Vehicle charging device

Abstract

The vehicle charging device will have a cable suspension section while ensuring ventilation at the top of the side of the enclosure and keeping the overall height down. [Solution] The housing 11 is provided with a ventilation section 19 on the upper side of the side surface that can be used for ventilation, and a cable suspension section 13 on which a cable equipped with a connector at the end that can be used for charging a vehicle can be suspended is provided at a position away from the side surface of the housing having the ventilation section, and at least a part of it overlaps with the ventilation section when viewed from the side, and the space between the ventilation section and the cable suspension section can be used as a path for air moving between the space below and the space inside the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle charging device.

Background Art

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a technique for supporting the cable of a vehicle charging device is known. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, an arm having a cable fixing portion is disposed above the ceiling portion of the housing of the vehicle charging device. By protruding the arm to the side of the housing, the cable can be supported at a position away from the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] By the way, when an arm having a cable fixing portion is disposed above the ceiling portion of the housing of the vehicle charging device, a space for disposing the arm at a position higher than the housing of the vehicle charging device must be secured. In addition, since the arm protrudes to the side of the housing, the space that must be secured as a whole becomes large. On the other hand, ventilation parts such as louvers used for ventilation of the housing are often disposed at the upper part of the side surface of the housing. Although it is possible to suppress the overall height by disposing an arm instead of this ventilation part, the ventilation part is important for the vehicle charging device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The inventor of the present case has tried to solve this problem by earnestly studying this point. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle charging device having a cable hanging portion while securing a ventilation portion at the upper part of the side surface of the housing and suppressing the overall height.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the vehicle charging device is provided with a ventilation section on the upper side of the housing that can be used for ventilation, and a cable suspension section from which a cable equipped with a connector at the end that can be used for charging a vehicle can be suspended, located away from the side of the housing that has the ventilation section, and at least a part of it overlaps with the ventilation section when viewed from the side, so that the space between the ventilation section and the cable suspension section can be used as a path for air moving between the space below and the space inside the housing.

[0007] Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing is provided with a mounting member for attaching the cable suspension section, and that the mounting member has a mounting surface that is approximately parallel to the surface where the ventilation section is provided, at a position spaced apart from the surface where the ventilation section is provided on the housing, and that the cable suspension section is attached to the mounting surface.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable to have a cover that is open at the bottom and covers at least a portion of the cable suspension section.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover has a cutout on the rear side facing the side of the housing, which, in a plan view, has a width shorter than the width of the cable suspension section, and that the cover is fixed in place between the rear of the cover and the cable suspension section.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover is configured to cover at least a portion of the mounting member.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable to have a configuration in which a duct is provided on the outside of the housing that covers the space adjacent to the ventilation section, on the sides facing the housing, as well as on the left, right, and top, and guides the air exhausted from the ventilation section downward, with at least a portion of the cable suspension section placed inside the duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] This invention makes it possible to create a vehicle charging device that includes a cable suspension section while ensuring ventilation at the top of the side of the housing and suppressing the overall height. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an example of a vehicle charging device. However, the figure shows a state in which a cover is fixed so as to enclose a part of the cable suspension section. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle charging device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the upper part of the vehicle charging device. [Figure 4] This is an end view AA of Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the area around the cable suspension section. However, this view shows the back of the cover and other components. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a plan view of the area around the cable suspension section. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the cover and other components cut in the vertical direction. However, this view shows the back of the cable suspension section. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of an example of a vehicle charging device. However, the figure shows the device with a duct fixed to the outside of the housing. [Figure 9] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the upper part of the vehicle charging device. However, the rear view, including the ducts, is visible. [Figure 10] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the upper part of the vehicle charging device. However, this view shows the front, including the ducts. [Figure 11] Figure 8 is an end view of BB. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following shows embodiments for implementing the invention. As can be understood from FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle charging device 1 of the present embodiment includes a ventilation part 19 that can be used for ventilation at the upper part of the side surface of the housing 11, and a cable hanging part 13 that can hang a cable 12 having a connector 121 that can be used for charging the vehicle at its tip. The cable hanging part 13 is provided at a position away from the side surface of the housing 11 having the ventilation part 19 and at least partially overlapping the ventilation part 19 in a side view. The space between the ventilation part 19 and the cable hanging part 13 can be used as a path for air moving between the space below it and the space inside the housing 11. Therefore, it is possible to provide the vehicle charging device 1 having the cable hanging part 13 while securing the ventilation part 19 at the upper part of the side surface of the housing 11 and suppressing the overall height.

