Charging and discharging device

Abstract

To provide a charging and discharging device capable of achieving a charging cable holding state according to user requests.SOLUTION: The charging and discharging device includes a body having a power conversion section, a charging cable extending from the body and having a power line, and a cable holder for holding the charging cable. The cable holder can be attached to the side and rear surfaces of the body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging / discharging device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology relating to a charging device for electric vehicles has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The charging device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a charging cable having a charging connector detachably connected to the tip, and a main body that holds the rear end of the charging cable. The main body has a storage section that stores the charging cable from which the charging connector has been detached, and a holder that is provided within the storage section and holds the charging connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-42573 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a charging cable provided in a charging device is not in use, some users require flexibility in how the charging cable is held, for example, from the perspective of maintaining a good appearance when the charging cable is held in place. In this case, it may not be possible to meet the user's needs, taking into account factors such as the orientation of the charging device or the parking space for the electric vehicle to be charged. It is desirable to achieve a more reliable holding state for the charging cable that meets the user's needs.

[0005] Therefore, one of the objects is to provide a charging / discharging device that can realize a holding state of a charging cable according to the user's request. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A charging / discharging device according to the present disclosure includes a main body having a power conversion unit, a charging cable extending from the main body and having a power line, and a cable holder for holding the charging cable. The cable holder can be attached to the side and rear of the main body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this charging / discharging device, it is possible to more reliably realize a holding state of the charging cable that meets the user's needs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a charge / discharge device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a region including a second relay component included in the charge / discharge device of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the charge / discharge device in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the charge / discharge device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the charging / discharging device shown in FIG. 4 with the decorative cover removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region VI in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the charging / discharging device shown in FIG. 4 with the decorative cover removed, seen from a different direction than in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region VIII in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 4 with a heat sink cover, which will be described later, removed, as seen from a different direction than in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region X in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a case where a cable holder is attached using the first relay component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] (1) A charging / discharging device according to the present disclosure includes a main body having a power conversion unit, a charging cable extending from the main body and having a power line, and a cable holder for holding the charging cable. The cable holder can be attached to the side and rear of the main body.

[0010] According to the charging / discharging device of the present disclosure, the cable holder can be attached to either the side or back of the main body. This allows the user to change the attachment position of the cable holder according to their needs. As a result, the charging / discharging device can more reliably hold the charging cable according to their needs.

[0011] (2) In the above (1), the main body may include a waterproof case that houses the power conversion unit, a cover that covers at least a portion of the side surface of the waterproof case and at least a portion of the back surface of the waterproof case, a first relay component disposed between the back surface of the waterproof case and the cover and fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case, and a second relay component disposed between the side surface of the waterproof case and the cover and fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case. The cable holder may be attachable to the first relay component and the second relay component via the cover. Attaching the cable holder directly to the waterproof case may require drilling an attachment hole in the waterproof case, which may result in a decrease in waterproof performance. Also, attaching the cable holder directly to a decorative cover, which is an exterior component, may distort the decorative cover if the decorative cover is weak due to the weight of the cable holder with the charging cable wrapped around it. In this case, attaching the cable holder via the cover allows the cable holder to be attached more firmly to the waterproof case while preventing a decrease in waterproof performance. Furthermore, the cable holder can be attached using the first relay component arranged on the rear side of the waterproof case or the second relay component arranged on the side of the waterproof case.

[0012] (3) In the above (1) or (2), at least one of the first relay component and the second relay component may be plate-shaped. The relay component may include a pair of first portions fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case, a second portion contacting the cover, and a pair of third portions connecting the pair of first portions and second portions. This allows the relay component to be reliably fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case using the pair of first portions. Furthermore, the second portion can be brought into contact with the cover to more firmly attach the cable holder.

[0013] (4) In the above (3), the second portion may be provided with a through-hole penetrating in the thickness direction. By doing so, the body of a bolt can be passed through the through-hole, and the cable holder can be attached using the bolt. Therefore, the cable holder can be attached more reliably.

