Vehicle charging port structure

Abstract

To make it possible to resolve a water leak situation around an inlet prior to insertion of a charging connector.SOLUTION: A lid 30 is made smaller than an orifice 12 of a tray 10. A seal member 40 seals a gap between the orifice of the tray 10 and the lid 30. Further, the seal member 40 projects from a rear surface 32 of the lid 30 opposed to a bottom 14 of the tray 10 toward the bottom 14. An arm 50 supports the lid 30. A guide mechanism has a guide trajectory along which the arm 50 is moved. A storage opening 16A accommodating the lid 30 and seal member 40 is formed on a flank 16 of the tray 10 parallel to a support shaft C1 of the arm 50. The guide trajectory includes a first guide groove 19A and second guide groove 19B. The first guide groove 19A extends in a depth direction of the tray 10. The second guide groove 19B extends from an end of the first guide groove 19A closest to the bottom 14 toward the storage opening 16A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This specification discloses a charging port structure of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are provided with a charging port. For example, in Patent Document 1, a recess is provided on the side of the vehicle body. A charging inlet is arranged in this recess. A charging connector is inserted into the inlet. Further, the recess is closed by a lid. The lid suppresses the intrusion of water into the recess.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] <##**ERROR**##>By the way, when the charging port is closed with a lid, for example, there is a risk that water may enter through the gap between the lid and the recess during high-pressure washing. Therefore, this specification discloses a charging port structure of a vehicle in which the water-affected situation around the inlet can be eliminated before inserting the charging connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This specification discloses a vehicle charging port structure comprising a tray, a lid, a sealing member, an arm, and a guide mechanism. The tray has a charging inlet located at its bottom. The lid is tapered relative to the tray's opening. The sealing member is positioned around the periphery of the lid. The sealing member also seals the gap between the tray's opening and the lid. Furthermore, the sealing member protrudes from the back surface of the lid facing the tray's bottom surface toward the bottom surface. The sealing member is made of an elastic material. The arm pivotally supports the lid. The guide mechanism has a guide track for moving the arm. A housing opening for accommodating the lid and the sealing member is formed on the side of the tray parallel to the pivot axis of the arm. The guide track comprises a first guide track and a second guide track. The first guide track extends in the depth direction of the tray. The second guide track extends from the end of the first guide track closest to the tray's bottom surface toward the housing opening.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the lid and sealing member rotate around the arm so as to enter the tray. Furthermore, the first guide trajectory guides the arm closer to the bottom surface of the tray, allowing a portion of the sealing member to contact the bottom surface of the tray. As the arm moves along the second guide trajectory, a portion of the sealing member slides along the bottom surface of the tray. Even if there are water droplets around the inlet, these droplets will be wiped away by the sliding of the sealing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle charging port structure disclosed herein allows for the elimination of water exposure around the inlet before the charging connector is inserted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view illustrating the charging port structure of a vehicle according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view AA, illustrating the process of opening the charging port (1 / 2). [Figure 3]Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view AA, illustrating the process of opening the charging port (2 / 2). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A vehicle charging port structure according to an embodiment is described below with reference to drawings. The shapes, materials, quantities, and numerical values ​​described below are illustrative examples for illustrative purposes and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the charging port structure. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for equivalent elements in all drawings below.

[0010] Furthermore, in Figures 1-3, a Cartesian coordinate system consisting of the FR axis, LH axis, and UP axis is used to represent the position and direction of each component. The FR axis is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the front of the vehicle as the positive direction. The LH axis is the width axis of the vehicle, with the left side of the vehicle as the positive direction. The UP axis is the vertical axis of the vehicle, with the upward direction as the positive direction.

[0011] <Component Configuration> Figure 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vehicle charging port structure according to this embodiment. This charging port structure comprises a tray 10, an inlet 20, a lid 30, a sealing member 40, and an arm 50. Furthermore, this charging port structure includes a first guide groove 19A (first guide track) and a second guide groove 19B (second guide track) as a guide mechanism for the arm 50.

[0012] The charging port structure according to this embodiment is provided, for example, on the exterior panel of a vehicle. The exterior panel is, for example, a quarter panel or a fender panel. A through hole is formed in the exterior panel. The tray 10 is fitted into this through hole.

[0013] The tray 10 is a recess that is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the outer panel. For example, the tray 10 is a rectangular tray and has a bottom surface 14 and four side surfaces surrounding the bottom surface 14. Furthermore, an opening 12 is provided opposite the bottom surface 14. For example, the opening 12 is a rectangular opening with the same shape as the bottom surface 14.