[0015] Here, the vehicle charging device 1 will be described. The vehicle charging device 1 can supply electricity to the vehicle using the connector 121 provided at the tip of the cable 12. When supplying electricity to the vehicle, the user connects the connector 121 to the vehicle and performs a predetermined operation. After waiting for a while and finishing the supply of electricity to the vehicle, the user removes the connector 121 from the vehicle. In order to enable such use, electricity supplied for charging flows inside the housing 11 of the vehicle charging device 1. Also, in some cases, current conversion and the like are performed inside the housing 11. Due to such things, the temperature inside the housing 11 can become high, but since problems can occur when the inside of the housing 11 becomes too hot, ventilation is provided to the housing 11.

[0016] In order to facilitate the replacement of the air inside the housing 11, it is common to provide ventilation parts 19 on both the upper and lower parts of the housing 11. In this way, the air introduced from the lower part of the housing 11 can be discharged from the upper part of the housing 11, or the air introduced from the upper part of the housing 11 can be discharged from the lower part of the housing 11. However, since the internal structure of the housing 11 and which parts are likely to hold heat can vary depending on the vehicle charging device 1, it is not necessarily essential to provide the ventilation parts 19 on both the upper and lower parts of the housing 11. For example, ventilation parts 19 may be provided respectively on the upper part of one side surface and the upper part of the other side surface of the housing 11, and air may be taken in from outside the housing 11 at the upper part of the housing 11 and discharged outside the housing 11 at the upper part of the housing 11.

[0017] On the other hand, since the warmed air tends to rise inside the housing 11, it is preferable to enable the movement of air in the space at the upper part of the housing 11. For this reason, usually, the ventilation part 19 is provided at the upper part of the housing 11. In particular, it is preferable to provide the ventilation part 19 in the housing body 112 to which the openable and closable door 111 is attached, but the ventilation part 19 may also be provided in the door 111. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation part 19 is a louver, but the ventilation part 19 does not necessarily have to be a louver. For example, the ventilation part 19 may be configured by providing a hole part in the housing 11.

[0018] Also, the housing body 112 is provided with a cable passing part 41 through which the cable 12 passes. Further, the housing body 112 is provided with a connector storage part 42 for storing the connector 121. It is also possible to provide these on the door 111 instead of the housing body 112. However, after the housing 11 is installed, the door 111 moves while the housing body 112 does not move, so the above-described configuration is preferable.

[0019] The connector storage section 42 is preferably provided on the side of the housing 11 where the cable suspension section 13 is attached, but it may also be provided on other sides. Furthermore, it is preferable to position the cable suspension section 13 so that the cable 12 can be suspended directly above the connector storage section 42 or directly above the connector 121 stored in the connector storage section 42. In this way, the space on both sides of the connector storage section 42 and the connector 121 can be used for arranging the cable 12.

[0020] However, even if a ventilation section 19 is provided, it will not function if air cannot move through it in substance. For this reason, when a ventilation section 19 is provided, nothing is usually placed near the ventilation section 19 on the outside of the housing 11. However, this tends to increase the amount of space that needs to be secured on the outside of the housing 11. For this reason, in this embodiment, a cable suspension section 13, from which a cable 12 equipped with a connector 121 usable for charging a vehicle can be suspended, is provided at a position away from the side of the housing 11 having the ventilation section 19, and in which a portion of it overlaps with the ventilation section 19 when viewed from the side.

