Charging connector

Abstract

To provide a charging connector that can suppress damage to the cable. [Solution] A charging connector 1 comprises a housing 3 having a mating portion with an opening into which a mating charging connector can be fitted, and a cover 5 that closes the opening. The cover 5 is provided with a cable 45, one end of which is fixed integrally with the cover 5. The other end of the cable 45 is provided with a fixing portion 47 that is assembled to the housing 3 and holds the cover 5 to the housing 3 via the cable 45. Between the housing 3 and the fixing portion 47, there is provided an engaged portion 39 and an engaging portion 57 that engages with the engaged portion 39 and holds the fixing portion 47 to the housing 3. At least one of the housing 3 or the fixing portion 47 is provided with a release portion 59 that releases the engagement between the engaged portion 39 and the engaging portion 57 when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a charging connector, there is known one including a housing having a socket portion as a fitting portion in which a width dimension into which a mating charging connector can be fitted is formed, and a cap as a cover for closing the width dimension (see Patent Document 1). In this charging connector, the cap is assembled to the housing via a hinge so as to be able to open and close the width dimension. In such a charging connector, when the socket portion is not in use, the width dimension is closed with the cap so that the mating charging connector is not fitted into the socket portion.

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 connector of Patent Document 1 above, the cover is assembled to the housing via a hinge, but the cover may be assembled to the housing via a cable. In this charging connector, one end of the cable is fixed integrally with the cover, and the other end of the cable is assembled to the housing, and a fixing portion for holding the cover to the housing via the cable is provided. Between the housing and the fixing portion, an engaged portion and an engaging portion for engaging with the engaged portion to hold the fixing portion to the housing are provided. In such a charging connector, by engaging the engaged portion and the engaging portion, the fixing portion is held to the housing, and the cover is held to the housing via the cable.

[0005] However, with such charging connectors, when the cover is removed from the opening, for example, when the lid member that closes the vehicle's charging connector is closed, the cable can get caught in the lid member. When the cable gets caught in the lid member, tensile force is applied to the cable, which could cause damage to the cable.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. The object of this invention is to provide a charging connector that can suppress damage to the cable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The charging connector according to this embodiment comprises a housing having a mating portion with an opening into which a mating charging connector can be mated, and a cover that closes the opening, the cover being provided with a cable at one end fixed integrally with the cover, the other end of the cable being provided with a fixing portion that is assembled to the housing and holds the cover to the housing via the cable, the housing and the fixing portion being provided with an engaged portion and an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion and holds the fixing portion to the housing, and at least one of the housing and the fixing portion being provided with a release portion that releases the engagement between the engaged portion and the engaging portion when a tensile force is applied to the cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a charging connector that can suppress damage to the cable. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the charging connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the housing of the charging connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the housing of the charging connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the cover of the charging connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a rear view of the charging connector cover according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The charging connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the charging connector 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a vehicle charging unit provided in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The charging connector 1 is electrically connected to a power source (not shown), such as a battery or storage battery mounted on the vehicle. The charging connector 1 charges the power source by mating with a mating charging connector (not shown) provided on the power supply equipment.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the charging connector 1 comprises a housing 3 and a cover 5.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 3 has an outer wall 7 that extends in a cylindrical shape along the mating direction with the mating charging connector. Inside the outer wall 7, there is a mating portion 9 into which the mating charging connector can be fitted. The mating portion 9 has a mating outer wall 11 that extends in a cylindrical shape along the mating direction with the mating charging connector. The opening on the mating surface side of the mating outer wall 11 is an opening 13 into which the mating charging connector is inserted.

[0014] Here, the mating charging connector includes a standard charging connector (not shown) that charges the power supply over a normal period of time and a rapid charging connector (not shown) that charges the power supply over a short period of time. For this reason, the inside of the mating outer wall 11 of the housing 3 is divided into a standard mating portion 15 that can be mated with the standard charging connector and a rapid mating portion 17 that can be mated with the rapid charging connector. The opening formed between the outer wall 7 of the housing 3 and the mating outer wall 11 is closed by a decorative cover 19 that is assembled to the housing 3 via an engaging portion.

