Charging device
The rotatable suspension unit in the charging device addresses the challenge of twisting charging cables by aligning them with vehicle ports, improving user convenience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
Users face difficulty in handling charging cables due to the need to twist them into specific positions and orientations when connecting to vehicles, especially with thicker and harder cables used for rapid charging.
A charging device with a rotatable suspension unit that allows the charging cable to change direction, reducing the need for twisting by enabling the cable to be aligned with the vehicle's charging port without significant user effort.
Improves the ease of use of charging cables by allowing seamless connection without excessive twisting, enhancing user operability.
Smart Images
Figure 2026122578000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging device.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-205312) discloses a conventional vehicle charging device. The charging cable fixing part is composed of a gripping part for gripping the charging cable and a moving part for moving in the groove of the arm.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] When connecting the connector of the charging cable to the vehicle, depending on the position and orientation of the connection part, the user may need to twist the part of the charging cable from the charging cable fixing part to the connector. Thus, depending on the above connection position and orientation, it becomes difficult for the user to handle the charging cable.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a charging device that can improve the operability of the charging cable by the user.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A charging device according to a certain aspect of the present disclosure comprises a charging connector, a charging cable, a charger, and a suspension unit. The charging connector is configured to be connectable to a vehicle. The charging cable extends from the charging connector. The charger is connected to the charging cable and is configured to supply externally supplied power to a vehicle connected to the charging connector via the charging cable and the charging connector. The suspension unit is located on top of the charger. The suspension unit suspends the charging cable. At least a portion of the suspension unit is configured to be rotatable such that the direction of extension of the portion of the charging cable suspended by the suspension unit changes when viewed from above. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to this disclosure, the ease of use of the charging cable by the user can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows a charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan view illustrating a method of charging using a charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This figure shows a charging device according to a modified example of one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Hereinafter, a charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.
[0010] Figure 1 shows a charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1(A) shows a plan view of the charging device. Figure 1(B) shows a front view of the charging device. Figure 1(C) shows a side view of the charging device.
[0011] As shown in Figure 1, a charging device 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a charging connector 10, a charging cable 20, a charger 30, and a suspension part 40.
[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a method of charging using a charging device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2(A) shows the first step of a first example of the method. Figure 2(B) shows the second step of a first example of the method. Figure 2(C) shows the first step of a second example of the method. Figure 2(D) shows the second step of a second example of the method.
[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the charging connector 10 is configured to be connectable to a vehicle 100. The charging connector 10 is a so-called handgun type. The charging connector 10 includes a first end 11 and a second end 12. The first end 11 is connected to the vehicle 100. The direction of connection of the first end 11 to the vehicle 100 is indicated by the reference numeral "D1" in the drawings. The second end 12 is the end opposite to the first end 11. The end face of the second end 12 faces in a direction intersecting the connection direction D1. The vehicle 100 is, for example, an electric vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV).
[0014] The charging cable 20 extends from the charging connector 10. The charging cable 20 extends from the end face of the second end 12 of the charging connector 10. The charging cable 20 includes a fixed portion 21, a first extending portion 22, and a second extending portion 23. The first extending portion 22 is the portion that extends between the fixed portion 21 and the second end 12 of the charging connector 10. The second extending portion 23 is the portion that extends from the fixed portion 21 on the opposite side from the first extending portion 22. The direction in which the first extending portion 22 extends from the fixed portion 21 is indicated by the reference numeral "D2" in the drawing.
[0015] In addition, when the charging device 1 is a charging device capable of rapid charging, since the heat generation amount of the conductive wire in the charging cable 20 is relatively large during charging, the charging cable 20 tends to be relatively thick and hard as a whole. Further, when the charging cable 20 is made relatively long for improving the convenience of the user, the heat generation amount of the conductive wire increases, so the charging cable 20 is designed to be relatively thick as a whole. The thicker and harder the charging cable 20 is, the more difficult it may be for the user to handle the charging cable 20.
[0016] The charger 30 is connected to the charging cable 20 and is configured to supply the power supplied from the outside to the vehicle 100 connected to the charging connector 10 via the charging cable 20 and the charging connector 10. More specifically, the charger 30 is connected to the second extending portion 23.
[0017] The charger 30 includes a housing 31, a connector housing portion 32, and an input portion 33. The second extending portion 23 of the charging cable 20 extends from the upper portion of the housing 31.