[0021] Furthermore, in order to allow air to move through the ventilation section 19, the space between the ventilation section 19 and the cable suspension section 13 can serve as a path for air to move between the space below and the space inside the housing 11. In other words, it allows air to move downward from the space between the ventilation section 19 and the cable suspension section 13, or air to move upward from the space between the ventilation section 19 and the cable suspension section 13.

[0022] In this example, a mounting member 14 is used to separate the ventilation section 19 and the cable suspension section 13 provided on the housing 11. More specifically, the cable suspension section 13 is attached to a mounting member 14 that is attached to the side of the housing body 112. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, two mounting members 14 are placed vertically separated, and the cable suspension section 13 is fixed to each of them.

[0023] In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mounting member 14 has a mounting surface 141 that is approximately parallel to the surface on which the ventilation portion 19 of the housing 11 is provided, at a position spaced apart from that surface. If the cable suspension portion 13 is attached to this mounting surface 141, the cable suspension portion 13 can be attached to the mounting member 14 from the side opposite the side with the ventilation portion 19 (the front side of the side with the ventilation portion 19 in Figure 1). This makes the work easier.

[0024] As can be understood from these descriptions, it is preferable that the housing 11 is provided with a mounting member 14 for attaching the cable suspension part 13, and that the mounting member 14 has a mounting surface 141 that is substantially parallel to the surface on which the ventilation part 19 is provided, at a position spaced apart from the surface on which the ventilation part 19 is provided, and that the cable suspension part 13 is attached to the mounting surface 141.

[0025] However, the configuration of the mounting member 14 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the cable suspension section 13 may be supported by a single mounting member 14, or it may be supported by three or more mounting members 14. Specifically, the cable suspension section 13 may be supported by four mounting members 14 that are separated in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is preferable that the upper end of the mounting member 14 be at a height below the upper end of the housing 11.

[0026] Furthermore, it may be preferable to conceal the cable suspension section 13 and other parts. For this reason, a cover 15 or the like may be attached to hide part of the cable suspension section 13. In this case as well, the cover 15 or the like should be attached in a way that does not obstruct the function of the cable suspension section 13. For example, by using a cover 15 that is open at the bottom, the ventilation section 19 can be made to function more easily even with the cover 15 in place.

[0027] As can be understood from these descriptions, the vehicle charging device 1 is preferably configured such that at least a portion of the cable suspension section 13 is covered by a cover 15 that is open at the bottom. In particular, it is preferable that the cover 15 covers the upper side of the cable suspension section 13. The lower side of the cable suspension section 13 may also be covered by the cover 15, but considering the cable suspension work of the cable 12, the lower side of the cable suspension section 13 may not be covered by the cover 15. In the example shown in Figure 1, the cover 15 is open at the top and bottom.

[0028] In this embodiment, the cable suspension section 13 includes a flexible member 132 with a cable support section 131 at its tip capable of supporting the cable 12. This flexible member 132 can be wound up by a reel 133 provided on the cable suspension section 13, and winding is completed when a predetermined amount has been wound up. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the reel 133 is covered by a cover 15, but the cable support section 131 is not covered by the cover 15.

[0029] By the way, the cover 15 shown in Figures 1 to 4 covers the case 134 that houses the reel 133 of the cable suspension section 13, but this cover 15 also covers a part of the mounting member 14. Since some users may be concerned about the appearance of the mounting member 14, it is preferable that the cover 15 be configured to cover at least a part of the mounting member 14.

[0030] Furthermore, the back of the cover 15 is provided with a notch 151, which is configured such that, in a plan view, its width is shorter than the width of the cable suspension section 13 (see Figures 5 and 6). In other words, the cover 15 is configured to face a portion of the back side of the cable suspension section 13.

[0031] In this embodiment, the cover 15 is fixed so as to be connected to the cable suspension section 13. The fixing part that secures the cover 15 to the cable suspension section 13 is located between the back of the cover 15 and the cable suspension section 13, making the fixing part difficult to see from the outside of the cover 15. In the example shown in Figures 5 to 7, the first fixing part 135 attached to the cable suspension section 13 and the second fixing part 152 attached to the cover 15 are screw-fixed together in an overlapping state. Since the second fixing part 152 is not located near the bottom end of the cover 15, the fixing part is even more difficult to see from the outside of the cover 15. If the second fixing part 152 is not located near the top end of the cover 15, the fixing part can be made less visible even when the cover 15 is positioned relatively low.

