Charging inlet

Abstract

To provide a charging inlet that can have an inlet cap closed while suppressing collision noise generated with an inlet body.SOLUTION: A charging inlet 100 comprises: an inlet body 110; a DC socket cap 120 (inlet cap) which closes a DC socket region (closed region) of a through hole 112a of a housing 112 in an openable / closable state, and covers a DC socket (mechanism part) of a socket part 111 (connection mechanism) in a closed state; and a connection part 130. The DC socket cap 120 (inlet cap) comprises: a cap body part; and a projection provided locally apart from the connection part 130 at a part facing the inlet body 110, the projection being an inlet pad part which abuts on the inlet body 110 earlier than any part of the cap body part when the cap body rotates to enter the closed state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging inlet that includes an inlet body and an inlet cap. [Background technology]

[0002] Charging inlets are used as vehicle-side connectors for charging batteries mounted on electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHVs), and the like, from an external power source. As described in Patent Document 1, charging inlets accommodate multiple terminals and have a mechanism compatible with charging standards for connecting to a charging connector. These charging inlets also include an inlet body that has a connection mechanism with a mating connector for charging, and an inlet cap that is openably attached to the inlet body and covers the connection mechanism with the mating connector when closed. When not charging, the inlet cap is closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-99256 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the inlet cap of the above-described charging inlet is closed, the inlet body and the plate-shaped inlet cap collide, generating a collision noise. In this case, the collision surface between the inlet cap and the inlet body is large, and the collision noise tends to be loud. A collision noise that is too loud can be unpleasant for the user.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a charging inlet that allows the inlet cap to be closed while reducing the collision noise with the inlet body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a charging inlet includes: an inlet main body accommodated in a housing such that a connection mechanism with a counterpart connector for charging is exposed from a through hole provided in an outer wall; an inlet cap that opens and closes a closed area that forms at least a part of the through hole in the housing and covers a mechanism portion of the connection mechanism located in the closed area in the closed state; and a connecting portion that hinges a part of a periphery of the inlet cap to the outer wall of the housing, wherein the inlet cap includes: a plate-shaped cap main body that faces the closed area and a peripheral surface of the closed area on the outer surface of the outer wall in the closed state; and an inlet abutment that is a protrusion that is locally provided in a facing portion of the cap main body that faces the peripheral surface, at a position away from the connecting portion, and extends to reach the outer peripheral edge of the cap main body, and that abuts against the inlet main body earlier than any other portion of the cap main body when the cap main body rotates to reach the closed state. A raised edge rib wall is formed along the edge of the closed region in a portion of the peripheral surface of the inlet body near the closed region, and the inlet abutment portion abuts against the leading edge of the edge rib wall when the closed state is reached, and has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape extending from the center side to the outer periphery side of the cap body portion in the facing portion, with a direction intersecting the leading edge of the edge rib wall in the closed state as the longitudinal direction. It is characterized by: The charging inlet also includes an inlet body accommodated in a housing such that a connection mechanism for connecting to a counterpart connector for charging is exposed from a through hole provided in an outer wall; an inlet cap that opens and closes a closed area that forms at least a part of the through hole in the housing and covers a mechanism part of the connection mechanism that is located in the closed area in the closed state; and a connecting part that hinges a part of the periphery of the inlet cap to the outer wall of the housing, wherein the inlet cap, in the closed state, has a plate-shaped cap main body that faces the closed area and a peripheral surface of the closed area on the outer surface of the outer wall, and a facing part of the cap main body that faces the peripheral surface at a position away from the connecting part. and an inlet abutment portion which is a protrusion locally provided so as to extend until it reaches the outer peripheral edge of the cap main body portion and which abuts against the inlet body earlier than any other portion of the cap main body portion when the cap main body portion rotates to reach the closed state, wherein the connection mechanism is contained in the housing with a gap between the inner peripheral edge of the through hole and the mechanism portion, and the cap main body portion is provided with an annular entry rib wall on the inside of the facing portion which enters into the gap so as to surround the periphery of the mechanism portion in the closed state, and the inlet abutment portion has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape extending from the outer peripheral surface of the entry rib wall to the outer peripheral side of the cap main body portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above-described charging inlet, the inlet cap can be closed while reducing the noise of collision with the inlet body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a charging inlet according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 2 is an external perspective view showing an inlet body of the charging inlet shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3]2 is a view of the DC socket cap shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the closed surface side facing the DC socket area. [Figure 4] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the DC socket cap and inlet body in a closed state, taken along V11-V11 in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the charging inlet will be described below.

