Charging inlet

Abstract

To provide a charging inlet with a simple structure that can resolve freezing of a cover member.SOLUTION: A charging inlet of the present invention comprises a housing that stores a charging terminal electrically connected to a power storage device provided on a vehicle therein, and a cover member that is provided on the housing so as to open and close an opening provided in the housing. In the charging inlet, the cover member is opened, a charging connector is inserted through the opening and then the charging terminal and the charging connector terminal are electrically connected. The charging inlet includes a heater provided in the cover member to heat the cover member by electrification and heat generation, and a heater terminal provided in the cover member and electrically connected to the heater. The heater terminal is disposed on the surface of the cover member facing the charging terminal such that the charging terminal is in contact with the heater terminal in the sate where the cover member is closed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging inlet. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a heater is provided on a charging lid that opens and closes the charging port, and electricity is passed through a dedicated power wiring that supplies power from the vehicle battery to the heater, causing the heater to generate heat and heat the charging lid, thereby preventing it from freezing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-088251 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a configuration in which power is supplied from the vehicle battery to a heater provided on a cover member that opens and closes the opening of the charging inlet using dedicated power wiring, it is difficult to route the power wiring to the cover member, resulting in a complex structure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a charging inlet that has a simple structure and can prevent a cover member from freezing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the charging inlet of the present invention comprises a housing that houses a charging terminal electrically connected to an electric storage device provided in a vehicle, and a cover member provided on the housing so as to be able to open and close an opening formed in the housing, and when the cover member is open, a charging connector is inserted through the opening to electrically connect the charging terminal and a terminal of the charging connector, and is characterized in that it has a heater provided on the cover member that generates heat when current is passed through it to heat the cover member, and a heater terminal provided on the cover member and electrically connected to the heater, and the heater terminal is arranged on the surface of the cover member facing the charging terminal so that the charging terminal and the heater terminal come into contact when the cover member is closed.

[0007] As a result, the charging inlet according to the present invention can thaw the cover member from freezing with a simple structure.

[0008] In the above, an automatic opening / closing device may be provided for automatically opening and closing the cover member.

[0009] This allows the cover member to be automatically opened after the cover member is unfrozen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The charging inlet according to the present invention has an effect of being able to thaw the frozen cover member with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an automatic parking system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inlet seen obliquely from the side with the inlet cover open. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inlet seen from diagonally above with the inlet cover open. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet with the inlet cover closed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the control for defreezing the inlet cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of control performed in determining whether the cover is frozen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a charging inlet according to the present invention will be described, although the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0013] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an automatic charging system according to an embodiment. The automatic charging system includes a vehicle 1 and an automatic charging device 8. The automatic charging system is a system in which the automatic charging device 8 automatically connects to and supplies power to a vehicle 1 parked in a parking space where the automatic charging device 8 is installed.

[0014] Vehicle 1 is an electrically powered vehicle that can be charged with power supplied from an external power source, and is, for example, an electric vehicle (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Vehicle 1 is a vehicle that can be parked in a parking space in which an automatic charging device 8 is installed. Vehicle 1 includes an ECU 2, a battery 3, a charging relay 4, a charging inlet 5, power wiring 61, 62, 63, a communication line 71, and a communication device (not shown).

[0015] The charging inlet 5 is a charging port that receives power supplied from an automatic charging device 8 connected to an external power source (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1 , the charging inlet 5 is provided on the bottom of the vehicle 1. A charging connector 82 of the automatic charging device 8 is connected to the charging inlet 5. When the charging connector 82 is inserted (connected) into the charging inlet 5, the vehicle 1 can receive power supplied from the automatic charging device 8. The vehicle 1 then supplies the power received from the automatic charging device 8 to the battery 3 from the charging inlet 5. The charging inlet 5 and the battery 3 are electrically connected via a power wiring 63, a charging relay 4, a power wiring 62, and a power wiring 61. The charging relay 4 is connected to the ECU 2 via a communication line 71.