[0015] The standard mating portion 15 is positioned at the top inside the mating outer wall 11. The opening 13 of the standard mating portion 15 is a standard opening 21 into which a standard charging connector can be inserted. Inside the standard mating portion 15, a standard inner wall 23 is formed, extending in a cylindrical shape along the mating direction with the standard charging connector. Inside the standard inner wall 23, a plurality (seven in this case) of standard terminal housing chambers 25 are formed, extending in a cylindrical shape along the mating direction with the standard charging connector. The standard terminal housing chambers 25 are open on both sides in the longitudinal direction. The opening on one side in the longitudinal direction of the standard terminal housing chamber 25 is a connection opening into which the mating terminal (not shown) of the standard charging connector is inserted when the standard charging connector is mated to the standard mating portion 15. The opening on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the standard terminal housing chamber 25 is an insertion opening into which a terminal (not shown) for standard charging can be inserted into the standard terminal housing chamber 25. Terminals for standard charging are housed inside each of the plurality of standard terminal housing chambers 25 through their respective insertion openings.

[0016] The terminal for normal charging is electrically connected to the end of a wire (not shown) that is electrically connected to the power supply. The terminal for normal charging is electrically connected to the mating terminal of the normal charging connector when the normal charging connector is mated to the normal mating part 15. Due to the electrical connection between the terminal for normal charging and the mating terminal, the power supply is charged from the power supply equipment in a normal amount of time.

[0017] The rapid fitting portion 17 is disposed downward inside the fitting outer wall 11. The frontage 13 of the rapid fitting portion 17 forms a rapid frontage 27 into which a rapid charging connector can be inserted. Inside the rapid fitting portion 17, a rapid inner wall 29 extending cylindrically along the fitting direction with the rapid charging connector is formed. Inside the rapid inner wall 29, a plurality (here, two) of rapid terminal accommodating chambers 31 extending cylindrically along the fitting direction with the rapid charging connector are formed. The rapid terminal accommodating chambers 31 are open at both sides in the length direction. The opening on one side in the length direction of the rapid terminal accommodating chamber 31 becomes a connection opening into which the mating terminal (not shown) of the rapid charging connector is inserted when the rapid charging connector is fitted into the rapid fitting portion 17. The opening on the other side in the length direction of the rapid terminal accommodating chamber 31 becomes an insertion opening into which a terminal for rapid charging (not shown) can be inserted into the rapid terminal accommodating chamber 31. Inside the plurality of rapid terminal accommodating chambers 31, terminals for rapid charging are respectively accommodated from the insertion openings.

[0018] The terminal for rapid charging is electrically connected to the terminal portion of an electric wire (not shown) electrically connected to a power source. When the rapid charging connector is fitted into the rapid fitting portion 17, the terminal for rapid charging is electrically connected to the mating terminal of the rapid charging connector. Through the electrical connection between the terminal for rapid charging and the mating terminal, the power source is charged from the power supply facility in a short time.

[0019] Note that the terminals for normal charging and rapid charging accommodated in the housing 3 are held in the housing 3 by a rear holder (not shown) assembled to the housing 3, but the housing 3 may be provided with a locking lance that engages with the terminals.

[0020] The housing 3 is provided with a holding portion 33 for holding the cover 5 to the housing 3. The holding portion 33 is provided between the outer wall 7 and the fitting outer wall 11, and is disposed between the normal frontage 21 and the rapid frontage 27. An opening is provided in the portion of the design cover 19 where the holding portion 33 is located. The holding portion 33 is provided with a pair of extending portions 35, 35 spaced apart in the height direction of the housing 3 and extending along the fitting direction with the mating charging connector. The end portions in the extending direction of the pair of extending portions 35, 35 are exposed from the frontage 13 (design cover 19). The pair of extending portions 35, 35 are provided to be elastically deformable with the portion exposed from the frontage 13 as a free end. Each of the pair of extending portions 35, 35 is provided with a through hole 37 penetrating in the height direction of the housing 3. The opening edge of the end portion of the through hole 37 exposed from the frontage 13 serves as an engaged portion 39.

[0021] The charging connector 1 having the normal fitting portion 15 and the rapid fitting portion 17 in the housing 3 may not use the rapid fitting portion 17 when applied to, for example, a vehicle not equipped with a large-capacity power source. Therefore, the rapid frontage 27 of the rapid fitting portion 17 is blocked by the cover 5.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the cover 5 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, for example. The cover 5 includes a blocking portion 41, an insertion portion 43, a cable 45, and a fixing portion 47.

[0023] The blocking portion 41 is formed in a flat plate shape extending along a plane direction parallel to the rapid frontage 27. The blocking portion 41 is set to a size capable of covering the end face of the fitting outer wall 11 where the rapid frontage 27 is located. The blocking portion 41 blocks the rapid frontage 27 in a state where the cover 5 is assembled to the housing 3. For example, a gripping portion 49 for an operator to grip is provided on the surface of the blocking portion 41. The insertion portion 43 is provided on the back surface of the blocking portion 41.

