Charging mechanism

Abstract

To provide a technology for reducing size of a charging inlet while providing an alignment mechanism and a locking mechanism in a charging mechanism including a charging connector and the charging inlet for connecting the charging connector.SOLUTION: A charging mechanism includes a charging connector that is a connection terminal on a power supply side and a charging inlet that is a connection portion on a vehicle side to which the charging connector is connected. The charging connector includes a positioning pin that is arranged perpendicularly to a surface to be connected to the charging inlet and has a tip thinner than a base. The charging inlet includes a positioning hole configured so that the positioning pin is inserted at the connection and a lock mechanism fixing the outer periphery of the positioning pin upon connection of the charging connector and the charging inlet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging mechanism that connects a vehicle to an external power source for charging the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a charging connector that detects breakage or other failure of a locking pin that prevents the charging connector from coming off the charging port. This technology aims to prevent charging from occurring in a state where the charging connector's anti-detachment function may not be functioning properly, thereby preventing the charging connector from coming off during charging. In Patent Document 1, the locking pin is located on the side of the charging port and locks the charging connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-239617 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a contact-type automatic charging system that connects a vehicle to an external power source to charge the vehicle, charging is achieved by connecting a terminal on the power source side, called a charging connector, to a connection on the vehicle side, called a charging port or charging inlet. Because it is undesirable for the charging connector to become detached from the charging inlet during charging, a locking mechanism is provided on the outer periphery of the charging inlet. Furthermore, to account for errors in the device's operation during connection, the charging inlet is provided with an alignment mechanism, such as a guide taper, to accommodate misalignment when connecting with the charging connector. However, incorporating a guide taper or a locking mechanism on the outer periphery requires the charging inlet to be larger. Because a larger charging inlet imposes more restrictions on its installation in a vehicle, it is desirable to make the charging inlet as small as possible.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a charging mechanism including a charging connector and a charging inlet, in which the size of the charging inlet is reduced while still incorporating a locking mechanism and an alignment mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a charging mechanism that connects a vehicle to a power source external to the vehicle for charging the vehicle. The charging mechanism includes a charging connector, which is a connection terminal on the power source side, and a charging inlet, which is a connection portion on the vehicle side to which the charging connector is connected. The charging connector is arranged perpendicular to the surface that connects to the charging inlet and is equipped with a positioning pin whose tip is thinner than its base. The charging inlet includes a positioning hole configured to receive a positioning pin when the charging connector and the charging inlet are connected, and a locking mechanism that fixes an outer periphery of the positioning pin when the charging connector and the charging inlet are connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the technology of the present disclosure, in a charging mechanism including a charging connector and a charging inlet, the size of the charging inlet can be reduced while still being equipped with a locking mechanism and an alignment mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a charging mechanism in a comparative technique. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a charging mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Charging mechanisms that connect a vehicle to an external power source for charging the vehicle are known. The charging mechanism includes a charging connector, which is a connection terminal on the power source side, and a charging inlet, which is a connection portion on the vehicle side to which the charging connector is connected. It is considered that such charging mechanisms can be used in a contact-type automatic charging system that automatically connects to a vehicle to charge it. For example, it is considered that such a charging mechanism can be used in a contact-type automatic charging system in which an arm is operated from a charging device installed on the ground, and the charging connector is connected from below to a charging inlet mounted on the bottom of the vehicle to charge it.

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a charging mechanism used in such a contact-type automatic charging system according to a comparative technique. Charging mechanism 100 includes charging inlet 11 and charging connector 21. Fitting portion 12 of charging inlet 11 is shaped to mate with terminal 22 of charging connector 21, and when charging connector 21 is connected to charging inlet 11, terminal 22 and fitting portion 12 mate to allow current to flow, thereby charging the vehicle. Charging connector 21 is equipped with a locking mechanism (described later) and is therefore provided with a cover 24 that covers the outer periphery of charging inlet 11 when mated.