[0018] The connector housing portion 32 is provided on the front surface 31a of the housing 31. The connector housing portion 32 can house the charging connector 10 when the charging connector 10 is inserted into the connector housing portion 32 when the charging is not performed by the user (standby state). In the standby state, the connection direction D1 is the direction facing the front surface 31a.
[0019] The input portion 33 is, for example, a touch panel. The input portion 33 is provided on the front surface 31a of the housing 31. Based on the signal transmitted from the input portion 33 according to the input to the input portion 33 by the user, a control portion (not shown) of the charger 30 starts and stops the charging of the vehicle 100.
[0020] The hanging portion 40 is provided on the upper portion of the charger 30. The hanging portion 40 hangs the charging cable 20.
[0021] The hanging part 40 includes a support part 41 and a rotating part 42. The support part 41 extends from the upper part of the housing 31 of the charger 30 toward the front 31a side. The support part 41 supports the rotating part 42 so that the rotating part 42 can rotate about the rotation axis C on the front 31a side when viewed from the housing 31. The rotation axis C is generally in the vertical direction (perpendicular direction). An electric motor (not shown) for rotating the rotating part 42 may be provided on the support part 41. Based on the signal transmitted from the input part 33 by the input of the user to the input part 33, the control part of the charger 30 may control the electric motor. Based on the signal transmitted from a wireless detector (not shown) capable of detecting the vehicle 100 approaching the charging device 1 when the vehicle 100 is stored or the like, the control part of the charger 30 may control the electric motor.
[0022] The fixed part 21 of the charging cable 20 is fixed to the rotating part 42. Therefore, the extending direction D2 of the charging cable 20 changes as the rotating part 42 rotates. The rotating part 42 may be configured to be manually rotatable by the user.
[0023] That is, at least a part of the hanging part 40 is configured to be rotatable so that the extending direction (the direction along the extending direction D2) when viewed from the vertical direction of the part (fixed part 21) of the charging cable 20 hung by the hanging part 40 changes.
[0024] In the present embodiment, the fixed part 21 may be fixed to the rotating part 42 so that the extending direction D2 becomes the radial direction centered on the rotation axis C. In the standby state, the extending direction D2 may be, for example, the direction in which the front face 31a faces. In the present embodiment, when the connection direction D1 and the extending direction D2 face opposite directions (in the standby state), the twist of the first extending part 22 of the charging cable 20 is in the smallest state.
[0025] In this embodiment, the rotating part 42 includes a rail 42a and a slider 42b. The rail 42a is supported by a support part 41. The slider 42b is configured to slide linearly on the lower surface of the rail 42a. The fixed portion 21 of the charging cable 20 is fixed to the rail 42a. The sliding direction is, for example, along the extension direction D2.
[0026] Here, we will describe how a user can charge the vehicle 100 using the charging device 1. First, we will describe an example where the direction in which the charging port 110 of the vehicle 100 faces is perpendicular to the direction in which the front 31a faces. As shown in Figure 2(A), in the first step, the user rotates the rotating part 42 of the suspension part 40 so that the extension direction D2 is parallel to the direction in which the charging port 110 faces.
[0027] Then, as shown in Figure 2(B), in the second step, the charging connector 10 is connected to the charging port 110. As a result, the connection direction D1 is opposite to the extension direction D2. Therefore, even when the charging connector 10 is connected to the charging port 110 of the vehicle 100, the relative orientation of the connection direction D1 with respect to the extension direction D2 in the standby state (see Figure 1) can be maintained. In other words, the user can connect the charging connector 10 to the charging port 110 while suppressing twisting of the first extended portion 22 of the charging cable 20.
[0028] In the above case, if the rotating part 42 is unable to rotate, the user must change the relative orientation of the connection direction D1 with respect to the extension direction D2, when viewed from above or below, by 90° from the standby state (see Figure 1). In other words, the user will need to twist the first extending part 22 significantly using their own force.
[0029] Next, we will describe an example in which the direction the charging port 110 of the vehicle 100 faces is opposite to the direction the front 31a faces. As shown in Figure 2(C), first, in the first step, the user rotates the pivot portion 42 of the suspension portion 40 so that the extension direction D2 intersects (for example, perpendicular to) the direction the charging port 110 faces.