[0024] Multiple insertion sections 43 are provided in the closing section 41, corresponding to multiple (two in this case) rapid terminal housing chambers 31. The insertion section 43 extends cylindrically from the closing section 41 toward the rapid terminal housing chambers 31 as a single continuous member with the closing section 41. The outer diameter of the insertion section 43 is set to be the same as the inner diameter of the rapid terminal housing chambers 31. Multiple (two in this case) slits 51 are formed in the circumferential direction of the insertion section 43. Multiple (two in this case) press-fit ribs 53 protrude from the outer surface of the insertion section 43, which are press-fitted into the inner surface of the rapid terminal housing chambers 31. The insertion section 43 is inserted into the rapid terminal housing chambers 31 with the cover 5 assembled to the housing 3. At this time, the insertion section 43 is elastically deformed by the slits 51, which reduces the insertion force of the insertion section 43 toward the rapid terminal housing chambers 31. The outer surface of the insertion portion 43 is pressed tightly against the inner surface of the rapid terminal housing chamber 31, and the cover 5 is held in place by the housing 3. In addition, by providing press-fit ribs 53 on the insertion portion 43, the press-fit of the insertion portion 43 into the rapid terminal housing chamber 31 can be strengthened, and the cover 5 can be stably held in place by the housing 3.

[0025] The cable 45 is formed from a single member, with one end continuous with the closing portion 41. The cable 45 has a length such that when the closing portion 41 is removed from the rapid opening 27 while the other end is fixed to the housing 3, the closing portion 41 is not located in the rapid opening 27. A fixing portion 47 is provided at the other end of the cable 45.

[0026] The fixing portion 47 is formed from a single member continuous with the cable 45 at the other end of the cable 45. The fixing portion 47 is provided with a retaining insertion portion 55 that is inserted into the retaining portion 33 of the housing 3. The height of the retaining insertion portion 55 is set to a height that allows it to be inserted between a pair of extension portions 35, 35 of the retaining portion 33. On the outer surface of the retaining insertion portion 55 facing the pair of extension portions 35, 35, there are each provided with engaging portions 57 that protrude toward the pair of extension portions 35, 35. When the fixing portion 47 is assembled to the retaining portion 33, the engaging portion 57 is inserted into the through hole 37 of the extension portion 35 and engages with the engaged portion 39 of the through hole 37. Due to the engagement between the engaged portion 39 and the engaging portion 57, the fixing portion 47 is held in the housing 3, and the cover 5 can be held in the housing 3 via the cable 45 even when the closing portion 41 is removed from the rapid opening 27.

[0027] In the conventional engaging portion 57, the front side of the fixing portion 47 in the insertion direction relative to the holding portion 33 is formed as an inclined surface, and the rear side in the insertion direction is a vertical locking surface that engages with the engaged portion 39. In the conventional engaging portion 57, when the fixing portion 47 is inserted into the holding portion 33, the inclined surface slides with the extension portion 35, causing the extension portion 35 to elastically deform. The elastically deformed extension portion 35 returns to its original state when the engaging portion 57 is positioned in the through hole 37, and the vertical locking surface of the engaging portion 57 engages with the engaged portion 39 of the extension portion 35. In the conventional state where the vertical locking surface of the engaging portion 57 and the engaged portion 39 (inner surface of the through hole 37) are engaged, the engagement is not released even if a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, and the fixing portion 47 is held in the housing 3.

[0028] By the way, in the charging connector 1, when the closing part 41 is removed from the rapid opening 27, for example, when the cover member that closes the vehicle's charging connector 1 is closed, the cable 45 may get caught in the cover member. When the cable 45 gets caught in the cover member, a tensile force is applied to the cable 45. In the conventional engaging part 57, even if a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, the engagement is not released, so the tensile force continues to be applied to the cable 45, which could cause damage to the cable 45.

[0029] Therefore, at least one of the housing 3 and the fixing part 47 is provided with a release part 59 that releases the engagement between the engaged part 39 and the engaging part 57 when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45. The release part 59 is provided on the engaging part 57 of the fixing part 47. The release part 59 is a locking surface 61 on the engaging part 57 that engages with the engaged part 39. The locking surface 61 is formed in a curved shape by forming the cross-sectional shape of the engaging part 57 into a hemispherical shape. By forming the outer surface of the engaging part 57 in a curved shape, when the fixing part 47 is inserted into the holding part 33, the outer surface of the engaging part 57 and the extension part 35 can slide against each other, causing the extension part 35 to be elastically deformed. The engagement force between the engaged part 39 and the engaging part 57 can be adjusted by adjusting the protruding height of the engaging part 57. For example, the protruding height of the engaging part 57 can be adjusted to match a predetermined tensile force that may cause damage to the cable 45.

