Vehicle charging device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle charging device capable of facilitating connection work of a power line to an apparatus to be added, and minimizing the number of apparatuses whose power supply is cut off even when an overcurrent occurs in the connected apparatus.SOLUTION: A vehicle charging device includes: a plurality of units 3 having a standardized same shape and each being equipped with specific functions related to vehicle charging; and a unit base 2 having a unit mounting part 2a capable of mounting the plurality of units 3 and being equipped with a function to supply power source to the mounted units 3. A power supply side terminal 31 of the unit 3 is of a plug-in type. A main line bar 21 to which the power supply side terminal 31 is connected is disposed in the unit mounting part 2a. The unit 3 is provided with a branch breaker 5 that cuts off the power source side terminal 31 from a load side electrical path when a current supplied from the power supply side terminal 31 exceeds a preset value. A charging cable 54 is provided in at least one of the units 3 mounted on the unit base 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle charging device for charging a storage battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] When installing a vehicle charging device, it is cost-effective to first install a device with the minimum necessary functions and then add functions as needed, so many contractors choose vehicle charging devices with a structure that is easy to expand. Against this background, vehicle charging devices that allow for easy addition of functions have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, in addition to an outlet for vehicle charging, a housing with other functions can be installed between two parallel gateposts, making it easy to expand the functions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-105375 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology of Patent Document 1 mentioned above allows for the addition of charging-related devices as well as the attachment of mailboxes and intercom devices, providing a certain degree of expandability in functionality. However, adding functions related to vehicle charging, particularly a charging cable, requires connecting new power lines and involves a significant change in the power supply, which results in changes to the interrupting capacity, but there is no specific mention of this. Furthermore, if a malfunction such as an overcurrent occurs after adding the function, it is possible that the circuit breaker in the power distribution panel at the power source will trip. In this case, the power to all devices downstream of the tripped circuit will be cut off, causing damage to other devices that are not malfunctioning.

[0005] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle charging device that makes it easy to connect power lines to additional devices and that minimizes the number of devices whose power is cut off even if an overcurrent occurs in the connected devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a vehicle charging device having at least one charging cable with a charging plug that is connected to an electric vehicle, and comprising a plurality of units that are standardized and identical in shape and each have a specific function related to vehicle charging, and a unit base having a unit mounting section to which the plurality of units can be attached and that has the function of supplying power to the attached units, the power supply side terminals of the units are plug-in type, and a main bar to which the power supply side terminals are connected is disposed in the unit mounting section, and the units further comprise a branch breaker that cuts off the power supply side terminal from its load side circuit when the current supplied from the power supply side terminal to the unit exceeds a preset value, and the charging cable is provided on at least one of the units attached to the unit base. This configuration allows for easy expansion of functionality, such as adding a charging cable, by simply adding more units. Furthermore, connecting power lines is as simple as connecting plug-in terminals, eliminating the need for screwing wires. Furthermore, because the units are equipped with branch breakers, the number of devices that are shut off in the event of an overcurrent is minimized.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the unit base has a mains breaker that cuts off the mains bar from the external power source when the current supplied to the unit base from the external power source exceeds a preset value. With this configuration, additional work on the unit can be performed by shutting off the main breaker without having to operate a circuit breaker located in a remote location such as a distribution board that supplies power to the unit base.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the unit attached to the unit base includes, in addition to a charger unit equipped with a charging cable, at least one of a billing unit that converts the amount of power output from the charging cable into a monetary amount, a V2X unit that extracts power from the vehicle, and a power control unit that controls the current output from the charging cable based on commercial power receiving power information or power receiving time zone information. V2X units are short for Vehicle to X units and are units that extract stored power from electric vehicles, and can be realized, for example, as V2H (Vehicle to Home) units or V2G (Vehicle to Grid) units. A V2H unit extracts stored power from an electric vehicle for use at home, while a V2G unit extracts stored power from an electric vehicle for transmission to a commercial power grid. With this configuration, if a charging unit is installed, the appropriate fee can be collected from the user, and if a V2X unit is installed, the vehicle's power can be extracted and used during a power outage.Furthermore, if a power control unit is installed that controls the current output from the charging cable based on commercial power receiving power information or power receiving time period information, charging can be carried out taking into account peak commercial power consumption and the use of nighttime power, which is effective in reducing electricity costs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, functions such as adding a charging cable can be added by increasing the number of units, and the functions can be easily expanded. Furthermore, since the units are equipped with branch breakers, each unit can be protected from overcurrent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a vehicle charging device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the unit base with the unit removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the unit, and is a perspective view seen from the rear. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle charging device shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charging unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charging unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a V2X unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a power control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a vehicle charging device according to the present invention. The vehicle charging device 1 is configured by attaching a plurality of units 3 to a unit base 2. Each unit has a standardized and identical shape, with 3a being a charger unit, 3b being a billing unit, 3c being a V2X unit, and 3d being a power control unit. In this embodiment, the units 3 have the same external dimensions and shape, but the external dimensions and shape of each unit 3 may differ slightly as long as they can be attached to the unit base 2. Also, reference numeral 4 denotes a decorative cover that closes off the spare space of the unit mounting portion.