[0010] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a charging inlet according to one embodiment, and Fig. 2 is an external perspective view showing an inlet body of the charging inlet shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, charging inlet 100 has a socket shape conforming to a Combined Charging System (CCS) Type 1, but may have a socket shape conforming to other charging standards.

[0011] The charging inlet 100 is a component used in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHVs) to charge the battery mounted on the vehicle body from an external power source. The charging inlet 100 includes an inlet body 110, a DC socket cap 120 (inlet cap), and a connecting portion 130 for the DC socket cap 120.

[0012] Inlet body 110 is configured such that socket portion 111, which is a connection mechanism with a mating connector for charging, is housed in housing 112 so as to be exposed from through-hole 112a provided in the outer wall. Housing 112 can be formed of, for example, insulating resin.

[0013] Socket unit 111 has a shape conforming to the charging standard and accommodates multiple terminals required for charging. In this embodiment, socket unit 111 includes AC socket 111a and DC socket 111b, which are accommodated so as to be exposed from through-hole 112a, which has an outline of two roughly oval shapes joined together in a T-shape when viewed from the direction of connection with the mating connector. AC socket 111a is accommodated in the hole corresponding to the vertical bar of the T, and DC socket 111b is accommodated in the hole corresponding to the horizontal bar.

[0014] The DC socket cap 120 is a cap member made of insulating resin that opens and closes as a closed area the DC socket area 112a-1, which corresponds to the horizontal bar of the T-shaped through-hole 112a in the housing 112. In the closed state, the DC socket cap 120 covers the DC socket 111b, which is a mechanical part located in the DC socket area 112a-1 in the socket section 111.

[0015] The connecting portion 130 is a portion that hinges a portion of the periphery of the DC socket cap 120 to the outer wall of the housing 112, and includes a cap-side connecting portion 131, a housing-side connecting portion 132, and a connecting rod 133. The cap-side connecting portion 131 is an arm-shaped plate portion extending from the periphery of the DC socket cap 120, and has a cylindrical portion 131a formed at its tip edge into which the connecting rod 133 fits. The housing-side connecting portion 132 is provided near the DC socket region 112a-1 on the outer wall of the housing 112, and is composed of a pair of bearing pillars 132a that stand with the cap-side connecting portion 131 sandwiched between them. Each bearing pillar 132a is provided with an insertion hole 132a-1 for the connecting rod 133. The connecting rod 133 is a rod member that is fitted so as to communicate with the pair of bearing posts 132a and the cylindrical portion 131a of the cap-side connecting portion 131 sandwiched between them, and that defines the rotation axis 120a of the DC socket cap 120. The DC socket cap 120 is hingedly connected to the outer wall of the housing 112 by this connecting portion 130 so that the DC socket area 112a-1 can be opened and closed by rotation in a rotation direction D11 about the rotation axis 120a. A spring is attached to the connecting portion 130, and this spring biases the DC socket cap 120 in a closing direction D12. When a mating connector for charging is connected to the DC socket 111b, the DC socket cap 120 is opened against the bias of the spring, exposing the DC socket 111b. When charging is completed and the DC socket cap 120 is closed in the closing direction D12, the biasing force of the spring closes the DC socket cap 120 with little force. After closing, the biasing force keeps the DC socket cap 120 closed.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a view of the DC socket cap shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the closed surface side facing the DC socket area, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the DC socket cap and inlet body in the closed state, taken along V11-V11 in FIG.

[0017] The DC socket cap 120 includes a plate-shaped cap body 121 , an inlet contact portion 122 , and an entrance rib wall 123 .

[0018] In the closed state, the cap body 121 faces the DC socket region 112a-1 of the through-hole 112a of the housing 112 in the inlet body 110 and a peripheral surface 112b of the DC socket region 112a-1 on the outer surface of the outer wall of the housing 112. The cap body 121 is an oval plate-like member corresponding to the shape of the DC socket region 112a-1, which corresponds to the horizontal bar of the T-shaped through-hole 112a. The cap side connecting portion 131 extends from a part 121a-1 of the peripheral edge 121a at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cap body 121.

[0019] The inlet abutment portion 122 is a protrusion locally provided at a position away from the cap-side connecting portion 131 of the connecting portion 130 on the facing portion 121b of the cap main body 121 that faces the peripheral surface 112b of the DC socket region 112a-1. When the cap main body 121 rotates to reach a closed state in which the DC socket region 112a-1 is blocked, the inlet abutment portion 122 comes into contact with the inlet body 110 earlier than any other portion of the cap main body 121. Here, in this embodiment, the inlet abutment portion 122 is provided at a position on the facing portion 121b that is farthest from the connecting portion 130 and sandwiches the DC socket 111b between itself and the connecting portion 130 in the closed state. The inlet abutment portion 122 is provided so that the height of its top at this position is such that it abuts against the inlet body 110 earlier than any other portion of the cap main body 121.