[0014] A through-hole is drilled in the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10. An inlet 20 is inserted into this through-hole. An external charger connector (not shown) is inserted into the inlet 20. The exposed surface 21 of the inlet 20 that is exposed from the bottom surface 14 is positioned, for example, on the same plane as the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10.

[0015] As will be described later, the charging port structure according to this embodiment has a structure in which the lid 30 and the sealing member 40 fit inside the tray 10. The side surface 16 of the tray 10 is provided with a housing opening 16A for housing the lid 30 and the sealing member 40.

[0016] The side surface 16 on which the storage opening 16A is provided is the side surface of the tray 10 that is parallel to the pivot axis C1 (pivot axis) of the arm 50. Also, the side surface 16 is the side of the lid 30 that faces the handle 33, with the inlet 20 in between.

[0017] Furthermore, the upper surface 18 of the tray 10 is provided with a first guide groove 19A, 19A (first guide track) and a second guide groove 19B (second guide track). The first guide grooves 19A, 19A (first guide track) and the second guide groove 19B (second guide track) serve as guide grooves for moving the arm 50. The first guide grooves 19A, 19A extend in the depth direction of the tray 10. The second guide groove 19B is connected to the end of the first guide grooves 19A, 19A that is closest to the bottom surface 14. The second guide groove 19B also extends toward the receiving opening 16A.

[0018] Furthermore, the upper surface 18 is connected to the guide plate 17 through the housing opening 16A. The second guide groove 19B also extends to the guide plate 17.

[0019] The lid 30 is a flat lid component that closes the opening 12 of the tray 10 together with the sealing member 40. The lid 30 has a shape that is slightly smaller than the opening 12 of the tray 10. For example, the lid 30 has a similar shape to the opening 12 and is reduced in size compared to the opening 12. For example, since the opening 12 is rectangular, the lid 30 is also rectangular. Also, the vertical and horizontal dimensions (UP-axis dimension and FR-axis dimension) of the lid 30 are determined to be, for example, 80% or more and 95% or less of the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the opening 12.

[0020] A handle 33 is provided on the exposed surface 31 of the lid 30. The handle 33 is, for example, in the shape of a hook. A joint plate 34 is provided on the back surface 32 facing the exposed surface 31. Here, the back surface 32 of the lid 30 faces the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10.

[0021] The joint plate 34 extends substantially perpendicularly from the back surface 32. An insertion hole 35 is drilled at the tip of the joint plate 34. The insertion hole 35 is, for example, a round hole, and the shaft 52 of the arm 50 is inserted into this insertion hole 35. Thereby, the lid 30 rotates around the rotation axis C1 (pivot axis) of the shaft 52.

[0022] A sealing member 40 is arranged on the periphery of the lid 30. The sealing member 40 has a frame shape that surrounds the rectangular lid 30. That is, the sealing member 40 includes a pair of vertical pieces 43, 44 and horizontal pieces 41, 42.

[0023] The sealing member 40 is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The sealing member 40 seals the gap between the opening 12 of the tray 10 and the lid 30. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the sealing member 40 is an arc shape. Referring to FIG. 2, the sealing member 40 is attached to the back surface 32 of the lid 30. Also, the sealing member 40 protrudes from the back surface 32 of the lid 30 toward the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10. The end of the sealing member 40 abuts against the side surface of the tray 10.

[0024] Referring to Figure 1, for example, the width (FR axial dimension) W1 of the sealing member 40 is slightly larger than the width W2 of the opening 12. For example, when the lid 30 and the sealing member 40 are pushed into the opening 12, the sealing member 40 flexes. The opening 12 is sealed by this elastic deformation.

[0025] The arm 50 pivotally supports the lid 30. The arm 50 comprises a main bar 51, a shaft 52, stoppers 53, 54, and guide pins 55, 55. The shaft 52 extends downward from the longitudinal center of the main bar 51. The shaft 52 is inserted into the insertion hole 35 of the lid 30. A retaining ring (not shown) is also inserted into the lower end of the shaft 52. The lid 30 is rotatable around the pivot axis C1 of the shaft 52.

[0026] The stoppers 53 and 54 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main bar 51 and at the bottom. The stoppers 53 and 54 extend downward parallel to the shaft 52. In addition, the stoppers 53 and 54 have an L-shape when viewed from the front (FR axis).