[0014] (5) In any of the above (2) to (4), the cable holder may be attached to the first relay component via a cover. The charging / discharging device may include a heat sink that cools the power conversion component and a fan that blows air to the heat sink. The cover may include a heat sink cover that is disposed on the rear side of the waterproof case and covers the heat sink. The first relay component may be provided with an air outlet that passes through the flow of air blown by the fan. This prevents the first relay component from interfering with the air blown by the fan. Therefore, proper cooling of the power conversion component can be ensured.

[0015] (6) In any of the above (2) to (5), a pair of second relay components may be provided on the left and right sides of the waterproof case. This allows the user to attach the cable holder using either the left or right second relay component according to their needs. This further improves convenience.

[0016] (7) In any of the above (2) to (6), at least one of the first relay component and the second relay component may be made of metal. This ensures the strength of the relay component itself. Therefore, the attached state of the cable holder can be maintained more reliably.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Next, an embodiment of the charging / discharging device of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0018] (Embodiment 1) The configuration of a charge / discharge device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the charge / discharge device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged region including a second relay component (described later) included in the charge / discharge device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the charge / discharge device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the charge / discharge device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 4 with a design cover (described later) removed. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region VI in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a region in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 5 where a second relay component (described later) is disposed. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 4 with a design cover (described later) removed, viewed from a different direction than FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region VIII in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a region in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 7 where a second relay component (described later) is disposed. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 4 with a heat sink cover, which will be described later, removed, viewed from a different direction than FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by region X in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a region in the charge / discharge device shown in FIG. 9 where a first relay component, which will be described later, is disposed. Note that in FIG. 1 and other figures, the X direction indicates the left-right direction of the charge / discharge device, the Y direction indicates the front-rear direction of the charge / discharge device, and the Z direction indicates the height direction of the charge / discharge device. The thickness direction of a substrate, which will be described later, corresponds to the Y direction.

[0019] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, a charging / discharging device 10a according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of charging an electric vehicle. It is also capable of receiving power from the electric vehicle. The charging / discharging device 10a includes a power conversion unit 11a, a waterproof case 12a, a cover unit 13a, a charging cable 14a, and a cable holder 15a. The charging / discharging device 10a according to this embodiment also includes a heat sink 16a and a fan 17a. Note that the area 53a indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1 is a waterproof area.

[0020] The power conversion unit 11a has a power conversion circuit 20a, a first filter circuit 22a, a second filter circuit 23a, and a control unit (not shown), and is provided on a circuit board (not shown). The control unit may be provided outside the power conversion unit 11a. The power conversion unit 11a performs power conversion such as AC-DC conversion when the charging / discharging device 10a performs charging / discharging operations.

[0021] Many of the components included in the power conversion unit 11a are sensitive to water and are therefore covered by a waterproof case 12a. The waterproof case 12a surrounds the power conversion unit 11a and is designed to prevent water and other external elements from entering the interior. The waterproof case 12a includes a housing 31a with an opening and a plate-shaped lid 32a that closes the opening. After the power conversion unit 11a is placed inside the housing 31a through the opening, the opening is closed with the lid 32a. In this way, the power conversion unit 11a is surrounded by the waterproof case 12a. The side on which the lid 32a is located is the front side, i.e., the front side, of the charging / discharging device 10a, and the side on which the housing 31a is located is the back side, i.e., the rear side, of the charging / discharging device 10a. The housing 31a has an opening 33a that penetrates in the thickness direction (Y direction). The opening 33a is located where components that generate heat during operation of the power conversion circuit 20 and other components are located. A heat sink 16a is attached at a position corresponding to the opening 33a. The heat sink 16a can cool heat-generating components included in the power conversion unit 11a. The heat sink 16a is cooled by air being blown through it by the operation of a fan 17a. The fan 17a is disposed on the outer side of the heat sink 16a. The fan 17a is disposed above the heat sink 16a. A pair of legs 51a and 52a are attached to the housing 31a at a vertically lower side and spaced apart in the X direction.

[0022] The cover part 13a is provided on the outside of the waterproof case 12a and covers at least a portion of the waterproof case 12a, and here includes a design cover 34a, a heat sink cover 35a, and a fan cover 36a. The design cover 34a is located on the front side and attached to cover the waterproof case 12a. The design cover 34a covers parts of both sides, the front, and the top surface of the waterproof case 12a. The design cover 34a is attached with a gap between it and the lid 32a. Here, the waterproof case 12a, the cover part 13a, and the relay component described below may be collectively referred to as the main body.