[0016] The charging inlet 5 includes an inlet case 51, which is a housing that includes a charging terminal 511 (see FIG. 2 ), which will be described later and to which the charging connector 82 is electrically connected, and an inlet cover 52, which is a cover member that opens and closes the opening of the inlet case 51. The opening of the inlet case 51 is formed, for example, by opening one side of the box-shaped inlet case 51 in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The inlet cover 52 is attached to the inlet case 51 by a hinge (not shown) and is configured to be rotatable about the hinge as a rotation center in a direction that closes and a direction that opens the opening of the inlet case 51. The inlet cover 52 is also configured to be automatically opened and closed relative to the inlet case 51 by an automatic opening / closing device (not shown) that is provided in the charging inlet 5. The automatic opening / closing device has a cover drive motor (not shown) that is a drive source that rotates the inlet cover 52 about the hinge as a rotation center to open and close the inlet cover 52. The drive of the cover drive motor is controlled by the ECU 2. The automatic opening / closing device also has a torque detection sensor (not shown) that detects the torque of the cover drive motor. Information about the torque of the cover drive motor detected by the torque detection sensor is transmitted to ECU 2 and used to control the opening and closing operation of inlet cover 52. Note that inlet cover 52 may be provided so that it can be opened and closed manually by a user operating inlet cover 52 relative to inlet case 51. With inlet cover 52 open, charging terminal 511 of charging inlet 5 is electrically connected to a terminal (not shown) of charging connector 82 by inserting charging connector 82 through the opening of inlet case 51.

[0017] The battery 3 is an electric storage device, and is an on-board battery that can be externally charged. The battery 3 is a secondary battery that can store power supplied from the charging inlet 5. The battery 3 is configured, for example, with a lithium-ion battery. The battery 3 stores power supplied from an external power source connected via the charging inlet 5. The battery 3 also supplies power to a traction motor of the vehicle 1. The traction motor is electrically connected to the battery 3 via a power wiring 61.

[0018] The ECU 2 is an electronic control device that executes charging control to store the power received by the charging inlet 5 in the battery 3. This electronic control device includes a processor and a memory (main storage unit). The processor is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. The memory is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) and the like. Signals from various sensors mounted on the vehicle 1 are input to the ECU 2. The ECU 2 executes charging control based on the signals input from the various sensors.

[0019] The automatic charging device 8 is installed in, for example, a parking space, and is equipment that automatically connects a charging connector 82 to a vehicle 1 that has completed parking in the parking space, thereby supplying power to the vehicle 1. The automatic charging device 8 includes a charging device main body 81, a charging connector 82, a connection mechanism 83, a control device (not shown), and a communication device (not shown).

[0020] The charging device main body 81 is set on the ground of the parking space and is electrically connected to an external power source such as a commercial power source or a household power source. The charging connector 82 is a connector that automatically connects to the charging inlet 5. The charging connector 82 is linked to a connection mechanism 83. The connection mechanism 83 is controlled by the control device provided in the charging device main body 81. The position of the charging connector 82 can be automatically changed by the connection mechanism 83. The charging connector 82 is electrically connected to the charging device main body 81 via a charging cable (not shown). The automatic charging device 8 converts power supplied from the external power source into power for transmission and outputs the power to the charging connector 82.

[0021] When vehicle 1 has completed parking in a parking space where automatic charging device 8 is installed, charging connector 82 can be automatically inserted into charging inlet 5 for external charging. In the automatic charging system, when wireless communication is established between vehicle 1 and automatic charging device 8 via their respective communication devices, charging connector 82 is automatically connected to charging inlet 5, and power is supplied from automatic charging device 8 to vehicle 1. In vehicle 1, control is performed to supply the power received by charging inlet 5 to battery 3.

[0022] The charging relay 4 is a relay for electrically connecting and disconnecting the battery 3 and the charging inlet 5. The charging relay 4 is electrically connected between the battery 3 and the charging inlet 5. The charging relay 4 is electrically connected to the battery 3 via power wiring 61, 62. The charging relay 4 is electrically connected to the charging inlet 5 via power wiring 63. The charging relay 4 switches between a closed state and an open state in accordance with a control signal from the ECU 2. For example, the ECU 2 turns the charging relay 4 ON to set it to a closed state when automatic charging is being performed by the automatic charging device 8, and turns the charging relay 4 OFF to set it to an open state when automatic charging is not being performed by the automatic charging device 8.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of charging inlet 5 seen from diagonally to the side with inlet cover 52 open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of charging inlet 5 seen from diagonally above with inlet cover 52 open. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of charging inlet 5 with inlet cover 52 closed.

