Charging inlet

Abstract

To provide a charging inlet with improved drainage of the housing. [Solution] The charging inlet according to the present disclosure has a housing that holds a connection terminal inside and has a detachable charging plug, the housing comprises a fitting recess into which the charging plug is attached and detached, and a drainage path from inside the fitting recess to outside the housing, the drainage path comprises a drainage channel that extends horizontally when the device to which the charging inlet is attached is on a horizontal plane, and the drainage channel has drainage ports that open to the outside of the housing at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a charging inlet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to supply (charge) power from outside the vehicle to a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a connector installed in the vehicle has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of connector is generally also called a charging inlet. The charging inlet is provided with a drainage path for draining water that has entered the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the charging inlet, a configuration for further improving the drainage property of the housing is expected.

[0005] One embodiment provides a charging inlet with improved drainage property of the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The charging inlet of one embodiment has a housing that is detachable from a charging plug and holds connection terminals inside. The housing includes a fitting recess into which the charging plug is inserted and removed, and a drainage path that extends from inside the fitting recess to the outside of the housing. The drainage path includes a drainage channel that extends horizontally in a state where the device to which the charging inlet is attached is on a horizontal plane. The drainage channel has drainage openings that open to the outside of the housing at both ends in the length direction.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment, a charging inlet with improved drainage of the housing can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a charging inlet according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the charging inlet shown above from a different direction. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the charging inlet shown above, along the axial direction from the left to the center. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the left and right sides of the charging inlet shown above, along the axial direction. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 3. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 3, which shows the operation of the embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, which shows the operation of the embodiment. [Figure 8A] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, showing the action of the charging inlet of the embodiment when it is tilted to one side (left or right). [Figure 8B] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, showing the action of the charging inlet of the embodiment when it is tilted to the left or right side. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, showing other functions of the charging inlet of the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplication of these components may be omitted. Note that the components described below do not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0010] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a charging inlet 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the left and right central portions of the charging inlet 1 along the axial direction. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the left and right sides of the charging inlet 1 along the axial direction. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the operation of the embodiment. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the operation of the embodiment. Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the operation when the charging inlet 1 is tilted to one side (left or right). Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the operation when the charging inlet 1 is tilted to the other side (left or right). Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 5 showing another operation of the charging inlet 1. In this specification, arrow X indicates the left-right direction, arrow Y indicates the front-back direction, and arrow Z indicates the up-down direction.

[0011] The charging inlet 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a connector installed in vehicles equipped with batteries, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and is connected to the wires 10 extending from the battery installed in the vehicle. A mating connector CN, such as a charging plug (not shown), is detachably mated into the mating recess 63 (see Figure 1, etc.) of the charging inlet 1. The mating connector CN is connected to wires extending from a power supply device outside the vehicle. By connecting this mating connector CN to the charging inlet 1, power is supplied to the battery from the power supply device outside the vehicle, and the battery is charged.

[0012] In this embodiment, the mating direction (insertion / removal direction) of the charging inlet 1 and the mating connector CN is described as the front-to-back direction. In the front-to-back direction, the mating connector CN side is considered the front, and the charging inlet 1 side is considered the rear. That is, the mating connector CN is mated and connected to the charging inlet 1 by moving from front to rear, and removed by moving in the opposite direction. The mating direction may be inclined upwards relative to the horizontal direction. Left and right in the left-to-right direction are considered to be left and right when facing forward.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging inlet 1 includes a pair of terminal wires 10 and a housing 90 that houses the terminals 12 of the pair of terminal wires 10 and holds the pair of terminal wires 10. Referring also to FIG. 4, one end of each of the pair of wires 11 is connected to each of the pair of terminals 12. The other ends of the pair of wires 11 are connected to a battery (not shown). The wire 11 includes a conductor core wire 11a and a coating 11b made of insulating resin that covers the conductor core wire 11a. The wire 11 is held in the housing 90 via a rubber stopper 11c.

