Electronic lock and charging socket

Abstract

An electronic lock for a charging outlet is provided, comprising: a housing (110); a lock lever (120) movably mounted on a side wall (113) of the housing and configured to be driven to move between an unlocked position and a locked position; and a pulling mechanism (130) movably mounted on the side wall at the same side as the lock lever and adapted to be pulled to bring the lock lever from the locked position to the unlocked position. A charging outlet is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to electronic locks, and more specifically, to easy-to-unlock electronic locks and corresponding charging sockets for electric vehicles, for example. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of electric vehicles, the demand for charging sockets and related components for charging electric vehicles is increasing.

[0003] The electronic lock is a key component of the national standard AC charging socket. During vehicle charging, it locks the charging gun's nozzle and signals to the vehicle that the charging gun is locked. The electronic lock of the charging socket is usually equipped with an unlocking pull cord. In some situations, such as abnormal or emergency circumstances, such as when the charging gun cannot be properly inserted or removed from the socket, the electronic lock cannot be opened, or there is a power failure, the user can manually unlock the electronic lock by pulling the cord.

[0004] Currently, conventional electronic locks, once installed on vehicles, typically use an unlocking cord installed at the end of the lock to enable emergency unlocking. However, the unlocking cord is inconvenient to operate and takes up installation space inside the vehicle. Utility Model Content

[0005] This disclosure is made in order to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned and other problems and defects existing in the prior art.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an electronic lock for a charging socket is provided, comprising: a housing; a locking lever movably mounted on a side wall of the housing and configured to be driven to move between an unlocked position and a locked position; and a pulling mechanism movably mounted on the side wall on the same side as the locking lever and adapted to be pulled to move the locking lever from the locked position to the unlocked position. Thus, unlike conventional pull cords or unlocking mechanisms located at the rear of the electronic lock, the pulling mechanism, serving as an emergency unlocking mechanism, is located on the same side as the exposed locking lever, allowing the user to easily and quickly unlock the electronic lock by pulling the pulling mechanism outwards without needing to perform an unlocking operation from the back of the electronic lock.

[0007] In some embodiments, both the pulling mechanism and the locking lever protrude partially from the side wall of the housing on the same side of the housing. The partial protrusion of the pulling mechanism and the locking lever from the same side of the housing facilitates locking of the inserted charging gun by the electronic lock, and the fact that the pulling mechanism is exposed and visible from the housing on the same side as the locking lever facilitates unlocking operations.

[0008] In some embodiments, the charging socket and the housing may be adapted to be mounted on a panel such that the locking lever and the pulling mechanism mounted on the sidewall are visible when viewed from outside the panel. Therefore, when the electronic lock is mounted on the housing or front panel of an electric vehicle or other device, the pulling mechanism and locking lever are exposed and visible from the same side of the housing or panel, facilitating alignment and locking of the charging gun using the electronic lock, and allowing the user to unlock the electronic lock by pulling the external pulling mechanism. This also expands the functionality of the front panel for mounting the charging socket and reduces or lowers the installation space requirements of the electronic lock within the electric vehicle or other device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the locking lever can be configured to move from the unlocked position to the locked position in a first direction when driven in the forward direction, and from the locked position to the unlocked position in the opposite second direction when driven in the reverse direction; and the pulling mechanism is adapted to be pulled to move outward of the housing, thereby moving the locking lever from the locked position to the unlocked position in the opposite second direction. The movement of the locking lever in opposite directions can simply and stably achieve the locking and unlocking functions of the electronic lock, while the pulling mechanism adapted to be pulled outward facilitates the unlocking operation.

[0010] In some embodiments, the electronic lock may further include: a transmission member disposed within a receiving space defined by the housing and connected to one end of the locking lever; a drive assembly disposed within the receiving space and engaging with the transmission member, and configured to drive the transmission member to move within the receiving space to move the locking lever between an unlocked position and a locked position; and a sliding member slidably disposed within the receiving space and connected to the pulling mechanism and the transmission member to slide within the receiving space when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward, thereby moving the transmission member and the locking lever along the second direction. The driving assembly drives the transmission member to achieve the locking and unlocking functions of the electronic lock, while the additionally provided sliding member, through its supported sliding movement within the receiving space of the housing, achieves a stable transmission between the pulling mechanism, the transmission member, and the locking lever, thus stably driving the locking lever back to the unlocked position.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pulling mechanism may include: a pull rod connected to the sliding member and a pull rope or pull ring connected to the pull rod and disposed outside the housing. This provides a simple unlocking mechanism that is easy for the user to grip and pull outwards.

