Charge box

Abstract

To easily cancel lock of a connector in a charge box.SOLUTION: A charge box comprises: a power reception section 20 which is provided on a front wall 13 exposed outside of a housing 10 and can be coupled with a connector of an external power supply device; a lock section 30 which receives a control signal and causes the power reception section 20 to lock the connector; a cancellation section 40 which is provided inside of the housing 10 and cancels the lock by the lock section 30; a fastening member 50 which is mounted on the front wall 13 so as to be loosened; and a wire 60 with one end in a length direction coupled to the cancellation section 40 and the other end coupled to the fastening member 50. The fastening member 50 includes an idling mechanism which idles with respect to the other end of the wire 60 during rotation, and the wire 60 operates the cancellation section 40 so as to cancel the lock when the loosened fastening member 50 moves in a direction away from the housing 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging box for a vehicle that can be powered from an external source. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle is provided with a charging box into which a charging gun is connected to charge the battery (see Patent Document 1). For safety reasons, the charging box is provided with a locking unit that locks the charging gun so that it does not come off during charging, and the locking unit operates by receiving a control signal from a control device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-84891 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if lightning strikes during charging, the control device will not properly send a control signal to the lock unit, making it impossible to unlock the lock unit. In addition, the charging box is provided with a release unit for manual unlocking, but the release unit cannot be operated unless the charging box is disassembled.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to make it possible to easily unlock a connector in a charging box. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging box that is attached to a vehicle body frame and can receive power from an external power supply device, the charging box comprising: a power receiving unit that is provided on a first wall exposed to the outside of a housing and is connectable to a connector of the external power supply device; a locking unit that receives a control signal and locks the connector to the power receiving unit; a release unit that is provided within the housing and releases the lock by the locking unit; a fastening member attached to the first wall so as to be loosened; and a wire having one longitudinal end connected to the release unit and the other end connected to the fastening member, the fastening member having a free-wheeling mechanism that freewheels relative to the other end of the wire when rotated, and the wire operates the release unit to release the lock when the loosened fastening member moves in a direction away from the housing.

[0007] In addition, the fastening member may be attached to a through hole that penetrates the first wall, the other end of the wire may be connected to a tip of the fastening member, and the wire may operate the release portion to release the lock when it is pulled by the loosened fastening member and passes through the through hole.

[0008] The release portion may have a displaceable lever, and the one end of the wire may be connected to the lever.

[0009] Also, a sphere may be provided at the other end of the wire, and the sphere may be rotatably inserted into a hollow portion at the tip of the fastening member.

[0010] The fastening member may be provided at its tip with a restricting portion for restricting the sphere from coming out of the hollow portion.

[0011] In addition, the release portion may be provided at a position adjacent to the back surface of the first wall within the housing, and may further include a guide portion provided at a position farther from the back surface than the release portion, and which extends the one end side of the wire along a normal direction to the back surface.

[0012] The guide portion may have a hollow portion through which the wire passes. The wire may be made of metal. Effect of the Invention

[0013] Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the lock of the connector in the charging box can be easily released. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a charging box 1 in which a charging gun 100 is mounted. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the charging box 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a lock unit 30 and an unlock unit 40 inside the charging box 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a fastening member 50 and a wire 60. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an idling mechanism 70. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a manner in which the fastening member 50 is rotated by the driver 150 with the charging gun 100 attached. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state of a release portion 40 when a fastening member 50 is pulled. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] <Charging box configuration> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a charging box 1 with a charging gun 100 attached. Fig. 2 is a front view of the charging box 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a locking section and an unlocking section inside the charging box 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a fastening member 50 and a wire 60. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an idling mechanism 70. For ease of explanation, only a portion of the charging box 1 is shown in Fig. 3.

[0016] The charging box 1 is a device for receiving power from an external power supply device. Specifically, the charging box 1 charges a battery with electricity received via a connector of the external power supply device. The charging box 1 is connected to the battery via a cable. The charging box 1 is attached to a body frame of a vehicle with a frame structure, such as a truck. Therefore, the charging box 1 is exposed to the outside.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the charging box 1 includes a housing 10, a power receiving unit 20, a locking unit 30, a releasing unit 40, a fastening member 50, and a wire 60. As shown in FIG.

[0018] The housing 10 is formed in a box shape. The housing 10 is fixed to a vehicle frame via a bracket. The housing 10 has a main body portion 12, cover portions 14a and 14b, and a cylindrical portion 16, as shown in FIG.