[0020] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a raised edge rib wall 112c is formed along the edge of the DC socket region 112a-1 in a portion of the peripheral surface 112b of the inlet body 110 near the DC socket region 112a-1. The inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c when the inlet abutment portion 122 reaches the closed state. At this time, the inlet abutment portion 122 has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape extending from the center to the outer periphery of the cap body portion 121 at the facing portion 121b, with the direction intersecting the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c in the closed state as the longitudinal direction D13. The inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c at the apex of this semi-cylindrical shape.

[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the socket portion 111 is accommodated in the housing 112 with a gap between the AC socket 111a and the DC socket 111b and the inner periphery of the through-hole 112a. Focus on the gap d11 between the DC socket 111b and the inner periphery of the DC socket region 112a-1 of the through-hole 112a. The cap body 121 is provided with an annular entry rib wall 123 on the inside of the facing portion 121b. The annular entry rib wall 123 fits into the gap d11 and surrounds the DC socket 111b in a closed state. As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet abutment portion 122 has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape that extends from the outer periphery 123a of the entry rib wall 123 toward the outer periphery of the cap body 121.

[0022] In the DC socket cap 120 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , in the closed state, the cap main body 121 faces the DC socket area 112a-1 and its peripheral surface 112b as follows. That is, in the closed state, the cap main body 121 faces the DC socket area 112a-1 and its peripheral surface 112b while the inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the inlet body 110, but does not contact the inlet body 110. The non-contact state here refers to a state in which a gap d12 is formed between the cap main body 121 and any of the DC socket 111b, the peripheral surface 112b, and the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c of the socket portion 111. In the closed state, the cap main body 121 faces the DC socket area 112a-1 and its peripheral surface 112b while the inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the inlet body 110 in this non-contact state.

[0023] According to the charging inlet 100 of the embodiment described above, when the DC socket cap 120 is closed to reach the closed state, the inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the inlet body 110 before any other portion of the cap body 121. In other words, the collision sound between the DC socket cap 120 and the inlet body 110 during the closed state is essentially the collision sound between the inlet abutment portion 122 and the inlet body 110. Furthermore, because the inlet abutment portion 122 is a locally provided protrusion and the contact area with the inlet body 110 is reduced, the collision sound with the inlet body 110 during the closed state is suppressed. In this way, according to the charging inlet 100 described above, the DC socket cap 120 can be closed while suppressing the collision sound with the inlet body 110.

[0024] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the inlet body 110 at a position away from the connecting portion 130 before any other portion of the cap body 121. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the DC socket cap 120 from being completely closed due to interference between the vicinity of the connecting portion 130 of the cap body 121, i.e., the portion around the pivot shaft 120a, and the inlet body 110 during closing.

[0025] In this embodiment, when the DC socket cap 120 is in the closed state, the cap body 121 faces the DC socket region 112a-1 and the peripheral surface 112b in a non-contact state, except for the connecting portion 130 and the inlet abutment portion 122. With this configuration, the cap body 121 and the inlet body 110 are in a non-contact state, so that the DC socket cap 120 can be closed while further reducing the collision noise with the inlet body 110. Furthermore, because the DC socket cap 120 is closed in a non-contact state, interference with the inlet body 110 can be further reduced.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inlet abutment portion 122 is provided in the facing portion 121b at a position farthest from the connecting portion 130, with the DC socket 111b sandwiched between the inlet abutment portion 122 and the connecting portion 130 in the closed state. The position farthest from the connecting portion 130 in the facing portion 121b is the portion that abuts against the peripheral surface 112b with the strongest force when the DC socket cap 120 is closed. With the above configuration, the inlet abutment portion 122 is formed in this portion, reducing the contact area of this portion with the peripheral surface 112b, and therefore the DC socket cap 120 can be closed while more effectively suppressing impact noise when closed.

[0027] In this embodiment, an edge rib wall 112c is formed on the peripheral surface 112b of the DC socket region 112a-1 along the edge of the DC socket region 112a-1. The inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c when the inlet reaches the closed state. This configuration further reduces the contact area between the inlet abutment portion 122 and the inlet body 110, thereby further reducing the collision noise with the inlet body 110 when the inlet is closed.