[0012] In some embodiments, the electronic lock may further include a transmission mechanism disposed in the housing and engaging with the sliding member and the transmission member, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward to cause the sliding member to slide within the receiving space, the transmission mechanism is driven by the sliding member to rotate, thereby causing the transmission member and the locking rod to move along the second direction. The transmission mechanism enables transmission between the sliding member and the transmission member, and can change the direction of force and the relative direction of motion. That is, during unlocking, the movement of the pulling mechanism and the sliding member along the first direction can be converted by the rotation or pivoting of the transmission mechanism into movement of the transmission member and the locking rod along the opposite second direction. This allows the pulling mechanism, as an emergency unlocking mechanism, to be disposed on the same side of the electronic lock housing as the exposed locking rod. Furthermore, by appropriately designing the dimensions and movement positions of the sliding member and the transmission mechanism, it is possible to ensure that the locking rod retracts to the unlocked position and to reduce the force required to pull the pulling mechanism during unlocking.

[0013] In some embodiments, the transmission mechanism may include a lever having opposite first and second ends, the first end being adapted to engage with the sliding member and the second end being adapted to engage with the transmission member, and the lever being rotatably mounted on a first shaft fixed in the housing. Utilizing the lever principle, the sliding motion of the sliding member can be transmitted to the transmission member by means of the rotation of the lever, thereby causing the locking lever to retract to the unlocked position.

[0014] In some embodiments, the sliding member may be provided with a first connecting hole, and the first end of the lever is adapted to be inserted into the first connecting hole; and / or, the transmission member may be provided with a second connecting hole, and the second end of the lever is adapted to be inserted into the second connecting hole. This cooperative connection between the lever and the connecting hole ensures that the movement of the lever relative to the sliding member or the transmission member is free from jamming and dead spots.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sliding member is adapted to slide on an inner wall of the housing; and / or the sliding member has an end face opposite to the inner wall surface of the side wall, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled to slide the sliding member to a position where the end face abuts against the inner wall surface, the locking lever is moved by the sliding member to the unlocked position. The sliding movement of the sliding member is supported by the inner wall of the housing, ensuring the stability of the sliding movement and the reliability of the unlocking operation. The inner wall surface of the side wall of the housing can act as an unlocking stop, and its contact with the end face of the sliding member ensures that the sliding member does not slide excessively during the unlocking operation, thereby ensuring that the transmission member and the locking lever do not retract excessively, avoiding damage to the components of the electronic lock.

[0016] In some embodiments, the sidewall may have a first through hole and a second through hole. A first sealing ring may be disposed in the first through hole, and a second sealing ring may be disposed in the second through hole. The locking rod passes through the first through hole and the first sealing ring and is connected to the transmission member. The pulling mechanism passes through the second through hole and the second sealing ring and is connected to the sliding member. After the electronic lock and the charging base housing are mated, the sealing rings provide a waterproof effect, preventing water from entering the electronic lock through the through holes through which the locking rod and the pulling mechanism pass.

[0017] In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a motor and a gear disposed within the receiving space, the gear engaging with the drive shaft of the motor to be driven to rotate by the motor.

[0018] In some embodiments, the transmission member includes a first rack section having a plurality of teeth for meshing with the gear, such that the motor drives the transmission member to translate within the receiving space via the gear. The meshing between the gear and the first rack section of the transmission member converts the rotation of the motor into translational motion of the transmission member, ensuring the stability of locking and unlocking operations of the locking lever connected to the transmission member.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first rack segment extends along the first direction when the transmission member is disposed within the housing, and the positions where the locking rod is connected to the transmission member and the positions where the sliding member is connected to the transmission member are located on opposite sides of the first rack segment in the first direction. Utilizing the intermediate first rack segment as a transmission medium between the locking rod and the sliding member, when the pulling mechanism is pulled outwards from the housing of the electronic lock to cause the sliding member to slide, the locking rod can move back inwards in the opposite direction to unlock the electronic lock.

[0020] In some embodiments, the transmission member and the sliding member may each include a toothed portion having a plurality of teeth, and the transmission mechanism may include an intermediate gear rotatably mounted on a second rotating shaft fixed in the housing and meshing with the toothed portions of the transmission member and the sliding member, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward to drive the sliding member to slide in the receiving space along the first direction, the intermediate gear is driven by the sliding member to rotate to drive the transmission member and the locking rod to move along the second direction.

[0021] In some embodiments, the toothed portion of the transmission member may include a gear or a second rack segment extending along the first direction; and / or the toothed portion of the sliding member may include a gear or a third rack segment extending along the first direction.

[0022] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, a charging socket is also provided, comprising: a charging port; and an electronic lock as described in any embodiment of this disclosure, wherein, with the charging socket mounted to a panel, the pulling mechanism and the locking lever are visible when viewed from outside the panel. The pulling mechanism, serving as an emergency unlocking mechanism, is mounted on the front end of the electronic lock and integrated into the exposed front panel of the charging base, allowing the user to directly see the pulling mechanism from the front of the charging base without accessing the space behind the electronic lock, facilitating unlocking the electronic lock by pulling the pulling mechanism.

