Attachment-type safety device

Abstract

An attachment-type safety device that can be interposed between a vehicle-side connector provided to a vehicle and a charging connector provided to a vehicle charging device for charging the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector, the safety device comprising: a first connection part which can be connected to the charging connector; a second connection part which can be connected to the vehicle-side connector; an electric circuit which electrically connects a primary-side terminal disposed in the first connection part and a secondary-side terminal disposed in the second connection part; an interruption device capable of interrupting the current passing through the electric circuit during operation; and a control unit that activates the interruption device when an abnormal situation requiring the interruption of charging to the vehicle occurs.

Description

Attachment type safety device

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment-type safety device that is applied to a vehicle charging device.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Vehicle charging devices that charge vehicle batteries mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) are known. Vehicle charging devices are installed in a wide range of locations, including homes, public facilities, and convenience stores.

[0003] In the vehicle charging device as described above, a breaker is known that instantly cuts off the current when an abnormality such as a lightning strike or a ground fault occurs.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a safety system equipped with a thermal trigger type electrical cutoff device within a handle-type charging connector (plug) that can be inserted into and removed from a charging port (charging adapter) provided on the vehicle.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-118798 Japanese Patent No. 6920095 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-057002

[0006] If a vehicle charging device is equipped with a circuit breaker such as that described in Patent Document 1, it can interrupt the current in the event of an abnormality. However, such a circuit breaker is not always included in the charging device. In particular, residential (home) charging devices often do not include a safety device with a circuit breaker function due to cost considerations. Therefore, in the past, when attempting to retrofit a vehicle charging device that does not have a current interruption function with a circuit breaker function, it was necessary to replace at least some of the units in the vehicle charging device, which tended to increase costs.

[0007] The technology disclosed herein has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and aims to provide a technology that can impart a current interruption function to a vehicle charging device without modifying the vehicle charging device.

[0008] The present disclosure solves the above-mentioned problems in the following aspects. That is, the gist of the technology according to the present disclosure is as follows: (Aspect 1) The technology according to the present disclosure for solving the above-mentioned problems is an attachment-type safety device that can be interposed between a vehicle-side connector provided on a vehicle and a charging connector provided in a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector, the attachment-type safety device including: a first connection portion connectable to the charging connector; a second connection portion connectable to the vehicle-side connector; an electric path that electrically connects a primary terminal arranged in the first connection portion and a secondary terminal arranged in the second connection portion; a breaker that can interrupt a current passing through the electric path when activated; and a control unit that activates the breaker when an abnormality occurs that requires charging of the vehicle to be interrupted.

[0009] (Aspect 2) The attachment-type safety device according to aspect 1 may further include an abnormality detector that detects the abnormal situation.

[0010] (Aspect 3) In the attachment-type safety device according to Aspect 2, the abnormality detector may monitor the current flowing through the electric circuit, and the control unit may activate the circuit breaker when detecting an abnormal current based on an output of the abnormality detector.

[0011] (Aspect 4) In the attachment type safety device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, the shutoff device may be a pyro-activated shutoff device.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique that can impart a current interruption function to a vehicle charging device without modifying the vehicle charging device.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle charging device according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a safety device according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the safety device according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the safety device according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a breaker device according to an embodiment.

[0014]

[0023] Hereinafter, a protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each configuration and combination thereof in the embodiment is merely an example, and addition, omission, substitution, and other modifications of the configuration are possible as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiment, but is limited only by the claims.

[0015] The safety device according to this embodiment is an attachment-type safety device that can be mounted between a vehicle-side connector provided on a vehicle side and a charging connector provided in a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector. The safety device includes: a first connection portion connectable to the charging connector, a second connection portion connectable to the vehicle-side connector, an electric path that electrically connects a primary terminal disposed in the first connection portion and a secondary terminal disposed in the second connection portion, a circuit breaker that can interrupt a current passing through the electric path when activated, and a control unit that activates the circuit breaker when an abnormal event occurs that requires charging of the vehicle to be interrupted.

[0016] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle charging device 1 according to an embodiment. The vehicle charging device 1 is a device for charging a battery of a vehicle 2. In the following description, the vehicle 2 is, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV, PHV). The battery of the vehicle 2 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery.

[0017] The vehicle charging device 1 is configured as, for example, a charging stand-type charging device attached to the target house 3. Of course, the vehicle charging device 1 may take other forms, such as a wall-mounted charging device that is attached to the exterior wall of the house 3.