[0028] In this embodiment, the inlet abutment portion 122 has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape extending from the center to the outer periphery of the cap body 121 at the facing portion 121b, with the direction intersecting the leading edge of the edge rib wall 112c being the longitudinal direction D13. With this configuration, the inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the edge rib wall 112c at the top of the semi-cylindrical shape, which further reduces the contact area with the inlet body 110 and further reduces the collision noise with the inlet body 110 when the inlet is closed.

[0029] In this embodiment, the cap main body 121 includes an annular entry rib wall 123 on the inside of the facing portion 121b. The entry rib wall 123 fits into the gap d11 between the inner periphery of the through-hole 112a and the DC socket 111b. The inlet contact portion 122 has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape that extends from the outer circumferential surface 123a of the entry rib wall 123 toward the outer periphery of the cap main body 121. This configuration allows the annular entry rib wall 123 that fits into the gap d11 in a closed state to surround the DC socket 111b, thereby improving the ability of the DC socket cap 120 to close the DC socket 111b. The annular entry rib wall 123 and the semi-cylindrical inlet contact portion 122 that extends from the outer circumferential surface 123a function as reinforcing members of the DC socket cap 120, thereby improving the strength of the DC socket cap 120.

[0030] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the charging inlet, and the charging inlet is not limited to this and can be implemented in various modifications.

[0031] For example, in the above-described embodiment, charging inlet 100 used in electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHVs), etc. for charging batteries is exemplified as an example of a charging inlet. However, the charging inlet is not limited to this, and any specific application is possible as long as it has a connection mechanism with a mating connector for charging.

[0032] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of a connection mechanism in which an inlet cap covers at least a part of a mechanism, the socket portion 111 in which the DC socket 111b is covered with the DC socket cap 120 is exemplified. However, this connection mechanism is not limited to this, and as long as it is a connection mechanism with a counterpart connector for charging, it may have only a DC socket or an AC socket, and the specific mechanism form is not important.

[0033] In the above-described embodiment, the DC socket cap 120 that opens and closes the DC socket area 112a-1 that forms part of the through-hole 112a of the housing 112 is exemplified as an example of an inlet cap. In the closed state, the DC socket cap 120 covers the DC socket 111b in the socket portion 111. However, the inlet cap is not limited to this, and may be one that closes the entire through-hole as long as it closes a closed area that forms at least a part of the through-hole in the housing. Furthermore, even if a part of the through-hole is closed as a closed area, the closed area is not limited to the DC socket area, and the inlet cap may be one that closes the AC socket area where the AC socket is located inside as a closed area.

[0034] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the DC socket cap 120 that, in the closed state, closes the DC socket area 112a-1 in a non-contact state other than the connecting portion 130 and the inlet abutment portion 122 is exemplified as an example of an inlet cap. However, the inlet cap is not limited to this, and may be in contact with the inlet body at a location other than the connecting portion and the inlet abutment portion. However, as described above, by keeping the non-contact state other than the connecting portion 130 and the inlet abutment portion 122, it is possible to further reduce collision noise and further reduce interference with the inlet body 110.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the inlet abutment portion, inlet abutment portion 122 is provided at a position farthest from coupling portion 130, with DC socket 111b sandwiched between inlet abutment portion 122 and coupling portion 130 in the closed state. However, the inlet abutment portion is not limited to this, and may be provided at a position as far away from the coupling portion as the DC socket, or may be provided closer to the coupling portion than the DC socket. However, as described above, by providing inlet abutment portion 122 at a position farthest from coupling portion 130, with DC socket 111b sandwiched between inlet abutment portion 122 and coupling portion 130, collision noise during the closed state can be more effectively suppressed.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, charging inlet 100 is exemplified as an example of a charging inlet, in which an edge rib wall 112c is formed along the edge of DC socket region 112a-1, and in which inlet abutment portion 122 abuts against the leading edge of this edge rib wall 112c in the closed state. However, the charging inlet is not limited to this, and may not be provided with an edge rib wall or the like, and in which the inlet abutment portion abuts against a flat surface in the closed state. However, as described above, by abutting inlet abutment portion 122 against the leading edge of edge rib wall 112c, impact noise during closing can be further reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, charging inlet 100 is exemplified as an example of a charging inlet, in which inlet abutment portion 122 having a raised, semi-cylindrical shape intersects and abuts against the leading edge of peripheral rib wall 112c. However, the charging inlet is not limited to this, and the specific shape of the inlet abutment portion when abutting against the leading edge of the peripheral rib wall can be set to any shape. However, as described above, by having inlet abutment portion 122 having a raised, semi-cylindrical shape intersect and abut against the leading edge of peripheral rib wall 112c, it is possible to further reduce the impact noise when closing the door.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the DC socket cap 120 is exemplified as an example of an inlet cap, in which the semi-cylindrical inlet abutment portion 122 extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 123a of the annular entry rib wall 123. However, the inlet cap is not limited to this, and the entry rib wall or the like may not be provided, and the specific shape of the inlet cap may be set to any shape. However, as described above, by providing the annular entry rib wall 123 and the semi-cylindrical inlet abutment portion 122 extending from the outer peripheral surface 123a, the blocking performance for the DC socket 111b, which is the mechanical part to be blocked, can be improved, and the strength of the cap can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100 Charging Inlet 110 Inlet body 111 Socket part (connection mechanism) 111a AC socket 111b DC socket (mechanical part) 112 Housing 112a Through hole 112a-1 DC socket area (blocked area) 112b Peripheral surface 112c Edge rib wall 120 DC socket cap (inlet cap) 120a Rotating shaft 121 Cap body 121a Periphery 121a-1 Part 121b Opposite side 122 Inlet contact part 123 Entry rib wall 123a Outer surface 130 Connection section 131 Cap side connection part 132 Housing side connection part 132a Bearing pillar 132a-1 Inset hole 133 Connecting rod d11,d12 gap D11 Rotation direction D12 Closure direction D13 Longitudinal direction