[0023] In some embodiments, the charging socket may be an AC charging socket or an AC / DC charging socket. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the electronic lock is in a locked position or locked state;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed to show the structure within its receiving space;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic side view of the structure of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed and the electronic lock is in a locked position or locked state;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating a portion of the structure of an electronic lock in a locked position or locked state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the housing has been removed;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of the transmission component of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of the sliding member of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the electronic lock is in the unlocked position or unlocked state;

[0032] Figure 8This is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of an electronic lock in the unlocked position or unlocked state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a schematic side view of the structure of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed and the electronic lock is in the unlocked position or unlocked state;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the internal structure of an electronic lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed to show the structure within its receiving space;

[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic side view illustrating the structure of an electronic lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed and the electronic lock is in a locked position or locked state;

[0036] Figure 12 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating a portion of the structure of an electronic lock in a locked position or locked state according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the housing has been removed;

[0037] Figure 13 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating the arrangement and structure of the transmission member, sliding member, and transmission mechanism of an electronic lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0038] Figure 14 This is a schematic side view illustrating the structure of an electronic lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cover of the housing has been removed and the electronic lock is in the unlocked position or unlocked state. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, identical or similar components are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. The following description of various embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to illustrate the overall concept of this disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation thereof.

[0040] Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth for ease of explanation to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatuses are illustrated to simplify the figures.

[0041] In the following detailed description, directional terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "upper part," "lower part," "inner," and "outer" are defined according to the accompanying drawings, but the shape and position of the parts are not limited by these terms and can be adjusted according to the actual application.

[0042] Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for describing exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit and / or constrain this disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” “the” are also intended to include the plural forms. In this disclosure, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and similar terms are used to enumerate features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more of said features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0043] Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used herein to describe various different elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and a second element may be referred to as a first element. The term “and / or” includes a combination of multiple related items or any one of multiple related items. It should be understood that when a component is referred to as “connected to another component,” “attached to another component,” “supported by another component,” or “in contact with another component,” the component may be directly or indirectly connected to, attached to, supported by, or in contact with another component.

[0044] In the following, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] The illustrated exemplary embodiments of this disclosure provide an electronic lock (100; 100') for locking and unlocking a charging socket (not shown) and an external device (not shown), such as a charging gun or an external connector. The electronic lock can be mounted together with the charging socket to the housing or panel (not shown) of an electric vehicle or other equipment; for example, the electronic lock can be integrated with the charging socket. The charging socket may include a charging port and the electronic lock. As an example, the electronic lock can be used in an AC charging socket or an AC / DC charging socket. Furthermore, the electronic lock has an emergency unlocking function, allowing the user to manually unlock the electronic lock by operating it (as described below, by pulling a pulling mechanism) in certain situations, such as abnormal or emergency conditions, such as when the charging gun cannot be properly inserted or removed from the charging socket, or when the electronic lock cannot be opened, or in case of abnormal power supply, thereby unlocking or detaching the charging gun or other external device from the charging socket.

[0046] In exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 1-4 As shown in Figures 7-14, the electronic lock (100; 100') includes a housing 110, a locking lever 120, and a pulling mechanism 130. The electronic lock (100; 100') has a generally box-shaped profile for easy mounting to the housing or panel (not shown) of an electric vehicle or other equipment. The locking lever 120 is mounted on a side wall 113 of the housing 110. When actuated, the locking lever 120 is movable relative to the housing 110 between an unlocked position and a locked position to achieve an unlocked and locked state of the electronic lock. In the locked position or locked state, the locking lever 120 extends outward relative to the housing 110 to lock with an external device such as a charging gun or connector plugged into a charging socket. In the unlocked position or unlocked state, the locking lever 120 retracts or retracts relative to the housing 110 to engage this lock. As described below, when the locking lever 120 is driven in the forward direction, it moves from the unlocked position to the locked position along a first direction (the -Y direction in the figure), and when driven in the reverse direction, it moves from the locked position to the unlocked position along the opposite second direction (the +Y direction in the figure). In the figures, the X direction can represent the thickness direction of the electronic lock, the Y direction can represent the length direction of the electronic lock, and the Z direction can represent the width or height direction of the electronic lock.

[0047] The pulling mechanism 130 can be used as a standalone or additional emergency unlocking mechanism, suitable for being pulled by a user or tool to move outward of the housing 110, thereby moving the locking lever 120 from the locked position to the unlocked position in the opposite second direction. The direction in which the user or tool moves the pulling mechanism 130 outward can be approximately parallel to or the same as the first direction (as shown in the -Y direction), or it can be an acute angle less than 90 degrees to the first direction (as shown in the -Y direction). This can be selected and set according to factors such as the specific installation location and orientation of the electronic lock and the pulling mechanism, and ease of operation.