[0012] 2 is an explanatory perspective view of the unit base 2, showing the state in which all units 3 and decorative covers 4 have been removed. The unit base 2 supplies power to each unit 3 to enable it to function, and is provided with a unit mounting section 2a on the front surface to mount the units 3. A main line bar 21 for supplying power to the mounted units 3 is disposed in the center of this unit mounting section 2a. The main line bar 21 is made of three copper strips arranged vertically to form a single-phase three-wire circuit. The three main line bars 21 are arranged at a predetermined interval and are configured so that the power supply terminal 31 (shown in Figure 3) of the unit 3 can be connected by pushing the unit 3 from the front.

[0013] 1, a plurality of units 3 are mounted in a vertical line in the unit mounting section 2a. A plug holding section 2b is provided on the side surface to hold plugs such as the charging plug 53 attached to the charger unit 3a.

[0014] 3 shows a single unit 3, and is an explanatory perspective view of the unit 3 as seen from the rear. Each unit 3 has the same standardized shape and is equipped with a plug-in power terminal 31 on the rear. The power terminal 31 is connected to the main bar 21 by pushing the unit 3 into the unit mounting section 2a of the unit base 2 from the front.

[0015] Fig. 4 shows a circuit block diagram of the vehicle charging device 1 shown in Fig. 1, together with the power supply source distribution board 10. As shown in Fig. 4, a branch wiring L1 from the distribution board 10 is connected to the unit base 2, and power is supplied to the unit base 2. The distribution board 10 receives power from a commercial power feed-in line L2, which is an external power source, and is equipped with a main breaker 101, which is also an earth leakage breaker (ELB), and multiple branch breakers 102, and power is supplied to each branch destination via the branch breakers 102. Similarly, in the unit base 2, a branch breaker 103 is connected to the secondary side of a main breaker 101, and a branch wiring L1 is laid from the secondary side of this branch breaker 103 to receive commercial power. The unit base 2 also has a built-in main breaker 22 which is also an earth leakage breaker (ELB), and each unit 3 is connected via this main breaker 22. The main breaker 22 may be configured as a molded case circuit breaker (MCB).

[0016] The charger unit 3a is a unit for charging the storage battery of an electric vehicle such as an electric car, and includes a charging cable 54 with a charging plug 53 at the tip that is connected to the vehicle. The charger unit 3a includes a charging section 52 that controls the current output from the charging cable 54 on the secondary side of a branch breaker 5a (5) whose primary side is connected to the power supply side terminal 31. Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of this charging unit 52. As shown in Fig. 5, the charging unit 52 includes a current control unit 52a that controls the charging current, an operation unit 55 that turns charging on and off, a display unit 56 that displays the charging status, a charging unit CPU 52b that controls the charging unit 52, and a communication unit 52c that communicates with other units 3 such as the billing unit 3b.

[0017] When adding a charger unit 3a, for example, a portion blocked by the decorative cover 4 may be used, or a new charger unit 3a may be installed in place of the billing unit 3b, the V2X unit 3c, or even the power control unit 3d. However, if the addition of a charger unit 3a is expected, it is desirable to ensure that the branch breaker 103 of the distribution board 10 and the main breaker 22 of the vehicle charging equipment 1 have sufficient current capacity in advance.