[0023] The charging cable 14a has a power line. The charging cable 14a is connected to the power conversion unit 11a and extends from the waterproof case 12a. A charging connector 19a is attached to the end of the charging cable 14a. The charging connector 19a is used to connect to an electric vehicle, such as an electric car. The charging connector 19a may be detachable from the charging cable 14a. With the charging connector 19a attached to the end of the charging cable 14a, the charging cable 14a is released from the held state and extended during charging and discharging. The charging connector 19a is then connected to a charging socket on the electric car to charge or discharge the electric car. The charging connector 19a is held by a connector holder 18a attached to the cover 13a, specifically, the decorative cover 34a.

[0024] The cable holder 15a holds the charging cable 14a. The cable holder 15a holds the long charging cable 14a by winding it around. The cable holder 15a includes a fixing portion 37a that contacts the cover portion 13a, a support portion 38a that extends outward from the fixing portion 37a and around which the charging cable 14a is wound, and a claw portion 39a that is provided at the tip of the support portion 38a and prevents the charging cable 14a, which is wound around the support portion 38a, from falling off the tip side of the support portion 38a. The cable holder 15a, including the fixing portion 37a, the support portion 38a, and the claw portion 39a, is formed by bending a plate-shaped member.

[0025] The charging / discharging device 10a includes a first relay component 41a and a second relay component 42a. In this embodiment, the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a may have the same shape and be made of the same material. In this embodiment, the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a are made of metal. The first relay component 41a is disposed between the rear surface of the waterproof case 12a and the heat sink cover 35a. The first relay component 41a is fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a. The second relay component 42a is disposed between the side surface of the waterproof case 12a and the decorative cover 34a. In this embodiment, a pair of second relay components 42a are provided on both side surfaces of the waterproof case 12a.

[0026] Next, the configuration of the first relay component 41a will be described. With particular reference to FIG. 2 , the first relay component 41a includes a pair of first portions 43a and 44a fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a, a second portion 45a in contact with the cover 13a, and a pair of third portions 46a and 47a connecting the pair of first portions 43a and the pair of first portions 44a and the pair of second portions 45a, respectively. The first relay component 41a is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal member. That is, the pair of first portions 43a, 44a, and the pair of third portions 46a and 47a are formed by bending a strip-shaped metal member. In this embodiment, the first relay component 41a, specifically the pair of first portions 43a of the first relay component 41a, is fixed to the rear surface of the waterproof case 12a. The pair of first portions 43a are fixed by a method that does not impair the waterproofness of the waterproof case 12a, such as welding or waterproof screws. The second portion 45a is provided with through holes 48a that penetrate through the thickness direction. A plurality of through holes 48a are provided at intervals between each other.

[0027] The second relay component 42a has the same configuration as the first relay component 41a. Specifically, the second relay component 42a also includes a pair of first portions 43a and 44a fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a, a second portion 45a in contact with the cover 13a, and a pair of third portions 46a and 47a connecting the pair of first portions 43a and the first portion 44a and the second portion 45a, respectively. In this embodiment, the second relay component 42a, specifically the pair of first portions 43a of the second relay component 42a, is fixed to the side surface of the waterproof case 12a. The pair of first portions 43a are fixed by a method that does not impair the waterproof properties of the waterproof case 12a, such as welding or waterproof screws. A through-hole 48a is formed in the second portion 45a, penetrating the thickness direction. That is, the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a may be identical in shape and configuration, with only the attachment positions being different.

[0028] The first relay component 41a is provided with an air outlet 50a through which the air blown by the fan 17a passes, and is attached so that the air outlet 50a faces the vertical direction (Z direction). In the example shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the flat surface forming the second portion 45 is arranged parallel to the air flow blown by the fan 17a.