Claims

1. an inlet body accommodated in a housing such that a connection mechanism with a mating connector for charging is exposed through a through hole provided in an outer wall; an inlet cap that opens and closes a closed region that forms at least a part of the through hole in the housing and that, in a closed state, covers a mechanism portion of the connection mechanism that is located in the closed region; a connecting portion that hinges a portion of a periphery of the inlet cap to the outer wall of the housing, The inlet cap is a plate-shaped cap body portion that faces the closed region and a peripheral surface of the closed region on the outer surface of the outer wall in the closed state; an inlet abutment portion, which is a protrusion locally provided at a facing portion of the cap body portion facing the peripheral surface at a position away from the connecting portion so as to extend to reach the outer circumferential edge of the cap body portion, and which abuts against the inlet body earlier than any other portion of the cap body portion when the cap body portion rotates to reach the closed state; Equipped with a raised edge rib wall is formed along an edge of the closed region in a portion of the peripheral surface of the inlet body that is closer to the closed region, A charging inlet characterized in that the inlet contact portion abuts against the tip edge of the edge rib wall when reaching the closed state, and has a raised, kamaboko-shaped shape extending from the center side of the cap main body portion to the outer periphery side in the facing portion, with the direction intersecting the tip edge of the edge rib wall in the closed state as the longitudinal direction.

2. an inlet body accommodated in a housing such that a connection mechanism with a mating connector for charging is exposed through a through hole provided in an outer wall; an inlet cap that opens and closes a closed region that forms at least a part of the through hole in the housing and that, in a closed state, covers a mechanism portion of the connection mechanism that is located in the closed region; a connecting portion that hinges a portion of a periphery of the inlet cap to the outer wall of the housing, The inlet cap is a plate-shaped cap body portion that faces the closed region and a peripheral surface of the closed region on the outer surface of the outer wall in the closed state; an inlet abutment portion, which is a protrusion locally provided at a facing portion of the cap body portion facing the peripheral surface at a position away from the connecting portion so as to extend to reach the outer circumferential edge of the cap body portion, and which abuts against the inlet body earlier than any other portion of the cap body portion when the cap body portion rotates to reach the closed state; Equipped with the connection mechanism is accommodated in the housing with a gap between an inner periphery of the through hole and the mechanism portion, the cap body is provided with an annular entry rib wall on the inside of the facing portion, the entry rib wall being adapted to enter the gap so as to surround the periphery of the mechanism portion in the closed state; The charging inlet is characterized in that the inlet contact portion has a raised, semi-cylindrical shape that extends from the outer peripheral surface of the entry rib wall to the outer peripheral side of the cap main body portion.

3. 3. The charging inlet according to claim 1, wherein, in the closed state, a portion of the periphery of the inlet cap is hingedly connected to the outer wall, and the inlet contact portion abuts against the inlet body, and the cap body portion faces the closed area and the peripheral surface in a non-contact state with a gap between the mechanism portion of the connection mechanism and the peripheral surface.

4. 3. The charging inlet according to claim 1, wherein the inlet contact portion is provided in the facing portion at a position furthest from the connecting portion, and sandwiches the mechanism portion between the inlet contact portion and the connecting portion in the closed state.

Images