[0018] The billing unit 3b is a unit that converts the amount of electricity supplied to the vehicle into a monetary amount or collects an electricity fee according to the time the electricity is supplied to the vehicle, and is equipped with a billing section 62 on the secondary side of the branch breaker 5b(5) whose primary side is connected to the power supply side terminal 31. Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of this accounting unit 62. As shown in Fig. 6, the accounting unit 62 includes a fee collection unit 62a equipped with a coin insertion unit 63 and a card reading unit 64, an operation unit 65 consisting of a touch panel for setting the amount, a display unit 66 that displays the amount and the like, an accounting unit CPU 62b that controls the accounting unit 62, and a communication unit 62c that communicates with the charger unit 3a and the like. The accounting CPU 62b communicates with the charger unit 3a and performs control to stop charging of the vehicle when the inserted amount, a set amount, or a set time has elapsed. Incidentally, inserting coins is an example, and the method of collecting fees is not limited to credit cards, prepaid cards, subscription cards, electronic money, etc.

[0019] The V2X unit 3c is a unit for outputting the vehicle's stored power to the distribution board 10 so that the stored power can be used externally, and has a charging cable 74 with a charging plug 73 at the end that is connected to the vehicle, and has a V2X section 72 on the secondary side of a branch breaker 5c(5) whose primary side is connected to the power supply side terminal 31. Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of this V2X unit 72. As shown in Fig. 7, the V2X unit 72 includes a bidirectional power conversion unit 72a that converts DC to AC power and AC to DC, an operation unit 75 consisting of a touch panel that operates to turn discharge on / off, etc., a display unit 76 that displays the value of power extracted from the vehicle, etc., an independent operation output unit 77, a V2X unit CPU 72b that controls the V2X unit 72, a communication unit 72c that communicates with the power control unit 3d, etc.

[0020] The V2X unit 3c can be used effectively when extracting power from a vehicle to supply power to, for example, household electrical appliances, in the event of a commercial power outage, etc. The power extracted from the vehicle is supplied to the distribution board 10 via the branch breaker 5c, the trunk bar 21, and the branch wiring L1. The V2X unit 3c also has a function of controlling the temporary storage of electricity in the vehicle when surplus electricity is generated by solar power generation, etc. When the control unit 3d determines that the privately generated electricity from solar power generation, etc. exceeds the privately consumed electricity, the bidirectional power converter 72a converts AC to DC and controls the vehicle to be connected.

[0021] The bidirectional power converter 72a has a current control function and controls discharging / charging so that the current does not exceed a predetermined value. Furthermore, when the commercial power is in a power outage, the isolated operation output unit 77 generates and outputs (discharges) predetermined AC power, such as 50 Hz and 100 V, from the vehicle's stored power. When the commercial power is interrupted due to a power outage or other reason, the isolated operation output unit 77 is activated by a predetermined operation, and causes the bidirectional power converter 72a to convert DC power extracted from the vehicle into AC power, which is then output from the V2X unit 3c to the unit base 2. The charging plug 73 and charging cable 74 connected to the V2X unit 3c function to both charge the electric vehicle and discharge electricity from the electric vehicle.

[0022] The power control unit 3d is a unit that performs suppression control of received power, reduction control of power charges, and overload suppression control, and is equipped with a power control unit 82 on the secondary side of a branch breaker 5d(5) whose primary side is connected to the power supply side terminal 31. Specifically, it performs demand monitoring control to control the charging current to the vehicle so that the received power does not exceed the contract value, for example. It also performs control to increase the charging current to the vehicle during times such as nighttime when electricity charges are lower. The power receiving control is carried out to prevent the current at the receiving point (current at the receiving point) from exceeding the limit current and tripping the breaker, or to prevent the rated current of the connected transformer from being exceeded and causing the transformer to deteriorate, and further to prevent overload.