[0018] A power source 6, shown by a dashed line, is housed inside the housing 1A of the vehicle charging device 1. The power source 6 may be, for example, a power supply source that supplies 200 V AC to the vehicle 2. The vehicle charging device 1 also includes a charging cable 4 for supplying power from the power source 6 to the battery of the vehicle 2. The power source 6 in the vehicle charging device 1 may be, for example, a power supply unit having a charging outlet. In this case, a receptacle plug (connector) that can be attached to and detached from the charging outlet may be attached to one end of the charging cable 4. Of course, the charging cable 4 may also be directly connected to the power supply line of the power source 6.

[0019] A charging connector 5 is attached to the tip of the charging cable 4 in the vehicle charging device 1. The charging connector 5 can be connected to a vehicle-side connector, which is a charging port provided on the vehicle 2. The charging connector 5 has, for example, a handle shaped like a gun, and is also called a charging gun. Power from a power source 6 in the vehicle charging device 1 is supplied to the battery of the vehicle 2 via the charging cable 4 (including the charging connector 5) and the vehicle-side connector, thereby charging the battery.

[0020] Meanwhile, if an abnormality such as backflow lightning or a ground fault occurs due to a lightning strike while charging using the vehicle charging device 1, it is necessary to quickly shut off the current supplied from the vehicle charging device 1 to the vehicle 2. Backflow lightning occurs when a portion of the lightning current flows into wiring such as power transmission and distribution lines and communication lines due to an increase in ground potential caused by lightning striking surrounding structures. If backflow lightning occurs while charging using the vehicle charging device 1, there is a risk of an overcurrent flowing to the vehicle 2, so it is necessary to quickly shut off the power supply from the vehicle charging device 1 to the vehicle 2.

[0021] If a charging device were equipped with a circuit breaker (safety device) such as that described in Patent Document 1, it would be possible to cut off the current in the event of an abnormality, but such a safety device is not always equipped. In particular, residential (home) charging devices often do not include a safety device with a current cut-off function due to cost considerations. Furthermore, residential (home) charging devices are not rapid charging devices that use a three-phase 200V AC power source like those installed in commercial facilities, and therefore require a long charging time (approximately 8 to 16 hours), making the presence of a "safety device" even more important.

[0022] Therefore, in this embodiment, a safety device 10 is provided that is applied to the vehicle charging device 1. The safety device 10 in this embodiment is a device that emergency shuts off the power supply from the vehicle charging device 1 to the vehicle 2 when an abnormality occurs that requires the charging of the vehicle 2 using the vehicle charging device 1 to be interrupted.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the safety device 10 according to the embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the safety device 10 according to the embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal structure of the safety device 10.

[0024] The safety device 10 according to this embodiment is an attachment-type (joint-type) safety device that can be interposed between the vehicle-side connector 7, which is a power supply port provided on the vehicle 2, and the charging connector 5 that charges the battery of the vehicle 2 via the vehicle-side connector 7. The safety device 10 can also be described as an adapter-type safety device that can be interposed between the charging connector 5 on the vehicle charging apparatus 1 and the vehicle-side connector 7 on the vehicle 2. By retrofitting the safety device 10 between the charging connector 5 on the vehicle charging apparatus 1 and the vehicle-side connector 7 on the vehicle 2, it is possible to provide an inexpensive safety device 10 that does not require modification of the home's facilities or the vehicle charging apparatus 1. Details of the safety device 10 are described below.

[0025] 2 and 3 , the safety device 10 has a cylindrical housing 11 extending in one direction. A first connection portion 21 connectable to the charging connector 5 is provided at one end of the safety device 10 (housing 11). A second connection portion 22 connectable to the vehicle-side connector 7 is provided at the other end of the safety device 10 (housing 11). The first connection portion 21 of the safety device 10 is connectable to a charging connector-side connection portion 50 provided on the charging connector 5 of the vehicle charging apparatus 1. The second connection portion 22 of the safety device 10 is connectable to a vehicle-side connection portion 70 provided on the vehicle-side connector 7 of the vehicle 2. Note that the positions of the first connection portion 21 and the second connection portion 22 in the safety device 10 are not particularly limited.