[0048] As an example, the pull mechanism 130 may serve as the sole emergency unlocking mechanism of the electronic lock (100; 100'), or the electronic lock may be equipped with a conventional unlocking cord in addition to the pull mechanism 130. As an example, as shown in the figure, the pull mechanism 130 may include a pull rod 131 and a pull cord or pull ring 132 connected to the pull rod 131 and disposed outside the housing 110. The pull rod 131 may be connected to the internal structure of the electronic lock, such as a sliding member or other unlocking member as described below.

[0049] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the pulling mechanism 130 is mounted on the same side as the locking lever 120 on the side wall 113 of the housing 110, i.e., the pulling mechanism 130 and the locking lever 120 are mounted on the same side or the same side wall 113 of the housing 110. The pulling mechanism 130 and the locking lever 120 may partially protrude from the side wall 113 outside the housing 110 on the same side of the housing 110. When the electronic lock is installed on the housing or panel of an electric vehicle or other device, this side or side wall 113 of the housing 110 may be a front side or front sidewall that is partially exposed or visible from the housing or panel, having an outward-facing side 115. Therefore, unlike conventional pull cords or unlocking mechanisms located at the rear of electronic locks, the pull mechanism 130, serving as an emergency unlocking mechanism, is located on the same side as the exposed locking lever 120. Thus, when the electronic lock is installed on the housing or front panel of an electric vehicle or other equipment, the pull mechanism 130 and the locking lever 120 are partially exposed from the same side of the housing or panel. The pull mechanism 130 is visible when viewed from outside the housing or panel, allowing users to easily and quickly unlock the electronic lock. It also expands the functionality of the front panel for installing charging sockets and reduces or lowers the installation space requirements of the electronic lock within the electric vehicle or other equipment.

[0050] The overall box-shaped electronic lock (100; 100') can be installed or held in the housing or front panel of an electric vehicle or other equipment. The locking lever 120 and the pulling mechanism 130 are exposed from the housing 110 and the front panel. That is, when viewed from outside the housing panel, the locking lever 120 and the pulling mechanism 130 mounted on the side wall of the housing of the electronic lock are visible. The side wall 113 of the electronic lock (100; 100') can be flush with the surface of the housing or front panel or have a similar overall appearance, so that the electronic lock (100; 100') can be consistent with the appearance profile of the housing or front panel of the electric vehicle or other equipment to enhance the overall aesthetics.

[0051] A receiving space 101 is defined within the housing 110 for accommodating internal components of the electronic lock (100; 100'). In the illustrated embodiment, as... Figure 1-3 and Figure 7-9 As shown, the housing 110 may have a split structure, including a base 111 and a cover 112, the cover 112 covering the opening of the base 111 to define an accommodating space 101 between the base 111 and the cover 112. For example, at least the base 111, or both the base 111 and the cover 112, may be mounted on the housing or front panel of an electric vehicle or other equipment.

[0052] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, as Figure 2-6As shown in Figures 8-14, the electronic lock also includes a transmission member 140, a drive assembly 150, and a sliding member 160 disposed within the receiving space 101 of the housing 110, for moving the locking lever 120 between the unlocked position and the locked position, thereby realizing the locking, unlocking, and emergency unlocking functions of the electronic lock. One end of the locking lever 120 passes through the side wall 113 of the housing 110 and is connected to the transmission member 140. For example, a first through hole 102 is formed in the side wall 113 of the housing 110, and a first sealing ring 122 can be disposed in the first through hole 102. The locking lever 120 can pass through the first through hole 102 and the first sealing ring 122 and be connected to the transmission member 140, achieving a sealing and waterproof effect by compressing the sealing ring.

[0053] Furthermore, the drive assembly 150 engages with the transmission member 140 and can drive the transmission member 140 to move within the receiving space 101, thereby moving the locking lever 120 between the unlocked position and the locked position. The movement of the transmission member 140 within the receiving space 101 can be guided by a separate guide mechanism (not shown) or by the structure of the housing itself, so that the movement of the locking lever between the unlocked and locked positions is stable and reliable.

[0054] The sliding member 160 can be slidably disposed within the receiving space 101 and connected to the pulling mechanism 130 (such as its pull rod 131) and the transmission member 140. For example, a second through hole 103 can also be formed in the side wall 113 of the housing 110, and a second sealing ring 133 can be disposed in the second through hole 103. A part of the pulling mechanism 130, such as the pull rod 131, can pass through the second through hole 103 and the second sealing ring 133 and connect to the sliding member 160, thereby achieving a sealing and waterproofing effect by compressing the sealing ring.

