14), and the contact portion (7) is arranged between the retainer (8) and the shaft support portion (32) to contact the shaft support portion (32).

2. The charging port (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The contact portion (7) is formed in a cylindrical shape.

3. The charging port (1) according to claim 2, wherein, A curved surface (82) that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion (7) is formed on the outer surface of the retainer (8).

4. The charging port (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The contact portion (7) is made of metal.

5. The charging port (1) according to claim 1, wherein, A receiving recess (24) for accommodating the biasing mechanism (4) is provided in the housing (2).

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