[0012] The charging mechanism 100 is equipped with an alignment mechanism and a locking mechanism. The alignment mechanism is a mechanism for absorbing misalignment when the charging connector 21 is connected to the charging inlet 11. Consider a situation in which a charging device in a contact-type automatic charging system operates an arm to connect the charging connector 21 to the charging inlet 11. The contact-type automatic charging system uses a sensor to detect the positions of the charging inlet 11 and the charging connector 21, calculates the trajectory of the arm, and controls the arm based on the calculated trajectory. However, at this time, errors in the sensor detection information and the arm control amount may cause a misalignment between the charging connector 21 moved by the arm and the charging inlet 11. The alignment mechanism is equipped to absorb such misalignment between the charging connector 21 and the charging inlet 11 and to engage the terminal 22 with the fitting portion 12.

[0013] In FIG. 1 , charging inlet 11 is equipped with guide taper 13 as an alignment mechanism. Guide taper 13 is provided at the entrance of fitting portion 12 and has a sloped shape that is wider at the entrance and narrows toward the back. The sloped shape of guide taper 13 guides charging connector 21 to a position where terminal 22 and fitting portion 12 are fitted together, thereby absorbing any misalignment between charging inlet 11 and charging connector 21.

[0014] The locking mechanism is a mechanism for securing the charging connector 21 to prevent it from unintentionally coming loose while connected to the charging inlet 11. When connecting the charging connector 21 to the charging inlet 11, an arm of the contact-type automatic charging system is activated to move the charging connector 21. Once the connection is complete and charging begins, there is no need to move the arm until charging is complete, so the motor that moves the arm is turned off to save power. If this happens, the charging connector 21 may become unsupported by the arm and come loose from the charging inlet 11 during charging. This is particularly true when the charging inlet 11 is facing downwards. This is why a locking mechanism is necessary.

[0015] The periphery of fitting portion 12 has an inclined shape due to guide taper 13, and therefore a locking mechanism cannot be provided, and therefore in FIG. 1 the locking mechanism is provided on the portion corresponding to the outer periphery of charging inlet 11. In FIG. 1, the locking mechanism is configured by a combination of protrusion 25 provided on cover 24 of charging connector 21 and recess 15 provided on the side surface of charging inlet 11. When charging inlet 11 and charging connector 21 are connected, protrusion 25 and recess 15 are engaged with each other, thereby fixing charging connector 21 so that it does not come loose.

[0016] Both the alignment mechanism and the locking mechanism are mechanisms that are required to be installed in the charging mechanism 100. Without the alignment mechanism, misalignment between the charging connector 21 and the charging inlet 11 during connection would not be accommodated, and without the locking mechanism, there is a risk that the charging connector 21 will come loose from the charging inlet 11 during charging. However, installing an alignment mechanism or a locking mechanism also increases the size of the charging mechanism 100. Because the guide taper 13 serving as the alignment mechanism has a shape that widens outward from the mating portion 12, it leads to an increase in the outer diameter of the charging inlet 11. Furthermore, installing a locking mechanism on the outer periphery of the charging inlet 11 also requires increasing the outer diameter of the charging inlet 11 so that recesses 15 can be provided on the side surfaces.

[0017] As described above, the comparative technology requires the inclusion of an alignment mechanism and a locking mechanism, which means the charging inlet must be large. However, a larger size places more restrictions on installing the charging inlet in a vehicle. However, not including an alignment mechanism would require the installation of a separate mechanism to correct misalignment between the charging inlet and the charging connector when connected, and not including a locking mechanism would raise the risk of the charging connector becoming disconnected during charging.

[0018] The charging mechanism according to this embodiment is a charging mechanism provided in consideration of these problems. The charging mechanism according to this embodiment is equipped with both an alignment mechanism and a locking mechanism, while enabling the size of the charging inlet to be reduced. FIG. 2 shows an example configuration of charging mechanism 200 according to this embodiment. Charging mechanism 200 according to this embodiment also includes charging inlet 31 and charging connector 41. As with FIG. 1, charging inlet 31 includes fitting portion 32 shaped to mate with terminal 42 of charging connector 41, and terminal 42 and fitting portion 32 are fitted together to allow current to flow, thereby charging the vehicle.

[0019] In the present embodiment, charging connector 41 includes a positioning pin 43. The positioning pin 43 is a pin that is arranged perpendicular to the surface of charging connector 41 that connects to charging inlet 31, and is configured with a shape that tapers from its base to its tip. Charging inlet 31 includes a positioning hole 33 that pairs with the positioning pin 43. The positioning hole 33 is configured so that the positioning pin 43 is inserted into the positioning hole 33 when charging inlet 31 and charging connector 41 are connected. When charging connector 41 connects to charging inlet 31, the shape of the positioning pin 43 that tapers from its base to its tip guides the terminal 42 and the fitting portion 32 to a position where they fit together. In this way, any misalignment between charging inlet 31 and charging connector 41 is absorbed. In other words, the positioning pin 43 and the positioning hole 33 are an alignment mechanism mounted on charging mechanism 200.