[0055] When the pulling mechanism 130 is pulled outward, the sliding member 160 slides within the receiving space 101, thereby driving the transmission member 140 and the locking rod 120 to move in the second direction (+Y direction in the figure) to the unlock position, realizing the emergency unlocking function of the electronic lock. In some examples, the sliding member 160 is adapted to slide on an inner wall (or inner wall surface) 114 of the housing 110, which may be adjacent to the side wall 113, such as being substantially perpendicular, or the sliding member 160 may slide along a guide (not shown) provided within the housing 110 to ensure the stability of movement during unlocking. It is understood that although in the illustrated embodiment, the movement and unlocking of the transmission member 140 and the locking rod 120 are driven by the sliding of the sliding member 160 within the receiving space 101 under the pulling action of the pulling mechanism 130, in other embodiments, the member used to drive the movement and unlocking of the transmission member and the locking rod is not limited to the sliding member, and other linkages or linkages may also be used as the unlocking member.

[0056] The sliding member 160 can be connected to the transmission member 140 in various ways. For example... Figure 2-4 In the embodiments shown in 8-14, the sliding member 160 is connected or engaged with the transmission member 140 by means of a transmission mechanism 170. The transmission mechanism 170 is disposed in the housing 110 and connected or engaged with both the sliding member 160 and the transmission member 140, such that when the pulling mechanism 130 is pulled outward to cause the sliding member 160 to slide within the receiving space 101, the transmission mechanism 170 is driven by the sliding member 160 to move, thereby causing the transmission member 140 and the locking rod 120 to move along the second direction (the +Y direction in the figure) to the unlocked position, so as to contact the locking rod to lock the charging gun or other external devices. In other embodiments not shown, the sliding member or unlocking member may also be connected to the transmission member by means of other mechanisms, or the sliding member or unlocking member may be directly connected to the transmission member, such as the sliding member and the transmission member respectively forming a mutually cooperating or connected engagement structure, or the sliding member or unlocking member and the transmission member forming an integral structure. This disclosure does not impose specific limitations in this regard.

[0057] Transmission mechanisms can employ various types of transmission components to transmit motion between sliding and transmission components. For example... Figure 2-6 In the embodiments shown in 8-9, the transmission mechanism 170 includes at least a lever 174 having opposite first ends 171 and second ends 172. The first end 171 is adapted to engage or connect with the sliding member 160, and the second end 172 is adapted to engage or connect with the transmission member 140. The mechanism 174 (e.g., at approximately the center or middle) is rotatably mounted on a first shaft 173 fixed in the housing 110. For example, the sliding member 160 may be provided with a first connecting hole 161, and the first end 171 of the lever 174 is adapted to be inserted into the first connecting hole 161, and / or the transmission member 140 may be provided with a second connecting hole 142, and the second end 172 of the lever 174 is adapted to be inserted into the second connecting hole 142. Thus, the sliding of the sliding member 160 drives (e.g., pulls) the lever 174 to rotate, and the rotating lever 174 drives (e.g., pushes) the transmission member 140 to move within the receiving space 101, thereby driving the locking rod 120 to retract to the unlocked position along the second direction (the +Y direction in the figure).

[0058] The first connecting hole 161 and the second connecting hole 142 can be, for example, in the form of a groove, a notch, a slot, a through hole, or a blind hole, as long as they facilitate engagement with the lever 174 without hindering the rotation of the lever 174. This disclosure does not impose specific limitations in this regard. For example, as Figure 6As shown, a portion of the wall surface 164 of the first connecting hole 161 may be chamfered, arc-shaped, or inclined. For example, the wall surface 164 may be an arc-shaped surface to facilitate the movement of the first end 171 of the lever 174 in the first connecting hole 161. A wall surface of the second connecting hole 142 may be flat or concave to facilitate the pressing of the second end 172 of the lever 174 against the wall surface of the second connecting hole 142. It will be understood that the manner in which the lever 174 engages or connects with the sliding member 160 and the transmission member 140 is not limited to this. In other embodiments not shown, other engagement or connection structures besides connecting holes may be used, such as pivots. Furthermore, the form of the lever mechanism is not limited; for example, it may be a straight rod or a straight plate, or as... Figure 2-4 As shown in 8-9, the lever 174 may be in the form of a bent rod, i.e., forming an angle greater than 90 degrees (e.g., greater than 100 degrees, or greater than 120 degrees, or greater than 140 degrees) and less than 180 degrees (e.g., less than 170 degrees, or less than 160 degrees, or less than 150 degrees) between the two arms on the opposite side of the first pivot 173 to form a curved or generally V-shaped profile, with a hole formed at the bend of the curved or V-shaped profile, into which the first pivot 173 is at least partially inserted, such that the lever 174 is rotatably mounted on the first pivot 173.