[0024] 2 and 3, when the inlet cover 52 of the charging inlet 5 is open, two rod-shaped charging terminals 511 provided inside the inlet case 51 are exposed to the outside. Furthermore, when the inlet cover 52 of the charging inlet 5 is closed, as shown in FIG. 4, the two charging terminals 551 provided inside the inlet case 51 are not exposed to the outside. The two charging terminals 551 are electrically connected to power wiring 63 provided in the vehicle 1. The two charging terminals 551 are arranged inside the inlet case 51 with their tips pointing toward an opening formed in the inlet case 51 covered by the inlet cover 52.

[0025] In the charging inlet 5, a heater 53 made of a heating wire that generates heat when current is passed through it to heat the inlet cover 52 is provided on the inlet cover 52. The heater 53 is arranged in a ring shape around the entire periphery of the inside of the inlet cover 52. The heater 53 is also arranged inside the ring-shaped heater 53 and is electrically connected to two heater terminals 521 inside the inlet cover 52. The two heater terminals 521 are arranged on an inner wall surface 52a of the inlet cover 52 so as to come into contact with and be electrically connected to the respective tips of the two charging terminals 511 when the inlet cover 52 is closed relative to the inlet case 51. The inner wall surface 52a of the inlet cover 52 is the surface that faces the tips of the charging terminals 511 provided inside the inlet case 51.

[0026] In vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, if inlet cover 52 is frozen during automatic charging by automatic charging device 8, inlet cover 52 may not be able to automatically open relative to inlet case 51. Therefore, based on the detection results of an air temperature sensor (not shown), when the outside air temperature around vehicle 1 (charging inlet 5) is below a preset threshold temperature, for example, below 5°C, ECU 2 turns on charging relay 4 to supply power from battery 3 to heater 53. In this way, in charging inlet 5 provided in vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, inlet cover 52 is heated by heat from heater 53 to unfreeze it.

[0027] In vehicle 1 according to the embodiment, charging terminal 511 and heater terminal 521 are electrically connected in charging inlet 5 when inlet cover 52 is closed, facilitating the routing of power wiring to inlet cover 52. Furthermore, in vehicle 1 according to the embodiment, power can be supplied to heater 53 using existing charging power wiring 61, 62, 63 and charging relay 4, without the need to provide additional dedicated power wiring or relay for supplying power to heater 53. As a result, charging inlet 5 provided in vehicle 1 according to the embodiment can thaw inlet cover 52 from freezing with a simple structure.

[0028] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of control for defrosting the inlet cover 52 according to this embodiment. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of control carried out in determining whether the cover is frozen.

[0029] First, as shown in FIG. 5, the ECU 2 performs a cover freezing determination to determine whether the inlet cover 52 is frozen (step S1). When the cover freezing determination is started, as shown in FIG. 6, the ECU 2 determines whether the relationship of outside air temperature < 5[°C] is satisfied based on the detection result of the temperature sensor provided in the vehicle 1 (step S11). If the ECU 2 determines that the relationship of outside air temperature < 5[°C] is not satisfied (No in step S11), it determines that the inlet cover 52 is not frozen (freezing determination: OFF) (step S15). Then, the ECU 2 ends the cover freezing determination and proceeds to the process of step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