[0020] In charging mechanism 200, charging inlet 31 is equipped with locking mechanism 35 in positioning hole 33. Locking mechanism 35 equipped in charging mechanism 200 is a mechanism that fixes the outer periphery of positioning pin 43 when charging inlet 31 and charging connector 41 are connected, thereby preventing charging connector 41 from coming loose.

[0021] The locking mechanism 35 may be an electronically controlled mechanism, or may be a mechanically operated mechanism without electronic control. For example, the locking mechanism 35 may be a mechanism including a fixing device that presses down on the outer periphery of the positioning pin 43 to fix it, and a control device that controls the fixing device to move to a position where the positioning pin 43 is fixed when the connection between the charging inlet 31 and the charging connector 41 is completed. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 35 may be a combination of a convex shape provided in the positioning hole 33 and a concave shape provided in the positioning pin 43 that are configured to engage with each other when the charging inlet 31 and the charging connector 41 are connected. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 35 may be an electronically controlled mechanism, and the positioning pin 43 may be provided with a concave shape that engages with the fixing device.

[0022] As described above, in this embodiment, the alignment mechanism and locking mechanism are integrated into the positioning pin and positioning hole portions. This embodiment eliminates the need to install mechanisms that increase the size of the charging inlet, such as a guide taper or a locking mechanism provided on the outer periphery of the charging inlet. Furthermore, by integrating the alignment mechanism and locking mechanism into the positioning pin and positioning hole portions, the size of the charging inlet can be further reduced. In this way, the charging mechanism in this embodiment enables the size of the charging inlet to be reduced, reducing the constraints on installation in a vehicle. Fewer constraints makes it easier to install the charging inlet in a variety of vehicles with different shapes.

[0023] The charging mechanism according to the present embodiment can also be applied to contact-type charging systems other than automatic contact-type charging systems in which the charging connector is connected to the charging inlet on the bottom of the vehicle from below. Even when the connection of the charging connector to the charging inlet is not automatic but performed manually, the inclusion of an alignment mechanism can make the connection smoother for the operator. Furthermore, even when the charging connector is connected to the charging inlet from the side or from above, it is desirable for the charging connector to not easily come off during charging, so it is effective to provide a locking mechanism. However, when the charging connector is connected from below the vehicle, the charging connector is more likely to come off than when connected from the side or from above, so providing a locking mechanism is more effective. Furthermore, when the connection is automatic, unlike when connected manually, device errors are more likely to occur, so an alignment mechanism is more effective. In either case, a smaller charging inlet reduces the constraints on installation in the vehicle, and therefore, application of the charging mechanism according to the present embodiment can achieve favorable results. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 11 Charging inlet 12 Fitting part 13 Lead-in Taper 15 recess 21 Charging connector 22 terminals 24 Cover 25 Convex part 31 Charging inlet 32 Fitting part 33 Positioning hole 35 Locking mechanism 41 Charging connector 42 terminals 43 Locating pin 100 Charging mechanism 200 Charging mechanism

Claims

1. A charging mechanism that connects a vehicle to a power source external to the vehicle for charging the vehicle, a charging connector that is a connection terminal on the power source side, and a charging inlet that is a connection portion on the vehicle side to which the charging connector is connected, The charging connector is A plurality of terminals; a positioning pin that is arranged perpendicular to a surface of the connector that is connected to the charging inlet and that tapers from its base to its tip; The charging inlet is a fitting portion formed so that the terminal is inserted when the charging connector and the charging inlet are connected; a positioning hole configured to receive the positioning pin when the charging connector and the charging inlet are connected; a locking mechanism that fixes an outer periphery of the positioning pin when the charging connector and the charging inlet are connected, The positioning pin is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the plurality of terminals. Charging mechanism.

2. When the base side of the positioning pin is the lower side and the tip side is the upper side, the locking mechanism is arranged above the fitting portion. The charging mechanism of claim 1 .

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