[0059] In some embodiments, the range of movement or sliding of the unlocking member or sliding member 160 within the receiving space 101 of the housing 110 can be limited to ensure that the locking lever 120 can be fully moved or retracted to the unlocked position by the movement or sliding of the unlocking member or sliding member. For example, as shown, the sliding member 160 has an end face 163 opposite to the inner wall surface 116 of the side wall 113 of the housing 110. A connecting hole 162, such as a threaded hole, can be formed in the end face 163. One end of the pulling mechanism 130 or its pull rod 131 is inserted into and connected to the connecting hole 162. Therefore, when the pulling mechanism 130 is pulled to slide the sliding member 160 and the end face 163 abuts against the inner wall surface 116, which serves as a stop structure (e.g. Figure 9 As shown), the locking lever 120 is moved to the unlocked position by the sliding member 160, and can prevent the pulling mechanism 130 from moving the sliding member 160, the transmission member 140 and the locking lever 120 further, thus avoiding damage to the components of the electronic lock. Figure 1-4 As shown in Figures 5 and 8-14, the sliding member 160 may include a sliding body 166 adapted to slide on the inner wall 114 of the housing 110 and a connecting section. The sliding body 166 may be formed in a generally block shape, having an end face 163 with a connecting hole 162 formed thereon. The connecting section extends, for example, from the side of the sliding body 166 opposite to the end face 163. Figure 2-4As shown in Figures 6 and 8-9, a first connecting hole 161, into which the first end 171 of the lever 174 is adapted to be inserted, may be formed in the connecting section. It is understood that the specific form of the sliding member is not limited thereto, as long as it is constructed and arranged to be able to slide within the housing 110.

[0060] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , 3 As shown in Figures 10 and 11, when the locking lever 120 moves to the locked position, the opposite end face of the sliding member 160 to end face 163 (e.g., the end face of the connecting section) can abut against another inner wall surface of the housing 110, preventing the sliding member 160 and the transmission member 140 from being further driven and damaging the components of the electronic lock. As shown, the portion of the housing 110 that houses the sliding member 160 may have a reduced size or profile relative to other parts of the housing to correspond to or match the unlocking member of the sliding member 160 or the range of movement or sliding of the sliding member 160 within the housing space 101 of the housing 110. In other examples, a separate stop structure may be provided to prevent the sliding member 160 from being further pulled after the locking lever 120 has retracted to the unlocked position, or a separate stop structure may be provided to prevent the sliding member 160 and the transmission member 140 from being further driven after the locking lever 120 has extended to the locked position.

[0061] The drive assembly 150 can engage with the transmission member 140 in various ways to drive the transmission member 140 to move (e.g., translate) within the receiving space 101. As an example, such as... Figure 2-4 As shown in 8-12 and 14, the drive assembly may include a motor 151 and a gear 152 disposed within the receiving space 101 of the housing 110. The gear 152 engages or meshes with the drive shaft 1511 (such as a threaded shaft or a toothed shaft) of the motor 151 so that the motor 151 drives the gear 152 to rotate, and the gear 152 drives the transmission member 140 engaged with it to move (such as translate) within the receiving space 101.

[0062] like Figure 2-5As shown in Figures 8-14, the transmission member 140 may include a plurality of teeth, or include a first rack segment 141 having a plurality of teeth for meshing with a gear 152, such that the motor 151 drives the transmission member 140 to move (e.g., translate) within the receiving space 101 via the gear 152. For example, the motor 151 may rotate or drive in both forward and reverse directions. In forward rotation or drive, the drive assembly 150 drives the transmission member 140 to extend the locking lever 120 outward from the unlocked position and move it to the locked position in a first direction (the -Y direction in the figure), so that the locking lever 120 locks an external device such as a charging gun or connector relative to the charging socket. In reverse rotation or drive, the drive assembly 150 drives the transmission member 140 to retract the locking lever 120 from the locked position to the unlocked position in the opposite second direction (the +Y direction in the figure), so as to remove the lock on the external device such as a charging gun or connector.

[0063] In some embodiments, when the transmission member 140 is disposed within the housing 110, the first rack segment 141 can extend along a first direction, and the locking rod 120 and the sliding member 160 can be respectively connected to the transmission member 140 at positions located on opposite sides of the first rack segment 141 in the first direction. That is, the positions where the locking rod 120 is connected to the transmission member 140 and the positions where the sliding member 160 is connected to the transmission member 140 can be located on opposite sides of the first rack segment 141 in the first direction. For example, Figure 3-5 As shown in Figures 9-14, the transmission member 140 can be formed in a generally L-shaped profile, having a first arm 143 in the shape of an elongated strip and a second arm 144 that is generally perpendicular to or at an angle to the first arm 143. A plurality of teeth or a first rack segment 141 and a second connecting hole 142 are formed on the first arm 143, and the locking rod 120 is connected to the second arm. It is understood that no particular limitation is placed on the specific structure of the transmission member in this disclosure.