[0014] The pair of terminals 12 have the same configuration as each other. Each terminal 12 extends linearly along the front-rear direction. The terminals 12 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction with a space therebetween. Each terminal 12 is inserted and held in a pair of terminal holders 31 described later. For example, each terminal 12 is provided with a cylindrical female terminal portion 16 (see FIG. 4) that protrudes forward from its front end face. Among the pair of terminals 12, the female terminal portion 16 of one terminal 12 functions as an anode-side terminal, and the female terminal portion 16 of the other terminal 12 functions as a cathode-side terminal. When the charging inlet 1 is fitted with the mating connector CN, the male terminal portions on the anode side and the male terminal portions on the cathode side (both not shown) of the mating connector CN are connected to the female terminal portion 16 of one terminal 12 and the female terminal portion 16 of the other terminal 12, respectively. The rear end portions of the pair of terminals 12 are connected to one end portions of the wires 11. The conductor core wire 11a exposed at one end portion of the wire 11 is connected to the rear end portion of the terminal 12 directly or via a prescribed conductor component. With this configuration, the terminal 12 and one end portion of the wire 11 are electrically connected.

[0015] <Housing 90> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 90 includes a base holder 50, a rear holder 80, an inner housing body 60, and an outer housing body 70. Each of the base holder 50, the rear holder 80, the inner housing body 60, and the outer housing body 70 is a skeletal component of the housing 90 and forms the outer surface of the housing 90.

[0016] The base holder 50 functions to hold a pair of terminal-attached electric wires 10 while insulating them from each other at intervals in the width direction. The base holder 50 has a resin holder 30 which is a resin molded product.

[0017] The resin holder 30 functions to absorb and release heat generated in the pair of terminals 12 and to insulate and protect the pair of terminals 12. The resin holder 30 integrally includes a pair of terminal holding portions (holder bodies) 31 arranged in the width direction (left - right direction) and a connecting portion 32 that connects the pair of terminal holding portions 31 in the width direction. Each terminal holding portion 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the front - rear direction. The terminals 12 are inserted into the pair of terminal holding portions 31 from the rear, respectively.

[0018] The connecting portion 32 connects the pair of terminal holding portions 31. An upper wiring guide 48 protruding upward is provided on the upper outer surface (upper surface) 32a of the connecting portion 32, and a lower wiring guide 35 protruding downward is provided on the lower outer surface (lower surface) 32b of the connecting portion 32.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 together, the upper wiring guide 48 functions to guide the wiring of an electric wire of an electric wire component different from the charging electric wire 10 (for example, a thermistor 48a for detecting the temperature of the terminal 12, etc.). A cap member 49 is attached to the upper wiring guide 48. Reference numeral 48b in the figure indicates a rubber stopper that holds the electric wire inside the upper wiring guide 48.

[0020] The lower wiring guide 35 has the function of guiding the routing of wires other than the charging wires 10 (for example, ground wires 41a, various signal wires 42a, etc.). A cap member 40 is attached to the lower wiring guide 35. Reference numerals 41c and 42c in the figure indicate rubber stoppers that hold the wires inside the lower wiring guide 35.

[0021] A rear holder 80 is attached to the rear end of the base holder 50. The rear holder 80 is a resin molded product and is assembled to the base holder 50 from the rear, and also serves to hold a pair of terminal-equipped electric wires 10 with a gap in the width direction.

[0022] An inner housing body 60 is provided in front of the base holder 50, with a size that surrounds the outside of the pair of terminal holding portions 31 when viewed from the front-rear direction. The inner housing body 60 is disc-shaped with its thickness direction oriented in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the base holder 50 is attached to its rear surface. The inner housing body 60 is, for example, a resin molded product integrally formed from the same material as the base holder 50. The inner housing body 60 integrally comprises a cylindrical tubular portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction and a rear wall portion (not shown) that closes the rear opening of the tubular portion 61. The tubular portion 61 and the rear wall portion form a fitting recess 63 that opens forward and recesses to the rear. Within the mating recess 63, the female terminal portions 16 of a pair of terminals 12 are provided to protrude forward from the rear wall portion of the cylindrical portion 61. On the outer circumference of the rear end of the cylindrical portion 61 (both left and right sides of the upper and both left and right sides of the lower), bolt insertion portions 65 are formed for fastening and fixing to the outer housing body 70 with bolts B1 that run in the front-rear direction.