[0019] Here, the main body 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A lock unit 30, an unlocking unit 40, etc. are arranged inside the main body 12. A power receiving unit 20 that can be connected to the charging gun 100 is provided on a front wall 13 of the main body 12. The front wall 13 can be exposed to the outside of the housing 10, as shown in FIG.

[0020] The lids 14a, 14b are lids that can be opened and closed. When the lids 14a, 14b are closed, they cover the charging port of the power receiving unit 20. When the lids 14a, 14b are open, the charging gun 100, which is a connector of an external power supply device, is connected to the charging port of the power receiving unit 20. Each of the lids 14a, 14b opens and closes around a hinge.

[0021] The tube portion 16 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the cover portions 14a, 14b. One axial end of the tube portion 16 (the front end in the front-rear direction shown in FIG. 1) is an opening. The charging gun 100 is inserted from this opening. The other axial end of the tube portion 16 is connected to the front wall 13 of the main body portion 12. Although omitted in FIG. 1, a door is provided that can close or open the opening of the tube portion 16. When charging is not being performed, the tube portion 16 is closed by the door.

[0022] The power receiving unit 20 receives power from an external power supply device. The power receiving unit 20 has a charging port that can be connected to the charging gun 100. The power receiving unit 20 receives power from the external power supply device with the charging port connected to the charging gun 100. The power receiving unit 20 is located in the center of the front wall 13 of the housing 10.

[0023] The lock unit 30 causes the power receiving unit 20 to lock the charging gun 100. Upon receiving a lock command as a control signal for locking, the lock unit 30 causes the power receiving unit 20 to lock the charging gun 100. The lock unit 30 is provided inside the housing 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The lock unit 30 is provided at a position opposite the power receiving unit 20 when viewed from the front wall 13. Specifically, the lock unit 30 is provided so as to contact the rear surface 13b of the front wall 13 of the housing 10.

[0024] The lock unit 30 has an actuator 35 including a motor and gears therein. Upon receiving a lock command, the actuator 35 operates a motor, for example, to engage an engagement member with the charging gun 100, thereby locking the charging gun 100 to the power receiving unit 20. Furthermore, upon receiving an unlock command as a control signal for unlocking, the actuator 35 releases the engagement of the engagement member with the charging gun 100, thereby unlocking the charging gun 100. Here, the lock unit 30 receives control signals (lock command, unlock command) from an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle.

[0025] The release unit 40 releases the lock of the charging gun 100 by the lock unit 30. The release unit 40 is provided inside the housing 10 as shown in Fig. 3. For example, if lightning strikes during charging, it is not possible to send an release command from the ECU to the lock unit 30. In such a case, the operator operates the release unit 40 to release the lock of the charging gun 100.

[0026] The release unit 40 has a displaceable release lever 45. The release unit 40 is provided in a position adjacent to the back surface 13b of the front wall 13 inside the housing 10. The release unit 40 is provided so as to be manually operated by an operator. Specifically, the operator can release the lock of the charging gun 100 by the lock unit 30 by pulling the release lever 45 in a direction away from the back surface 13b of the front wall 13 (in other words, toward the center inside the housing 10).

[0027] The fastening member 50 is attached to the front wall 13 so as to be loosened. Here, the fastening member 50 is attached to a through hole 13c penetrating between the front surface 13a and the back surface 13b of the front wall 13. Here, the fastening member 50 is a screw. As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening member 50 has a screw portion 52, a tip portion 54, and a washer 56.

[0028] A male thread is formed in the screw portion 52. The fastening member 50 is fixed to the front wall 13 by screwing the screw portion 52 into a female thread formed in the through hole 13c of the front wall 13. An operator can remove the fastening member 50 from the front wall 13 by rotating and loosening the fastening member 50 using a screwdriver.

[0029] The tip portion 54 is a shaft portion that is further distal than the threaded portion 52 in the axial direction. The tip portion 54 is located within the housing 10. The tip portion 54 is connected to the wire 60. No threads are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 54. The diameter of the tip portion 54 is smaller than the diameter of the threaded portion 52. As described below, the tip portion 54 is provided with an idling mechanism 70 that allows the fastening member 50 to idly rotate relative to the wire 60 when the fastening member 50 is rotated.

[0030] The washer 56 is a waterproof sealing washer. The washer 56 is made of an expandable material. When the fastening member 50 is tightened, the washer 56 is compressed by the head 58 of the fastening member 50 and the front wall 13. By compressing the washer 56 in this manner, it is possible to prevent water from entering the housing 10 through the through hole 13c of the front wall 13.