[0032] As can be understood from these descriptions, it is preferable that the cover 15 has a cutout portion 151 on the rear side facing the side of the housing 11, which has a width shorter than the width of the cable suspension portion 13 in a plan view, and that the cover 15 is fixed in a position between the rear side of the cover 15 and the cable suspension portion 13.

[0033] The cable suspension section 13 may be made less visible by using a cover 15 specifically for the cable suspension section 13, or it may be made less visible by using a component used for other purposes. For example, if a duct 16 is attached to the outside of the housing 11 to serve as a path for air coming out of or leading to the ventilation section 19, the cable suspension section 13 may be made less visible by using the duct 16.

[0034] In the example shown in Figures 8 to 11, a duct 16 that is open to the lower side is used to obscure most of the cable suspension section 13. As can be seen from this example, it is preferable to configure the system so that air discharged from the housing 11 through the ventilation section 19 is discharged from the duct 16 through the lower part of the duct 16, or so that air supplied to the housing 11 to pass through the ventilation section 19 is supplied to the duct 16 through the lower part of the duct 16.

[0035] In other words, it is preferable to have a duct 16 on the outside of the housing 11 that covers the space adjacent to the ventilation section 19, on the side facing the housing 11, as well as the left, right, and top, and guides the air exhausted from the ventilation section 19 downwards, with at least a portion of the cable suspension section 13 positioned inside the duct 16.

[0036] In the examples shown in Figures 8 to 11, a stud bolt 161 is provided on the rear side of the duct 16. The duct 16 is attached to the housing 11 by passing this stud bolt 161 through a through hole 113 in the housing 11 and tightening a nut onto the stud bolt 161 that protrudes into the interior of the housing 11.

[0037] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a fan 17 next to the ventilation section 19 in order to facilitate air movement. In particular, it is preferable to provide a fan 17 next to the ventilation section 19 located at the top of the housing 11.

[0038] The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be made into various forms. For example, the reel may be designed to stop winding even if winding is not yet complete. Also, the cable suspension part may be a hook or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Vehicle charging device 11 cabinets 12 Cables 13 Cable suspension section 14 Mounting components 15 Cover 16 ducts 19 Ventilation section 121 Connector 141 Mounting surface 151 Notch

Claims

1. The enclosure has a ventilation opening at the top of the side that can be used for ventilation. A cable suspension section, capable of suspending a cable equipped with a connector at its tip for vehicle charging, is provided at a position away from the side of the housing having a ventilation section, and at least a portion of it overlaps with the ventilation section when viewed from the side. A vehicle charging device in which the space between the ventilation section and the cable suspension section can be used as a path for air moving between the space below and the space inside the housing.

2. The housing is equipped with mounting components for attaching the cable suspension section. The mounting member has a mounting surface that is approximately parallel to the surface on which the ventilation portion of the housing is provided, at a position spaced apart from the surface on which the ventilation portion is provided. The vehicle charging device according to claim 1, wherein a cable suspension part is attached to the mounting surface.

3. A vehicle charging device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cable suspension portion is covered by a cover that is open at the bottom.

4. The cover has a cutout on the back side opposite the side of the housing, which, when viewed from above, has a width shorter than the width of the cable suspension section. The vehicle charging device according to claim 3, wherein the cover is fixed at a position between the back of the cover and the cable suspension part.

5. The vehicle charging device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cover covers at least a portion of the mounting member.

6. A duct is provided on the outside of the enclosure that covers the space adjacent to the ventilation section, on the sides facing the enclosure, as well as on the left, right, and top, and guides the exhausted air from the ventilation section downwards. The vehicle charging device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cable suspension section is located inside a duct.

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