[0023] On the rear wall (bottom wall) of the mating recess 63, a pair of cylindrical female terminal housings (not shown) are provided, protruding forward, corresponding to the female terminal portions 16 of the pair of terminals 12. Each female terminal housing is located within the mating recess 63 and houses the female terminal portion 16 inside.

[0024] The outer housing body 70 is assembled to the inner housing body 60 from the front and also serves to fix the entire housing 90 to a mounting target (not shown) provided on the vehicle. The outer housing body 70 is a resin molded product and has a cylindrical tubular portion 71 that extends in the front-rear direction. The tubular portion 71 is inserted through the tubular portion 61 of the inner housing body 60 and is provided to cover the outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion.

[0025] The cylindrical portion 71 has a flange portion 72 on its outer circumference at the front-to-rear intermediate section, which expands radially outward. The flange portion 72 is rectangular when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. Bolt insertion holes 73 are formed at each corner of the flange portion 72, penetrating in the front-to-rear direction. Bolts (not shown) for fixing the charging inlet 1 to the mounting target on the vehicle are inserted through the bolt insertion holes 73.

[0026] The charging inlet 1 is equipped with an actuator 75 to prevent the mating connector CN from becoming disconnected while connected. The actuator 75 is mounted from below to the lower end of the outer housing body 70. The actuator 75 is equipped with a locking pin 75a that can be inserted into a designated location on the mating connector CN in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction (e.g., vertical direction). The actuator 75 is operated by a drive signal from a control device (not shown) to extend and retract the locking pin 75a relative to the mating connector CN. This configuration prevents the mating connector CN from becoming accidentally or intentionally disconnected during battery charging, thereby improving safety and ensuring that each charging cycle is performed reliably. The actuator 75 is an independent unit and is fixed to the housing 90 with bolts and nuts or the like.

[0027] Referring also to Figure 5, a connector 75c for connecting power supply and control wires 75b is attached to the rear end of the actuator 75. In the figure, reference numeral 75d indicates the case housing the electrical components of the actuator 75, and reference numeral 75e indicates the fastening flange for fixing the case 75d to the outer housing body 70. The wires 75b and connector 75c are connected to the upper surface of the case 75d.

[0028] A lid 76 is attached to the front side of the outer housing body 70 to open and close the front opening of the cylindrical portion 71. The lid 76 is rotatable around a hinge shaft 76a that is located on one side of the cylindrical portion 71 (left side in the figure) and extends vertically. A locking member 76b is located on the other side of the cylindrical portion 71 (right side in the figure) to hold the lid 76 in the closed position.

[0029] <Drainage route 79 for housing 90> Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the charging inlet 1 is positioned with its fitting direction (front-to-back direction) tilted upwards towards the front when mounted on the vehicle. More specifically, when the vehicle (equipment) to which the charging inlet 1 is mounted is on a horizontal plane (hereinafter referred to as the "equipment horizontal state"), the fitting direction (front-to-back direction) is tilted upwards towards the front with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0030] When the mating direction is tilted upwards towards the front, the front opening of the mating recess 63 into which the mating connector CN is mated faces upwards. Due to this configuration, if water splashes onto the charging inlet 1 with the lid 76 open and the mating connector CN mated into the mating recess 63, water may seep into the gap between the mating connector CN and the mating recess 63 (see arrow W1 in the figure). To prevent this water from accumulating inside the mating recess 63, a drain hole 67 is formed in the inner housing body 60 that penetrates downwards through the lower end position of the bottom of the mating recess 63 (the rear lower end position of the cylindrical portion 61).

[0031] The power supply terminal 12, ground terminal 41b, and signal terminal 42b, etc., facing into the mating recess 63, are held by the inner housing body 60 at their bases on the inner housing body 60 side via sealing members such as O-rings. This configuration prevents water from entering the housing 90 from the holding parts of each terminal.