[0064] Gear 152 may include one or more gears for converting the rotational motion of motor 151 into the translational motion of transmission member 140. For example, as shown... Figure 2-4 As shown in Figures 8-9, gear 152 includes a first gear 1521 meshing with the drive shaft 1511 of motor 151, a second gear 1522 meshing with the first gear 1521, and a third gear 1523 meshing with the teeth of the second gear 1522 and the first rack section 141, respectively. For example, as shown, at least one or each of the first gear 1521, the second gear 1522, and the third gear 1523 may be a double gear having two gear portions with different diameters. It is understood that no particular limitations are placed on the specific structure, arrangement, and connection of the gears in this disclosure.

[0065] Figure 10-14The construction of an electronic lock 100' according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the same reference numerals are assigned to locks in accordance with the present disclosure. Figures 1 to 9 The components of the electronic lock 100 described in the illustrated embodiments are the same as those in the original, and their descriptions will be omitted. Figure 10-13 The diagram shows the electronic lock 100' and its components in the locked state. Figure 14 The diagram shows an electronic lock 100' and its components in the unlocked state.

[0066] As mentioned above, transmission mechanisms can employ various forms of transmission components to transmit motion between sliding and transmission components. For example, in... Figure 10-14 In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission mechanism meshes with the sliding member and the transmission member. Exemplarily, the transmission member 140 and the sliding member 160 may each include or be provided with toothed portions having multiple teeth, while the transmission mechanism 170 includes an intermediate gear 175, which is mounted on a second rotating shaft 176 fixed in the housing 110 for rotatable operation. The intermediate gear 175 is adapted to mesh with the toothed portions of the transmission member 140 and the sliding member 160. Thus, when the pulling mechanism 130 is pulled outward to cause the sliding member 160 to slide within the receiving space 101, such as sliding along a first direction or linearly, the intermediate gear 175 is driven by the sliding member 160 to rotate, thereby causing the transmission member 140 and the locking rod 120 to move along a second direction and retract to the unlocked position. By utilizing gear meshing transmission, the movement of the sliding member can be transmitted to the transmission member and the locking rod more efficiently, accurately, and smoothly, reliably realizing the retraction of the locking rod and the unlocking of the electronic lock.

[0067] As an example, the toothed portion of the transmission member 140 may include a gear, and may include a second rack segment 145 extending substantially along a first direction, such as... Figure 10-14 As shown. Similarly, the toothed portion of the sliding member 160 may also include a gear, or include a third rack segment 165 extending substantially along the first direction. As shown, the toothed portion of the transmission member 140, such as a gear or a second rack segment 145, may be formed or disposed on the first arm 143 of the transmission member 140, for example, it may be formed on the side of the first arm 143 opposite to the first rack segment 141 in the Z direction, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The toothed portion of the sliding member 160, such as a gear or a third rack segment 165, may be formed or disposed on the connecting section of the sliding member 160 extending from the sliding body 166 or on the sliding body 166 itself, for example, the third rack segment 165 is formed on the side of the sliding member 160 opposite to the connected lever 131 in the first direction, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The lengths of the second rack segment 145 and the third rack segment 165, the dimensions of the intermediate gear 175, etc., can be suitably designed to ensure that the locking lever retracts to the unlocked position.

[0068] In some embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 1-3 As shown in Figures 7-9, the electronic lock 100 may further include or be provided with an electrical port or electrical connector 180, which is provided with a plurality of connection terminals or pins (not shown) adapted for electrical connection to a charging socket, or adapted for electrical connection to electrical components (such as controllers) of an electric vehicle or other equipment. For example, power can be supplied or signals can be provided to the electronic lock 100 (such as electronic components such as motors therein) via the electrical port or electrical connector 180, or signals can be output from the electronic lock. Exemplarily, when the charging gun or other connector is inserted into the charging socket, a drive signal can be input to the electronic lock via the electrical port or electrical connector 180 to cause the drive assembly to drive the lock lever into the locked position or locked state; a signal that the charging gun or other connector has been locked can be output or fed back from the electronic lock via the electrical port or electrical connector 180; and an unlock signal can be input to the electronic lock via the electrical port or electrical connector 180 to cause the drive assembly to drive the lock lever into the unlocked position or unlocked state, and then wait. By using an electrical port or connector 180 integrated with the electronic lock, the number of wires around the charging socket can be reduced, material costs can be lowered, and quick-connection, replacement, and maintenance between the electronic lock and the charging socket can be facilitated.

[0069] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” as used herein do not exclude other elements or steps. Additionally, any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An electronic lock (100; 100') for a charging socket, characterized in that, The electronic lock includes: Casing (110); A locking lever (120), movably mounted on one side wall (113) of the housing, and configured to be driven to move between an unlocked position and a locked position; and A pulling mechanism (130) is movably mounted on the side wall on the same side as the locking bar and is adapted to be pulled to move the locking bar from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. The electronic lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the pulling mechanism and the locking rod protrude partially from the side wall of the housing on the side of the housing.