[0031] 3, the wire 60 connects the release lever 45 of the release portion 40 and the tip portion 54 of the fastening member 50. The wire 60 has a wire portion 62, one end portion 64, and the other end portion 66.

[0032] The wire portion 62 is made of metal. For example, the wire 60 is made of stainless steel from the viewpoints of tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and robustness. However, the wire 60 is not limited to this, and may be made of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polypropylene.

[0033] One end 64 of the wire 60 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the release unit 40, and the other end 66 of the wire 60 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the fastening member 50. Specifically, one end 64 of the wire 60 is connected to the release lever 45 of the release unit 40 (see FIG. 3), and the other end 66 of the wire 60 is connected to the tip 54 of the fastening member 50 (see FIG. 5). The wire 60 is located inside the housing 10 when the fastening member 50 is attached to the front wall.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 4, one end 64 of the wire 60 is provided with a sphere 64a. The one end 64 is fixed to the release lever 45. When the wire portion 62 is pulled from the other end 66 side, the release lever 45 fixed to the one end 64 is pulled, and the lock is released. Note that the one end 64 does not necessarily have to be provided with the sphere 64a.

[0035] 5, a sphere 66a is provided at the other end 66 of the wire 60. The sphere 66a has the same size as the sphere 64a. The sphere 66a is inserted into the tip 54 of the fastening member 50. Specifically, the sphere 66a is inserted into an idling mechanism 70 provided at the tip 54.

[0036] The idling mechanism 70 is a mechanism that causes the fastening member 50 to rotate idly relative to the other end 66 (sphere 66a) of the wire 60 when the fastening member 50 is rotated. Specifically, when an operator loosens or tightens the fastening member 50, the idling mechanism 70 causes the fastening member 50 to rotate idly relative to the other end 66. This makes it possible to prevent the wire from twisting as the fastening member 50 rotates. As shown in FIG. 5, the idling mechanism 70 has a hollow portion 72 and a restricting portion 74.

[0037] The cavity 72 is formed in the tip 54 of the fastening member 50. The cavity 72 is a recess that is recessed a predetermined depth from the tip surface of the tip 54. The sphere 66a of the other end 66 of the wire 60 is inserted into the cavity 72. The diameter of the cavity 72 is larger than the diameter of the sphere 66a of the other end 66 of the wire 60. Therefore, the sphere 66a is freely rotatable within the cavity 72.

[0038] 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in which the fastening member 50 is rotated by the driver 150 with the charging gun 100 attached. As described above, if lightning strikes during charging and a control signal (a command to release the lock) cannot be sent from the ECU to the lock unit 30, the worker loosens the fastening member 50 by the driver 150 in order to manually release the lock. That is, the worker rotates the fastening member 50 by the driver 150.

[0039] Unlike the present embodiment, when the wire 60 is fixed to the fastening member 50, when an operator rotates the fastening member 50 with the driver 150 (for example, to tighten or loosen the fastening member 50), the rotational force is transmitted to the wire portion 62 of the wire 60, causing the wire portion 62 to twist. In particular, when the wire portion 62 is made of metal, the wire portion 62 is prone to twisting. In contrast, in the case of this embodiment, when an operator rotates the fastening member 50 with the driver 150, the sphere 66a is rotatable within the hollow portion 72, so that the rotational force of the fastening member 50 is not transmitted to the wire portion 62, and it is possible to prevent the wire portion 62 of the wire 60 from being twisted. When the wire portion 62 is made of metal as in this embodiment, the effect of preventing the wire portion 62 from being twisted is more effectively exerted.

[0040] The restricting portion 74 restricts the sphere 66a from coming out of the hollow portion 72. The restricting portion 74 is formed at the tip of the tip portion 54. Specifically, the restricting portion 74 is bent from the tip of the tip portion 54 toward the center so as to reduce the inner diameter of the hollow portion 72. As a result, when the worker pulls the fastening member 50, the sphere 66a gets caught on the restricting portion 74 and does not come out of the hollow portion 72. As a result, when the worker moves the fastening member 50 toward himself, the wire portion 62 also moves toward himself.

[0041] In the above description, the idling mechanism 70 has the hollow portion 72 in which the sphere 66a can rotate freely, and the restricting portion 74, but is not limited to this. The idling mechanism 70 may have another structure as long as the fastening member 50 can rotate idly relative to the wire 60 when the fastening member 50 is rotated.