[0032] The lower part of the outer housing body 70 is provided with a second drain hole 77 that is connected below the drain hole 67 of the inner housing body 60, and a drainage channel 78 that communicates with the second drain hole 77. The drainage channel 78 extends linearly along the left-right direction. In the figure, line C1 is the axis along the direction of extension of the drainage channel 78, and line HL is the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the axis of the drainage channel 78 is along the left-right direction. Both the left and right ends of the drainage channel 78 are drainage openings 78a that open outwards in the left-right direction. Each drain hole 67, 77 and the drainage channel 78 form a drainage path 79 from inside the fitting recess 63 to the lower outside of the housing 90.

[0033] When the equipment is in a horizontal position, the axis of the drain channel 78 is aligned horizontally. A second drain hole 77 is opened in the middle of the drain channel 78 in the left-right direction (for example, in the center). When water enters the fitting recess 63 (see arrow W1 in the figure), this water flows through the drain hole 67 and the second drain hole 77 to the middle of the drain channel 78 in the left-right direction (see arrow W2 in the figure), flows appropriately to both the left and right sides of the drain channel 78, and is discharged to the outside of the housing 90 from the left and right drain ports 78a (see arrow W3 in the figure).

[0034] The left-right width H1 between the left and right drain ports 78a is wider than the left-right width H2 of the case 75d that houses at least the electrical components of the actuator 75 fixed to the lower end of the housing 90. Therefore, water discharged from the left and right drain ports 78a is discharged to the outside of the housing 90 without coming into contact with the upper surface of the case 75d. By connecting vertically extending drain holes 67, 77 to the middle of the left-right extending drain channel 78, a curved flow path is formed by the drain channel 78 and the drain holes 67, 77 between the fitting recess 63 and the intermediate section when viewed from either the left or right drain port 78a.

[0035] Figure 7 shows the case where a vehicle equipped with the charging inlet 1 is on a horizontal plane. In this case, the drainage channel 78 is arranged horizontally along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Due to this configuration, water that reaches the drainage channel 78 is drained appropriately from the left and right drainage outlets 78a. Figures 8A and 8B show a vehicle equipped with the charging inlet 1 tilted to one side or the other in the left-right direction. In this case, the drainage channel 78 is positioned at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal line HL that runs along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Even in this case, since the drainage channel 78 has drainage outlets 78a on both the left and right sides of the housing 90, water that reaches the drainage channel 78 can be reliably drained without accumulating.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, even if water is sprayed upwards onto the drain port 78a (see arrow W4 in the figure), this water collides with the wall surface of the long drain channel 78 and drips down, so water is not sprayed directly onto the drain holes 67 and 77. Also, even if water is sprayed onto the drain port 78a from the left or right (see arrow W5 in the figure), this water flows through the drain channel 78 and is discharged from the other drain port 78a, so water is not sprayed directly onto the drain holes 67 and 77.

[0037] <Effects and Actions> As described above, the charging inlet 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 90 that holds a connection terminal 12 inside and has a detachable charging plug. The housing 90 includes a fitting recess 63 into which the charging plug is attached and detached, and a drainage path 79 that extends from inside the fitting recess 63 to the lower outside of the housing 90. The drainage path 79 includes a drainage channel 78 that extends horizontally when the device to which the charging inlet 1 is attached is on a horizontal plane. The drainage channel 78 has drainage ports 78a at both ends in the longitudinal direction that open to the outside of the housing 90.

[0038] With this configuration, a drainage path 79 that opens from inside the fitting recess 63 to the outside of the housing 90 can be used to discharge water that has entered the fitting recess 63 to the outside of the housing 90. The drainage path 79 has drainage ports 78a at both ends in the longitudinal direction of a horizontally extending drainage channel 78, so that even when the equipment to which the charging inlet 1 is attached is tilted, drainage can be performed from at least one of the two drainage ports 78a.

[0039] In the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, the drainage channel 78 extends in a direction (vehicle left-right direction X) that intersects the mating direction (vehicle front-rear direction Y) when viewed from the mating direction of the charging inlet 1 and the mating connector CN.

[0040] With this configuration, the drainage channel 78 extends horizontally in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the charging inlet 1, allowing for appropriate drainage from the drainage ports 78a at both ends in the width direction intersecting the fitting direction. In particular, if the width direction of the charging inlet 1 is oriented in the width direction of the equipment to be mounted, drainage can be reliably performed from one of the two drainage ports 78a even if the equipment is tilted in the width direction.