[0029] The cable holder 15a is configured to be attachable to at least one of the side and rear surfaces of the main body. That is, the cable holder 15a may be configured to be attachable to any of the waterproof case 12a, the cover 13a, the first relay component 41a, and the second relay component 42a. If the cable holder 15a is configured to be attachable to the waterproof case 12a, the cover 13a, the first relay component 41a, and the second relay component 42a may not be provided. Here, "attachable" means that the cable holder 15a is provided with a process for fixing the cable holder 15a, such as providing a screw hole for fixing the cable holder 15a. After attaching the cable holder 15a to the rear or side surface of the main body, the unused screw hole may be covered with a sticker, a cover, or the like. In this embodiment, the cable holder 15a is attached to at least one of the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a via the cover 13a. In this embodiment, the cable holder 15a is attached to the second relay part 42a on the right side when viewed from the front. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the barrel of the bolt 49a is passed through the through-hole 48a, and the cable holder 15a is attached to the side of the waterproof case 12a via the cover part 13a and the second relay part 42a using the bolt 49a. In this manner, the cable holder 15a is attached to the side of the waterproof case 12a. Note that if the user wishes to attach the cable holder 15a to the rear of the waterproof case, the first relay part 41a is used. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the case where the cable holder 15a is attached using the first relay part 41a. Referring also to FIG. 11, the barrel of the bolt 49a is passed through the through-hole 48a, and the cable holder 15a is attached to the rear of the waterproof case 12a via the cover part 13a and the first relay part 41a using the bolt 49a. In this manner, the cable holder 15a is attached to the rear of the waterproof case 12a.

[0030] According to the charging / discharging device 10a, the cable holder 15a can be attached to either the side or back of the main body. This allows the user to change the attachment position of the cable holder 15a according to their needs. As a result, the charging / discharging device 10a can more reliably hold the charging cable 14a in a manner that meets their needs.

[0031] In this embodiment, the main body includes a waterproof case 12a that houses the power conversion unit 11a, a cover 13a that covers at least a portion of the side surface and at least a portion of the back surface of the waterproof case 12a, a first relay component 41a that is disposed between the back surface of the waterproof case 12a and the cover 13a and fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a, and a second relay component 42a that is disposed between the side surface of the waterproof case 12a and the cover 13a and fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a. The cable holder 15a can be attached to the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a via the cover 13a. Attaching the cable holder 15a directly to the waterproof case 12a may require the waterproof case 12a to have an attachment hole, which may result in a decrease in waterproof performance. Furthermore, if the cable holder 15a is attached directly to the decorative cover 34a, which is an exterior member, and the decorative cover 34a is not strong enough, the weight of the cable holder 15a around which the charging cable 14a is wound may distort the decorative cover 34a. In this case, the cable holder 15a is attached via the cover portion 13a, so the cable holder 15a can be attached more firmly to the waterproof case 12a while preventing a decrease in waterproof performance. Furthermore, the cable holder 15a can be attached using the first relay part 41a arranged on the back side of the waterproof case 12a or the second relay part 42a arranged on the side side of the waterproof case 12a.

[0032] In this embodiment, the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a are plate-shaped and include a pair of first portions 43a and 44a fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a, a second portion 45a contacting the cover 13a, and a pair of third portions 46a and 47a connecting the pair of first portions 43a and 44a and the pair of second portions 45a. Therefore, the pair of first portions 43a and 44a can be used to reliably fix the relay components to the outer surface of the waterproof case 12a. Furthermore, the second portion 45a can be brought into contact with the cover 13a to more firmly attach the cable holder 15a.

[0033] In this embodiment, the second portion 45a is provided with a through-hole 48a that penetrates the second portion 45a in the thickness direction. Therefore, the body of the bolt 49a passes through the through-hole 48a, and the cable holder 15a can be attached using the bolt 49a. This allows the cable holder 15a to be attached more reliably.

[0034] In this embodiment, a pair of second relay parts 42a are provided on the left and right sides of the waterproof case 12a. Therefore, depending on the user's needs, the cable holder 15a can be attached using either the left or right second relay part 42a. This further improves convenience.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first relay component 41a and the second relay component 42a are made of metal, which ensures the strength of the relay components themselves and more reliably maintains the attached state of the cable holder 15a.