[0030] The locking surface 61, acting as the release portion 59, has less engagement with the engaged portion 39 compared to a vertical locking surface when engaged with the engaged portion 39. When the locking surface 61 and the engaged portion 39 are engaged, a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, causing the fixing portion 47 to move, and the engagement with the engaged portion 39 is released along the curved surface of the locking surface 61. By releasing the engagement between the engaged portion 39 and the engaging portion 57, the fixing portion 47 can be detached from the housing 3. Therefore, when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, the other end of the cable 45 where the fixing portion 47 is located moves, preventing the tensile force from continuously being applied to the cable 45 and thus preventing damage to the cable 45. In addition, by making the locking surface 61 of the engaging portion 57 the release portion 59, the release portion 59 does not need to have a complex structure, and the engagement between the engaged portion 39 and the engaging portion 57 can be released with a simple structure.

[0031] Such a charging connector 1 includes a housing 3 having a mating portion 9 with an opening 13 into which a mating charging connector can be mated, and a cover 5 that closes the opening 13. The cover 5 is provided with a cable 45, one end of which is fixed integrally with the cover 5. The other end of the cable 45 is provided with a fixing portion 47 that is assembled to the housing 3 and holds the cover 5 to the housing 3 via the cable 45. Between the housing 3 and the fixing portion 47, there is an engaged portion 39 and an engaging portion 57 that engages with the engaged portion 39 and holds the fixing portion 47 to the housing 3. At least one of the housing 3 or the fixing portion 47 is provided with a release portion 59 that releases the engagement between the engaged portion 39 and the engaging portion 57 when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45.

[0032] When a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, the release part 59 releases the engagement between the engaged part 39 and the engaging part 57, allowing the fixed part 47 to be detached from the housing 3. Therefore, when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45, the other end of the cable 45 to which the fixed part 47 is provided moves, preventing the tensile force from being continuously applied to the cable 45 and thus preventing damage to the cable 45.

[0033] Therefore, with such a charging connector 1, damage to the cable 45 can be suppressed.

[0034] Furthermore, the release portion 59 is a curved locking surface 61 of the engaging portion 57 that engages with the engaged portion 39.

[0035] By making the release part 59 a curved locking surface 61, when a tensile force is applied to the cable 45 and the fixing part 47 is moved, the engagement with the engaged part 39 can be released along the curved surface of the locking surface 61. Therefore, the release part 59 does not have a complex structure, and the engagement between the engaged part 39 and the engaging part 57 can be released with a simple structure.

[0036] Although this embodiment has been described above, this embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of this embodiment.

[0037] For example, in the charging connector of this embodiment, the engaged portion is provided on the housing and the engaging portion is provided on the cover, but it is not limited to this, and the engaged portion may be provided on the cover and the engaging portion on the housing.

[0038] Furthermore, while the release mechanism is a locking surface formed in the curved shape of the engaging mechanism, it is not limited to this. For example, the release mechanism may be configured such that when a tensile force is applied to the cable, the extension is elastically deformed to release the engagement between the engaged and engaged parts.

[0039] Furthermore, the cover has an insertion portion that is inserted into the terminal housing chamber, but it is not limited to this; the cover may also have only a closing portion that closes the opening. In this case, an engaging portion or the like can be provided between the closing portion and the housing to engage with each other and hold the closing portion in the housing. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1. Charging connector 3 Housing 5 Cover 9. Fitting part 13 Frontage 39 Engaged portion 45 Cables 47 Fixed part 57 Engaging part 59 Release section 61 Locking surface

Claims

1. A housing having a mating portion with an opening formed therein into which a mating charging connector can be mated, A cover that closes the aforementioned opening, Equipped with, The cover is provided with a cable, one end of which is fixed integrally with the cover. The other end of the cable is provided with a fixing part that is assembled to the housing and holds the cover to the housing via the cable. Between the housing and the fixing portion, there is provided an engaged portion and an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion and holds the fixing portion to the housing. A charging connector in which at least one of the housing and the fixing part is provided with a release part that releases the engagement between the engaged part and the engaging part when a tensile force is applied to the cable.

2. The charging connector according to claim 1, wherein the release portion is a curved locking surface of the engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion.

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