[0041] In the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, an electrical device (actuator 75) is attached to the lower part of the housing 90, and both drain ports 78a of the drain channel 78 are located outward in the longitudinal direction from the actuator 75 when the device to which the charging inlet 1 is attached is on a horizontal plane.

[0042] With this configuration, the drain port 78a opens outside the actuator 75 located below the housing 90, thereby preventing drainage from the drain port 78a from coming into contact with the actuator 75, and simplifying the waterproof structure of the actuator 75.

[0043] In the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, the drainage path 79 includes drainage holes 67 and 77 extending downward from the fitting recess 63, and the drainage holes 67 and 77 are connected to the longitudinal middle portion of the drainage channel 78.

[0044] With this configuration, the drainage holes 67 and 77 extending downward from the fitting recess 63 are connected to the middle section of the drainage channel 78 in the longitudinal direction. This facilitates the connection between the fitting recess 63 and the drainage channel 78 via the drainage holes 67 and 77, and also allows for good guidance of drainage from the middle section of the drainage channel 78 in the longitudinal direction to both drainage outlets 78a.

[0045] In the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, the housing 90 comprises an inner housing (inner housing body 60) facing the inside of the fitting recess 63 and an outer housing (outer housing body 70) covering the outside of the inner housing body 60, and the drainage path 79 is formed across the inner housing body 60 and the outer housing body 70.

[0046] With this configuration, the drainage path 79 is formed across the inner housing body 60 and the outer housing body 70, which makes it easier to form the drainage path 79, for example, by forming it from the joint between the inner housing body 60 and the outer housing body 70, compared to the case where the drainage path 79 is formed in either the inner housing body 60 or the outer housing body 70.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the charging inlet 1 is mounted on the vehicle, and the fitting direction of the charging inlet 1 faces the front-rear direction of the vehicle, while the length direction of the drainage channel 78 faces the left-right direction of the vehicle. In this case, when the vehicle is tilted so that one side in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction of the vehicle) is tilted downward, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the drain port 78a on one side in the length direction that intersects (orthogonal to) the fitting direction of the drainage channel 78 moves downward, and drainage can be performed from this drain port 78a. For example, the fitting direction of the charging inlet 1 may face the left-right direction of the vehicle, while the length direction of the drainage channel 78 faces the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In this case, when the vehicle is tilted so that one side in the front-rear direction is tilted downward, the drain port 78a on one side in the length direction that intersects (orthogonal to) the fitting direction of the drainage channel 78 moves downward, and drainage can be performed from this drain port 78a. Furthermore, the configuration in the above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 Charging Inlet 12 Connection terminals 60 Inner housing body (inner housing) 63 Fitting recess 67 drainage holes 70 Outer housing body 75 Actuators 77 Second drain hole 78 Drainage Channel 78a Drain 79 Drainage routes 90 Housing CN (Mating connector / charging plug) X Left / right direction (horizontal direction) Y: Front-to-back direction (fitting direction) Z vertical direction

Claims

1. The charging plug is detachable and has a housing that holds the connection terminals inside. The aforementioned housing is The fitting recess into which the charging plug is attached and detached, A drainage path extending from the fitting recess to the outside of the housing is provided, The aforementioned drainage path includes a drainage channel extending horizontally when the equipment to which the charging inlet is attached is on a horizontal plane. The drain channel is a charging inlet having drain ports at both ends in the longitudinal direction that open to the outside of the housing.

2. The charging inlet according to claim 1, wherein the drainage channel extends in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the charging inlet and the charging plug.

3. The housing includes an electrical device attached to the lower part of the housing, The charging inlet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both drain outlets of the drain channel are located outward from the electrical equipment in the longitudinal direction.

4. The drainage path is provided with a drainage hole extending downward from the fitting recess, The charging inlet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drain hole is connected to the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the drainage channel.

5. The aforementioned housing is The inner housing facing the inside of the aforementioned fitting recess, The inner housing comprises an outer housing that covers the outside of the inner housing, The charging inlet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drainage path is formed across the inner housing and the outer housing.

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