3. The electronic lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging socket and the housing are adapted to be mounted on a panel such that the locking bar and the pulling mechanism mounted on the side wall are visible when viewed from outside the panel.

4. The electronic lock according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The locking lever is configured to move from the unlocked position to the locked position along a first direction when driven in the forward direction, and to move from the locked position to the unlocked position along a second direction opposite to the first direction when driven in the reverse direction. The pulling mechanism is adapted to be pulled to move outward of the housing, thereby moving the locking lever from the locked position to the unlocked position along the second direction.

5. The electronic lock according to claim 4, characterized in that, The electronic lock also includes: A transmission component (140) is disposed within a receiving space (101) defined by the housing and connected to one end of the locking rod; A drive assembly (150), disposed within the receiving space and engaging with the transmission member, and configured to drive the transmission member to move within the receiving space, thereby moving the locking lever between an unlocked position and a locked position; and A sliding member (160) is slidably disposed within the receiving space and connected to the pulling mechanism and the transmission member, so as to slide within the receiving space when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward, thereby driving the transmission member and the locking rod to move in the second direction.

6. The electronic lock according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pulling mechanism includes: a pull rod (131) connected to the sliding member and a pull rope or pull ring (132) connected to the pull rod and disposed outside the housing.

7. The electronic lock according to claim 5, characterized in that, The electronic lock also includes: A transmission mechanism (170) is disposed in the housing and engages with the sliding member and the transmission member, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward to cause the sliding member to slide within the receiving space, the transmission mechanism is driven by the sliding member to rotate to cause the transmission member and the locking rod to move in the second direction.

8. The electronic lock according to claim 7, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism includes a lever (174) having opposite first ends (171) and second ends (172), the first end being adapted to engage with the sliding member and the second end being adapted to engage with the transmission member. The lever is rotatably mounted on a first pivot (173) fixed in the housing.

9. The electronic lock according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sliding member is provided with a first connecting hole (161), and the first end of the lever is adapted to be inserted into the first connecting hole, and / or The transmission component is provided with a second connecting hole (142), and the second end of the lever is adapted to be inserted into the second connecting hole.

10. The electronic lock according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sliding member is adapted to slide on an inner wall (114) of the housing; and / or The sliding member has an end face (163) opposite to the inner wall surface (116) of the side wall, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled and the sliding member is slid to the position where the end face abuts against the inner wall surface, the locking rod is driven by the sliding member to move to the unlocked position.

11. The electronic lock according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sidewall has a first through hole (102) and a second through hole (103). A first sealing ring (122) is provided in the first through hole, and a second sealing ring (133) is provided in the second through hole. The locking rod passes through the first through hole and the first sealing ring and connects to the transmission component. The pulling mechanism is connected to the sliding member through the second through hole and the second sealing ring.

12. The electronic lock according to any one of claims 5-11, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a motor (151) and a gear (152) disposed within the receiving space, the gear engaging with the drive shaft (1511) of the motor to be driven by the motor to rotate.

13. The electronic lock according to claim 12, characterized in that, The transmission component includes a first rack section (141) having a plurality of teeth for meshing with the gear, such that the motor drives the transmission component to translate within the receiving space via the gear.

14. The electronic lock according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first rack section extends along the first direction (Y) when the transmission member is disposed within the housing, and the positions where the locking rod is connected to the transmission member and the positions where the sliding member is connected to the transmission member are located on opposite sides of the first rack section in the first direction.

15. The electronic lock according to any one of claims 7, 10, and 11, characterized in that, The transmission component and the sliding component each include a toothed portion with multiple teeth, and The transmission mechanism includes an intermediate gear (175), which is rotatably mounted on a second rotating shaft (176) fixed in the housing and meshes with the toothed portions of the transmission member and the sliding member, such that when the pulling mechanism is pulled outward to drive the sliding member to slide in the receiving space along the first direction, the intermediate gear is driven by the sliding member to rotate to drive the transmission member and the locking rod to move along the second direction.

16. The electronic lock according to claim 15, characterized in that, The toothed portion of the transmission member includes a gear or a second rack section (145) extending along the first direction; and / or The toothed portion of the sliding member includes a gear or a third rack section (165) extending along the first direction.

17. A charging socket, characterized in that, The charging socket includes: Charging port; and The electronic lock according to any one of claims 1-16, wherein the pulling mechanism and the locking lever are visible when viewed from outside the panel with the charging socket mounted on a panel.

18. The charging socket according to claim 17, wherein, The charging socket is an AC charging socket or an AC / DC charging socket.

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