[0026] A primary side terminal 31 is provided at the first connection portion 21 of the safety device 10, and a secondary side terminal 32 is provided at the second connection portion 22. When the first connection portion 21 is connected to the charging connector side connection portion 50, the primary side terminal 31 of the safety device 10 comes into contact with a charging connector side terminal provided at the charging connector side connection portion 50, thereby bringing these terminals into an electrically conductive state. Furthermore, when the second connection portion 22 is connected to the vehicle side connection portion 70, the secondary side terminal 32 of the safety device 10 comes into contact with a vehicle side terminal provided at the vehicle side connection portion 70, thereby bringing these terminals into an electrically conductive state.

[0027] An electric circuit 40 that conducts electricity between the primary terminal 31 and the secondary terminal 32 is disposed inside the housing 11 of the safety device 10. The electric circuit 40 is an electrical path formed by a metal conductor that electrically connects the primary terminal 31 and the secondary terminal 32, and may be formed by, for example, a power line, a bus bar, an electronic circuit, or a combination of these.

[0028] Furthermore, an abnormality detector 60, a control unit 80, and an interrupter 100 are housed inside the housing 11 of the safety device 10. The abnormality detector 60, the control unit 80, and the interrupter 100 are fixed at predetermined positions inside the housing 11.

[0029] The abnormality detector 60 is a device for detecting (the occurrence of) an abnormal situation that requires interrupting charging of the vehicle 2 using the vehicle charging device 1. Here, an example will be described in which the abnormality detector 60 detects an abnormal current (overcurrent) flowing through the electric circuit 40. For example, if a backflow of lightning occurs due to the lightning strike described above while charging the vehicle 2, there is a risk that an abnormal current (overcurrent) will flow through the electric circuit 40, and the abnormality detector 60 detects such an abnormal current (overcurrent).

[0030] The anomaly detector 60 monitors, for example, the current value of the electricity flowing through the electrical circuit 40 and outputs the result to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 detects an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the current value output by the anomaly detector 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold value that is greater than the rated current. Of course, the anomaly detector 60 may monitor, for example, the voltage value or power value instead of the current value of the electricity flowing through the electrical circuit 40. In the former case, the control unit 80 detects an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the voltage value output by the anomaly detector 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold value that is greater than the rated voltage. In the latter case, the control unit 80 detects an abnormal current (overcurrent) when the power value output by the anomaly detector 60 exceeds a predetermined threshold value that is greater than the rated power. The anomaly detector 60 may be, for example, a current measuring device such as a clamp meter. Clamp meters themselves are well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0031] Furthermore, the abnormality detector 60 is not limited to detecting abnormal current (overcurrent) flowing through the electrical circuit 40, but may also be configured to detect various abnormal situations that require the charging of the vehicle 2 using the vehicle charging device 1 to be urgently interrupted, such as the occurrence of a power leak, an earthquake, flooding, or a fire.

[0032] The control unit 80 may be, for example, a computer (e.g., a microcontroller) that can perform a predetermined function by executing a predetermined control program. When the control unit 80 detects an abnormal situation based on the output of the abnormality detector 60, it activates the circuit breaker 100 and causes the circuit breaker 100 to interrupt the current flowing through the electric circuit 40. Note that the predetermined function of the control unit 80 can also be realized by corresponding hardware. The control unit 80 may be configured by an electronic circuit.

[0033] Next, the circuit breaker 100 will be described. The circuit breaker 100 is a device that activates when the control unit 80 detects an abnormal situation, such as the occurrence of an abnormal current (overcurrent), based on the output of the abnormality detector 60, and interrupts the current flowing through the electric circuit 40. The circuit breaker 100 is not particularly limited as long as it is a device that can interrupt the current flowing through the electric circuit 40 when activated. The circuit breaker 100 may be a circuit breaker that physically cuts off a portion of the metal conductor that constitutes the electric circuit 40, or may be a fuse that melts down a portion of the metal conductor that constitutes the electric circuit 40, and various other devices can be used. Here, the circuit breaker 100 will be described using a pyrotechnic-driven circuit breaker that uses pyrotechnics (pyrotechnic technology) as an example.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a pyrotechnic-activated circuit breaker 100. The circuit breaker 100 drives a piston at high speed using energy generated by burning explosives, physically cutting a conductor piece (bus bar) that forms part of the electrical path 40. Fig. 5 shows a vertical cross section of the circuit breaker 100 before activation.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the interrupter 100 includes a case 110, an igniter 120, a piston (projectile) 130, a conductor piece (bus bar) 140, a coolant material 150, and the like.