[0030] Then, as shown in Figure 2(D), in the second step, the charging connector 10 is connected to the charging port 110. As a result, the connection direction D1 is in a direction that intersects (orthogonal to) the extension direction D2. Therefore, even when the charging connector 10 is connected to the charging port 110 of the vehicle 100, the relative orientation of the connection direction D1 with respect to the extension direction D2 in the standby state (see Figure 1) can be suppressed. In other words, the user can connect the charging connector 10 to the charging port 110 while suppressing twisting of the first extended portion 22 of the charging cable 20.
[0031] In the above case, if the rotating part 42 is unable to rotate, the user must change the relative orientation of the connection direction D1 with respect to the extension direction D2, as viewed from above and below, by 180° from the standby state (see Figure 1). In other words, the user will need to twist the first extending part 22 very significantly using their own force.
[0032] As described above, a charging device 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a charging connector 10, a charging cable 20, a charger 30, and a suspension part 40. The charging connector 10 is configured to be connectable to a vehicle 100. The charging cable 20 extends from the charging connector 10. The charger 30 is connected to the charging cable 20 and is configured to supply power supplied from an external source to the vehicle 100 connected to the charging connector 10 via the charging cable 20 and the charging connector 10. The suspension part 40 is provided on the upper part of the charger 30. The suspension part 40 suspends the charging cable 20. At least a part of the suspension part 40 is configured to be rotatable so that the direction of extension of the portion of the charging cable 20 suspended by the suspension part 40, when viewed from the vertical direction, changes. This configuration improves the operability of the charging cable 20 by the user.
[0033] Note that the specific configuration of the rotating part 42 is not limited to those described above. Figure 3 shows a charging device according to a modified example of one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3(A) shows a front view of the charging device according to the first modified example. Figure 3(B) shows a side view of the charging device according to the first modified example. Figure 3(C) shows a top view of the charging device according to the second modified example. Figure 3(D) shows a front view of the charging device according to the second modified example. Figure 3(E) shows a side view of the charging device according to the second modified example.
[0034] As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the rotating part 42X does not necessarily include a rail and a slider. This means that the relative position of the fixed portion 21 of the charging cable 20 with respect to the rotating part 42X may be fixed. However, by including the rail 42a and slider 42b in the rotating part 42 as in the embodiment described above, twisting of the entire charging cable 20 when connected to the vehicle 100 can be reduced.
[0035] As shown in Figures 3(C) to 3(E), the rotating part 42Y may further include a gripped part 42c that can be grasped by the user. This allows the user to easily rotate the rotating part 42Y by grasping the gripped part 42c when manually rotating the rotating part 42Y. The gripped part 42c may be called a handle. The gripped part 42c is provided at the radial end of the rotating part 42Y with respect to the rotation axis C. The gripped part 42c may include a locking mechanism (not shown). The locking mechanism is configured so that the user can change between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state, the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the rotating part 42Y. In the unlocked state, the locking mechanism does not restrict the rotation of the rotating part 42Y. This makes it easy for the user to rotate the rotating part 42Y toward a desired position and then fix the position of the rotating part 42Y at that desired position.
[0036] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0037] 1 Charging device, 10 Charging connector, 11 First end, 12 Second end, 20 Charging cable, 21 Fixed part, 22 First extension part, 23 Second extension part, 30 Charger, 31 Housing, 31a Front view, 32 Connector storage part, 33 Input part, 40 Hanging part, 41 Support part, 42, 42X, 42Y Rotating parts, 42a Rail, 42b Slider, 42c Gripping part, 100 Vehicle, 110 Charging port, C Rotation axis, D1 Connection direction, D2 Extension direction.
Claims
[Claim 1] A charging device, Charging connector and Charging cable and Charger and It is equipped with a suspension part, The charging connector is configured to be connectable to a vehicle, The charging cable extends from the charging connector, The charger is connected to the charging cable and is configured to supply power supplied from an external source to the vehicle connected to the charging connector via the charging cable and the charging connector. The aforementioned suspension part is provided on the upper part of the charger, The aforementioned suspension part suspends the charging cable. A charging device in which at least a portion of the suspension part is configured to be rotatable such that the direction of extension of the portion of the charging cable that is suspended by the suspension part changes when viewed from the vertical direction.