[0042] By using the above-described fastening member 50 and wire 60, an operator can release the lock without disassembling the housing 10. When the loosened fastening member 50 moves in a direction away from the housing 10, the wire 60 pulls the release lever 45, thereby operating the release unit 40 to release the lock.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the release unit 40 when the fastening member 50 is pulled. The operator pulls the driver 150, to which the head 58 of the loosened fastening member 50 is magnetically attracted, in a direction away from the housing 10 (toward the operator), whereby the fastening member 50 also moves in a direction away from the housing 10. As the fastening member 50 moves, the wire 60 connected to the fastening member 50 also moves toward the operator. When the wire 60 is pulled by the fastening member 50 and passes through the through hole 13c of the front wall 13, the wire 60 is pulled to operate the release unit 40 to release the lock. In this way, the operator can release the lock by loosening and pulling the fastening member 50 connected to the release lever 45 via the wire 60.

[0044] 7, the release section 40 is provided with a guide section 47 that guides the position of one end 64 of the wire 60. The guide section 47 causes the one end 64 of the wire 60 to extend along the normal direction of the back surface 13b of the front wall 13. The guide section 47 is provided at a position farther away from the back surface 13b of the front wall 13 than the release lever 45. The guide section 47 has a hollow section through which the wire section 62 of the wire 60 passes. By providing the above-described guide portion 47, the wire portion 62 of the wire 60 inside the housing 10 can be easily maintained in a folded-back position at the guide portion 47. Therefore, when the fastening member 50 is pulled, the wire portion 62 also easily passes through the through hole 13c, making it easier to pull the release lever 45.

[0045] <Effects of this embodiment> In the charging box 1 of the embodiment described above, the fastening member 50 has an idling mechanism 70 that rotates relative to the other end 66 of the wire 60. When the loosened fastening member 50 moves in a direction away from the housing 10, the wire 60 operates the release unit 40 to release the lock. In the above configuration, when an operator loosens the fastening member 50, it is possible to prevent the wire 60 connected to the fastening member 50 from being twisted. Then, when the operator pulls the fastening member 50 toward himself in a state in which the wire 60 is not twisted, the wire 60 operates the release unit 40, thereby appropriately releasing the lock. As a result, the operator can manually release the lock of the charging gun 100 without disassembling the housing 10.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Charging Box 10. Chassis 13 Front wall 13c through hole 20 Power receiving section 30 Rock Section 40 Release section 45 Release lever 47 Guide section 50 Fastening members 54 Tip 60 Wire 66a Sphere 70 Idling mechanism 72 Cavity 74 Regulatory Department 100 Charging Gun

Claims

1. A charging box attached to a vehicle body frame and capable of receiving power from an external power supply device, a power receiving unit provided on a first wall exposed to the outside of a housing and connectable to a connector of the external power supply device; a lock unit that receives a control signal and locks the connector to the power receiving unit; a release unit provided in the housing and configured to release the locking performed by the lock unit; a fastening member attached to the first wall so as to be loosened; a wire having one end in a longitudinal direction connected to the release portion and the other end connected to the fastening member; Equipped with the fastening member has an idling mechanism that idlingly rotates with respect to the other end of the wire when rotating, The wire operates the release portion to release the lock when the loosened fastening member moves in a direction away from the housing. Charging box.

2. The fastening member is attached to a through hole that penetrates the first wall, The other end of the wire is connected to a tip end of the fastening member, When the wire is pulled by the loosened fastening member and passes through the through hole, the wire operates the release portion to release the lock. The charging box according to claim 1 .

3. The release portion has a displaceable lever, The one end of the wire is connected to the lever. The charging box according to claim 1 .

4. A sphere is provided at the other end of the wire, The sphere is rotatably inserted into a hollow portion at the tip of the fastening member. The charging box according to claim 1 .

5. A restricting portion is provided at a tip of the fastening member to restrict the sphere from coming out of the hollow portion. The charging box according to claim 4.

6. the release portion is provided in the housing at a position adjacent to a rear surface of the first wall, The wire further includes a guide portion provided at a position farther from the rear surface than the release portion and extending the one end side of the wire along a normal direction of the rear surface. The charging box according to claim 1 .

7. The guide portion has a hollow portion through which the wire passes. The charging box according to claim 6.

8. The wire is made of metal. The charging box according to claim 1 .

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