[0036] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the cable holder 15a may be attached to the first relay component 41a via the cover 13a. The charging / discharging device 10a includes a heat sink 16a that cools the power conversion unit 11a and a fan 17a that blows air to the heat sink 16a. The cover 13a includes a heat sink cover 35a that is disposed on the rear side of the waterproof case 12a and covers the heat sink 16a. The first relay component 41a is provided with an air outlet 50a that passes the flow of air blown by the fan 17a. Therefore, the first relay component 41a can avoid obstruction of the air blown by the fan 17a. This ensures appropriate cooling of the power conversion unit 11a.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the first relay component and the second relay component are fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case by welding. However, this is not limiting. Either one of the first relay component or the second relay component may be fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case by welding. This allows the relay component to be more firmly fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case. Therefore, the cable holder can be more firmly attached to the cover. At least one of the first relay component and the second relay component may be fixed using a magnet, an adhesive, or a waterproof screw.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the first relay component and the second relay component are each plate-shaped and include a pair of first portions fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case, a second portion contacting the cover, and a pair of third portions connecting the first and second portions. However, this is not limited thereto. At least one of the first relay component and the second relay component may be plate-shaped and include a pair of first portions fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case, a second portion contacting the cover, and a pair of third portions connecting the first and second portions. This allows the relay component to be reliably fixed to the outer surface of the waterproof case using the pair of first portions. Furthermore, by bringing the second portion into contact with the cover, the cable holder can be more firmly attached to the cover.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the second portion is provided with a through-hole penetrating through the thickness direction, but this is not limiting, and the second portion may not be provided with a through-hole.

[0040] In addition, in the above embodiment, a pair of second relay components are provided on the left and right sides of the waterproof case, but this is not limited to this, and it is also possible to provide only one second relay component on either the left or right side depending on the user's request.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the first relay component and the second relay component are made of metal, but this is not limiting, and at least one of the first relay component and the second relay component may be made of, for example, resin.

[0042] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting in any respect. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10a charging / discharging device 11a Power conversion section 12a Waterproof Case 13a Cover 14a charging cable 15a Cable holder 16a heat sink 17a Fan 18a Connector holder 19a charging connector 20a power conversion circuit 22a First noise filter circuit 23a Second noise filter circuit 31a enclosure 32a lid 33a Opening hole 34a Design cover 35a Heatsink cover 36a Fan cover 37a Fixed part 38a Support part 39a Claw part 41a First relay part 42a Second relay part 43a,44a Part 1 45a 2nd part 46a,47a 3rd part 48a through hole 49a Bolt 50a Air outlet 51a,52a Legs 53a area

Claims

1. a main body having a power conversion unit; a charging cable extending from the main body portion and having a power line; a cable holder for holding the charging cable, The charging / discharging device, wherein the cable holder can be attached to the side and rear of the main body.

2. The main body includes a waterproof case that houses the power converter. a cover portion that covers at least a part of the side surface of the waterproof case and at least a part of the back surface of the waterproof case; a first relay component disposed between the rear surface of the waterproof case and the cover and fixed to an outer surface of the waterproof case; a second relay component disposed between the side surface of the waterproof case and the cover and fixed to an outer surface of the waterproof case; The charging / discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the cable holder is attachable to the first relay component and the second relay component via the cover portion.

3. At least one of the first relay component and the second relay component is plate-shaped, a pair of first portions fixed to an outer surface of the waterproof case; a second portion in contact with the cover portion; The charging / discharging device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a pair of third portions respectively connecting the pair of first portions and the pair of second portions.

4. The charging / discharging device according to claim 3 , wherein the second portion is provided with a through-hole penetrating in a thickness direction.

5. the cable holder is attached to the first relay component via the cover portion, The charging / discharging device includes a heat sink that cools the power conversion unit; a fan that blows air to the heat sink, the cover portion includes a heat sink cover disposed on the rear side of the waterproof case so as to cover the heat sink, The charging / discharging device according to claim 2 , wherein the first relay component is provided with an air outlet through which the air blown by the fan passes.

6. The charging / discharging device according to claim 2 , wherein the second relay components are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the waterproof case.

7. The charging / discharging device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first relay component and the second relay component is made of metal.

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