[0030] On the other hand, if the ECU 2 determines that the relationship of outside air temperature < 5[°C] is satisfied (Yes in step S11), it turns on the cover opening motor provided in the driving device that automatically opens and closes the inlet cover 52 and executes the opening operation of the inlet cover 52 (step S12). Next, the ECU 2 determines whether the inlet cover 52 has opened (step S13). If the ECU 2 determines that the inlet cover 52 has opened (cover open: OK) (Yes in step S13), it determines whether the motor drive torque of the cover opening motor is smaller than the preset threshold torque X [Nm] (motor drive torque < X [Nm]) (step S14). If the ECU 2 determines that the motor drive torque is smaller than the threshold torque X [Nm] (motor drive torque < X [Nm]) (Yes in step S14), it determines that the inlet cover 52 is not frozen (freezing determination: OFF) (step S15). Then, the ECU 2 ends the cover freezing determination and proceeds to the process of step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] Also, if the ECU 2 determines in step S13 that the inlet cover 52 has not opened (cover open: NO) (No in step S13), it determines that the inlet cover 52 is frozen (freezing determination: ON) (step S16). Then, the ECU 2 ends the cover freezing determination and proceeds to the process of step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] Furthermore, if the ECU 2 determines in step S14 that the motor drive torque is not smaller than the threshold torque X [Nm] (motor drive torque ≥ X [Nm]) (No in step S14), it determines that the inlet cover 52 is frozen (freezing determination: ON) (step S16). Thereafter, the ECU 2 ends the cover freezing determination and proceeds to the processing of step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 5 , after the cover frozen determination in step S1, the ECU 2 determines whether the inlet cover 52 is frozen based on the result of the cover frozen determination (step S2). If the ECU 2 determines that the inlet cover 52 is frozen (Yes in step S2), it turns on the charging relay 4 to close the charging relay 4 (step S3). This causes power to be supplied from the battery 3 to the charging terminal 511 of the charging inlet 5, and power is supplied to the heater 53 via the heater terminal 521 of the inlet cover 52, heating the inlet cover 52. The ECU 2 then proceeds to the processing of step S1, for example, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the charging relay 4 was turned on. On the other hand, if the ECU 2 determines that the inlet cover 52 is not frozen (No in step S2), it turns off the charging relay 4 to open the charging relay 4 (step S4). The ECU 2 then terminates the series of cover anti-freeze control processes and proceeds to predetermined automatic charging control.

[0034] In vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, if inlet cover 52 becomes frozen, it can be thawed by turning on charging relay 4 to supply power from battery 3 to heater 53, and using the heat from heater 53 to heat inlet cover 52. After inlet cover 52 has thawed and can be opened automatically, ECU 2 communicates with automatic charging device 8, and allows automatic charging device 8 to automatically connect charging connector 82 to charging inlet 5 and start automatic charging.

[0035] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, even if the process of steps S1 to S3 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is repeated a predetermined number of times, i.e., even if the inlet cover 52 is determined to be frozen in the cover freezing determination, the charging relay is turned on, and heating of the inlet cover 52 is repeated a predetermined number of times with the heater 53, it may still be determined that the inlet cover 52 is frozen. In this case, for example, the ECU 2 determines that some kind of abnormality has occurred and executes a fail process to terminate the series of unfreezing control of the inlet cover 52. For example, if the charging inlet 5 is provided with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the charging terminal 511, and even if the charging relay 4 is turned on, if the temperature of the charging terminal 511 is below a predetermined temperature, it determines that an abnormality has occurred in the power supply to the charging terminal 511 and, therefore, the heater 53, and executes the fail process. Furthermore, when the fail process is executed, it is desirable that the ECU 2 notify the user of the vehicle 1, for example, by displaying a message on a display device such as a display (not shown) provided in the vehicle 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 vehicle 2 ECU 3 Battery 4 Charging relay 5 Charging inlet 8 Automatic charging device 51 Inlet case 52 Inlet cover 52a Inner wall 53 Heater 61, 62, 63 Power wiring 71 Communication Line 81 Charging device body 82 Charging connector 83 Connection mechanism 511 Charging terminal 521 Heater terminal

Claims

1. a housing that houses a charging terminal that is electrically connected to a power storage device provided in a vehicle; a cover member provided on the housing so as to be able to open and close an opening formed in the housing; Equipped with a charging inlet in which a charging connector is inserted through the opening with the cover member open, and the charging terminal and a terminal of the charging connector are electrically connected to each other, a heater provided on the cover member, the heater generating heat when energized to heat the cover member; a heater terminal provided on the cover member and electrically connected to the heater; and a heater terminal disposed on a surface of the cover member facing the charging terminal so that the charging terminal and the heater terminal are in contact with each other when the cover member is closed.

2. 2. The charging inlet according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic opening / closing device that automatically opens and closes the cover member.

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