[0023] Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of the power control unit 82. As shown in Fig. 8, the power control unit 82 includes an operation unit 83 consisting of a touch panel that sets an upper limit on received power and sets a late-night power usage time period, etc., a display unit 84 that displays the set upper limit on received power, the set time, the current received power, etc., a power control unit CPU 82b that controls the power control unit 82, and a communication unit 82c that obtains received power information from the distribution board 10 and communicates with the charger unit 3a or the V2X unit 3c. The power control unit CPU 82b also includes a set value storage unit 85 that stores set values ​​such as the upper limit on received power. The power control unit CPU 82b controls the charging current output from the charger unit 3a in accordance with the settings so that the received power does not exceed a set value and in accordance with the set time period.

[0024] In addition, in conjunction with the installation of the power control unit 3d, a power monitoring unit (not shown) is installed in the distribution board 10 to measure the received power (received current) and the current of the inlet and transformer and wirelessly notify the power control unit of this information.

[0025] In this way, adding functions such as adding a charging cable 54 can be achieved by increasing the number of units 3, allowing for easy expansion of functionality. Furthermore, power line connections can be made by simply connecting plug-in terminals, eliminating the need for work such as screwing wires. Furthermore, since the units 3 are equipped with branch breakers 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), if an overcurrent occurs in a certain unit 3, the devices whose power is cut off are limited to those connected downstream of the branch breaker 5 in that unit 3. Meanwhile, power continues to be supplied to devices in other units 3 that are not experiencing an overcurrent. As a result, if an overcurrent occurs in any of the units 3, the number of devices that are cut off due to the overcurrent is minimized. Furthermore, for safety reasons, it is necessary to shut off the power when performing additional construction or inspection work on the units 3 connected to the unit base 2. In the vehicle charging device 1 of this embodiment, the power supply to the main line bar 21 and each unit 3 can be shut off by shutting off the main line breaker 22. This allows additional construction work on the units 3 to be performed without operating a circuit breaker located away from the vehicle charging device 1, such as the branch breaker 103 of the distribution board 10. Furthermore, by providing the charging unit 3b, it is possible to collect appropriate fees from users, and by providing the V2X unit 3c, it is possible to extract and use the vehicle's power during a power outage.In addition, when there is surplus power from solar power generation or the like, the power can be temporarily stored in the electric vehicle, and when power is needed, it can be discharged from the electric vehicle, allowing the generated power to be used without waste. Furthermore, if a power control unit 3d is provided that controls the current output from the charging cable 54 based on commercial power receiving power information or power receiving time zone information, charging can be performed while taking into consideration suppression of peak commercial power values ​​and use of nighttime power, which is effective in reducing electricity charges.

[0026] Although the communication between the charger unit 3a and the billing unit 3b and the communication between the V2X unit 3c and the charger unit 3a are performed wirelessly, they may be performed via a wired connection such as a LAN or PLC. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1··Vehicle charging device, 2··Unit base, 2a··Unit mounting part, 3··Unit, 3a··Charger unit, 3b··Charging unit, 3c··V2X unit, 3d··Power control unit, 5··Branch breaker, 21··Main line bar, 22··Main line breaker, 31··Power supply side terminal, 53··Charging plug, 54··Charging cable

Claims

1. A vehicle charging device including at least one charging cable with a charging plug connected to an electric vehicle, Multiple units with standardized identical shapes, each with specific functions related to vehicle charging; a unit base having a unit mounting portion to which a plurality of the units can be mounted and which has a function of supplying power to the mounted units; The power supply terminal of the unit is of a plug-in type, and a main line bar to which the power supply terminal is connected is disposed in the unit mounting portion, The unit further includes a branch breaker that cuts off the power supply terminal from the load side electrical circuit when the current supplied from the power supply terminal to the unit exceeds a preset value, A vehicle charging device, characterized in that the charging cable is provided to at least one of the units mounted on the unit base.

2. 2. The vehicle charging device according to claim 1, wherein the unit base has a mains breaker that disconnects the mains bar from the external power source when the current supplied to the unit base from the external power source exceeds a preset value.

3. 3. The vehicle charging device according to claim 1, wherein the unit attached to the unit base includes, in addition to a charger unit having the charging cable, at least one of a billing unit that converts the amount of power output from the charging cable into a monetary amount, a V2X unit that extracts power from the vehicle, and a power control unit that controls the current output from the charging cable based on received power information or power receiving time zone information of commercial power.

Images