[0027] The stopper 53 extends longer in the vehicle width direction than the stopper 54. As shown on the left side of Figure 2, the lid 30 seals the tray 10 when the back surface 32 of the lid 30 comes into contact with the stopper 53. A biasing spring (not shown) for bringing the back surface 32 of the lid 30 into contact with the stopper 53 may be provided on the shaft 52.

[0028] The stopper 54 restricts the opening angle of the lid 30 when it is opened. As will be described later, in the process of opening the lid 30, the handle 33 is first pushed and the lid 30 rotates. This rotation causes the back surface 32 of the lid 30 to come into contact with the stopper 54. This stops the rotation of the lid 30.

[0029] Referring to Figure 1, the guide pins 55 are provided at both ends and above the main bar 51 in the longitudinal direction. The guide pins 55 are inserted into the first guide grooves 19A, 19A and the second guide groove 19B of the tray 10. In other words, the guide pins 55, 55, the first guide grooves 19A, 19A and the second guide groove 19B constitute the guide mechanism.

[0030] <Process for opening the charging port> Figure 2, left side, illustrates the charging port structure in the closed state. When opening the charging port, the handle 33 is first pushed inward in the vehicle width direction. At this time, the lid 30 and sealing member 40 rotate around the shaft 52 of the arm 50. This rotation continues until the back surface 32 of the lid 30 contacts the stopper 54. As illustrated on the right side of Figure 2, when the back surface 32 contacts the stopper 54, the vertical piece 44 of the sealing member 40 becomes closer to the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10 than the arm 50.

[0031] Furthermore, when the handle 33 is pushed inward in the vehicle width direction, the arm 50 is moved along the first guide grooves 19A, 19A toward the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10, as illustrated in the left side of Figure 3. Then, as illustrated in the right side of Figure 3, the user holds the handle 33 and slides the lid 30 forward (in the positive direction of the FR axis). This causes the lid 30 to be housed in the storage space 60 through the storage opening 16A.

[0032] During this storage process, the vertical piece 44 of the sealing member 40 slides against the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10 and the exposed surface 21 of the inlet 20. This sliding wipes away any water droplets adhering to the bottom surface 14 of the tray 10 and the exposed surface 21 of the inlet 20. Once the vertical piece 44 has passed the exposed surface 21 and the lid 30 is housed in the storage space 60, the charging connector is inserted into the inlet 20, which is now free of water droplets.

[0033] <Another example of a charging port structure> In the charging port structure illustrated in Figures 1-3, the lid 30 was opened and closed manually. However, the charging port structure according to this embodiment may include a structure that automatically opens and closes the lid 30.

[0034] For example, a servo motor that rotates the lid 30 relative to the arm 50 is provided on the shaft 52. Furthermore, a stage mechanism that moves the arm 50 along the first guide grooves 19A, 19A and the second guide groove 19B is provided on the arm 50. For example, when the driver operates the charging port opening / closing button provided on the vehicle key, the actions shown in Figures 2 and 3 are automatically performed, and the charging port is opened. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10 Tray, 12 Tray opening, 14 Tray bottom, 16 Tray side, 16A Storage opening, 18 Tray top side, 19A First guide groove (first guide track), 19B Second guide groove (second guide track), 20 Inlet, 30 Lid, 32 Lid back, 33 Handle, 40 Sealing member, 41, 42 Horizontal pieces of sealing member, 43, 44 Vertical pieces of sealing member, 50 Arm.

Claims

[Claim 1] A tray with a charging inlet located on the bottom, A lid that is reduced in size relative to the opening of the tray, A sealing member made of an elastic material is positioned around the periphery of the lid, sealing the gap between the opening of the tray and the lid, and further protruding from the back surface of the lid facing the bottom surface of the tray toward the bottom surface, The arm that pivotally supports the lid, A guide mechanism having a guide track for moving the arm, Equipped with, A housing opening for accommodating the lid and the sealing member is formed on the side of the tray, parallel to the pivot axis of the arm. The aforementioned guide track is A first guide track extending in the depth direction of the tray, A second guide track extends from the end of the first guide track that is closest to the bottom surface toward the receiving opening, Equipped with, A vehicle charging port structure wherein the lid becomes inclined while moving along the second guide track, and the sealing member slides against the bottom surface of the tray and the exposed surface of the inlet as the lid moves.

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