[0036] The interior of case 110 forms a hollow accommodation space 160, and conductor pieces 140 are inserted across accommodation space 160 through a pair of insertion holes formed in case 110. These conductor pieces 140 are metal conductors that form part of electrical circuit 40. Within accommodation space 160 formed within case 110, piston storage space 160A located above conductor pieces 140 houses piston 130, and the space located below conductor pieces 140 serves as arc-extinguishing space 160B in which coolant material 150 is placed.

[0037] The igniter 120 is disposed on the upper side of the case 110 and is configured as a cup containing gunpowder (ignition charge). It is activated by the supply of an operating current. When the igniter 120 is activated, the gunpowder in the cup is ignited, and the resulting combustion gas is released into the storage space 160 in the case 110. Because the piston 130 is disposed below the igniter 120, the piston 130 is launched (driven at high speed) downward (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 ) by the energy of the combustion gas released from the igniter 120. As a result, the piston 130 cuts off a portion of the conductor piece (bus bar) 140, and the cut-off portion is accommodated in the arc-extinguishing space. The arc and the thermal energy of the cut-off portion, which are part of the conductor piece 140, generated when the piston 130 cuts off the cut-off portion, are cooled by the coolant material 150.

[0038] The control unit 80 can activate the circuit breaker 100 at any timing by controlling the activation power for the circuit breaker 100. The safety device 10 may include a power system for supplying activation power to the abnormality detector 60 and the circuit breaker 100 as a system separate from the electric circuit 40. The activation power supplied to the abnormality detector 60 and the circuit breaker 100 may be a portion of the power supplied to the safety device 10 from the power source 6 of the vehicle charging device 1.

[0039] As described above, when an abnormal situation occurs, the control unit 80 activates the interrupting device 100, which cuts off the conductor piece 140 that constitutes part of the electric circuit 40 within the safety device 10, thereby interrupting the current flowing through the electric circuit 40. In particular, the interrupting device 100 of this embodiment is a pyroelectrically operated interrupting device, which allows the current flowing through the electric circuit 40 to be interrupted extremely quickly.

[0040] The safety device 10 may include a power system for supplying operating power to the abnormality detector 60 and the circuit breaker 100 as a system separate from the electric circuit 40. The operating power of the abnormality detector 60 and the circuit breaker 100 can be a portion of the power supplied to the safety device 10 from the power source 6 of the vehicle charging device 1.

[0041] Furthermore, because the safety device 10 in this embodiment is an attachment-type safety device, it can be retrofitted with a current interruption function in the event of an abnormality without modifying the vehicle charging device 1. Note that "modification" here refers to replacing at least some of the units of the vehicle charging device 1. Furthermore, the safety device 10 in this embodiment does not require modification to the vehicle charging device 1, so modification work is also not required, and it is possible to add a current interruption function at a very low cost.

[0042] In particular, for residential (home) vehicle charging devices, the probability of an abnormality occurring during charging is relatively high compared to when rapid charging the vehicle 2 due to the long time required for charging the vehicle 2, making the presence of a safety device all the more important. Therefore, the utility value and added value of the attachment-type safety device 10, which allows a current interruption function to be easily retrofitted to a residential vehicle charging device, can be said to be extremely high. However, the application of the safety device 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to residential vehicle charging devices, and it may also be applied to charging devices (e.g., rapid charging devices) in commercial facilities.

[0043] Although the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described above, each aspect disclosed in this specification can be combined with any other feature disclosed in this specification.

[0044] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Vehicle charging device 2... Vehicle 3... House 4... Charging cable 5... Charging connector 6... Power source 7... Vehicle-side connector 10... Safety device 21... First connection part 22... Second connection part 40... Electrical circuit 60... Abnormality detector 80... Control part 100... Breaking device

Claims

1. An attachment-type safety device that can be interposed between a vehicle-side connector provided on a vehicle and a charging connector provided in a vehicle charging device that charges the vehicle via the vehicle-side connector, comprising: a first connection part that can be connected to the charging connector; a second connection part that can be connected to the vehicle-side connector; an electric circuit that electrically connects a primary terminal arranged in the first connection part and a secondary terminal arranged in the second connection part; a circuit breaker that can cut off the current passing through the electric circuit when activated; and a control part that activates the circuit breaker when an abnormality occurs that requires charging of the vehicle to be interrupted.

2. The attachment-type safety device according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality detector that detects the abnormal situation.

3. The attachment-type safety device according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality detector monitors the current flowing through the electric circuit, and the control unit activates the circuit breaker when it detects an abnormal current based on the output of the abnormality detector.

4. An attachment type safety device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shutoff device is a pyroelectrically operated shutoff device.

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