Charging inlet

Abstract

A charging inlet (1) comprises an inlet body (2) that is disposed in a vehicle (200) and that has an insertion port (21) into which a charging connector (310) is inserted, a flexible annular cover (3) that covers the inlet body (2) so as to surround the inlet body (2) and that has an opening (31) through which the connector (310) can pass, a drive mechanism (4) that causes the cover (3) to rotate so as to move the position of the opening (31), and a control unit (50) that controls the drive mechanism (4).

Description

Charging inlet

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

[0002] Conventionally, there are charging inlets that are installed in vehicles. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle charging system that includes a power supply device having a power supply fitting and installed in a parking space of the vehicle, and a power receiving fitting that is installed on the bottom of the vehicle and into which the power supply fitting can be inserted and removed in an insertion and removal direction. The power receiving fitting is an inlet that is installed on the bottom of the vehicle and into which the power supply fitting can be inserted and removed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-172489

[0004] The charging inlet has an insertion port into which a charging connector is inserted. It is desirable to be able to appropriately protect the insertion port of the charging inlet from mud and foreign objects.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a charging inlet that can protect an insertion port into which a charging connector is inserted.

[0006] The charging inlet of the present invention is characterized by comprising an inlet body that is disposed in a vehicle and has an insertion port into which a charging connector is inserted; a flexible annular cover that surrounds and covers the inlet body and has an opening through which the connector can pass; a drive mechanism that rotates the cover to move the position of the opening; and a control unit that controls the drive mechanism.

[0007] A charging inlet according to the present invention includes an inlet body having an insertion port into which a charging connector is inserted, a flexible annular cover that surrounds and covers the inlet body and has an opening through which the connector can pass, a drive mechanism that rotates the cover to move the position of the opening, and a control unit that controls the drive mechanism.The charging inlet according to the present invention has the advantage that the insertion port into which the charging connector is inserted can be protected by the cover.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an inlet body according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a front view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the charging inlet according to an embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, charging inlets according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiments] An embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. This embodiment relates to a charging inlet. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a side view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an inlet main body according to the embodiment, Fig. 5 is a front view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the charging inlet according to the embodiment. Fig. 6 shows a cross section taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a charging inlet 1 according to this embodiment. The charging inlet 1 is a fitting device for charging that is disposed in a vehicle 200. As shown in FIG. 2 , the charging inlet 1 according to this embodiment is disposed under the vehicle 200 and faces the road surface. As shown in FIG. 2 , a connector 310 is inserted into the charging inlet 1. The connector 310 is a charging connector that is provided in a vehicle charging device 300 that is disposed in a floor 100. The vehicle charging device 300 has a movement mechanism 320 that supports the connector 310. The vehicle charging device 300 moves the connector 310 using the movement mechanism 320 and inserts the connector 310 into the charging inlet 1.

[0012] In the following description, the insertion direction of the connector 310 into the charging inlet 1 is referred to as the "first direction L." The first direction L is, for example, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 200. The direction perpendicular to each of the first direction L and the vertical direction Z is referred to as the "second direction W." The second direction W is, for example, the width direction of the vehicle 200.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the charging inlet 1 includes an inlet body 2, a cover 3, a drive mechanism 4, and a control unit 50. As shown in Figure 3, the inlet body 2 has a cylindrical fitting portion 20 that fits with a connector 310. The fitting portion 20 has a rectangular cylindrical shape extending in a first direction L. The fitting portion 20 is formed of, for example, metal. As shown in Figure 1, the fitting portion 20 has an insertion opening 21 into which the connector 310 is inserted. The insertion opening 21 opens in the first direction L. In this embodiment, the shape of the insertion opening 21 is a substantially oval shape with a major axis in the second direction W.

[0014] Charging terminals and communication terminals are housed inside fitting portion 20. These terminals are connected to terminals of connector 310. When connector 310 is fitted into fitting portion 20, vehicle charging device 300 and the battery of vehicle 200 are connected so as to be able to charge.

[0015] 3 , the fitting portion 20 has a top surface 20u facing upward. The fitting portion 20 is fixed to the vehicle 200 so that the top surface 20u faces the underside of the vehicle 200. A gap is provided between the top surface 20u and the vehicle 200 for the cover 3. The inlet body 2 has fixing portions 22 that are fixed to the vehicle 200. The fixing portions 22 are located at both ends of the fitting portion 20 in the second direction W.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 4, the inlet body 2 has a lid member 23 that can close the insertion opening 21. Fig. 4 shows the lid member 23 in an open state that exposes the insertion opening 21. In the open state, the lid member 23 is positioned above the insertion opening 21. The lid member 23 has a rotation shaft that extends in the second direction W. As shown in Fig. 3, the inlet body 2 has an actuator 5 that rotates the lid member 23. The actuator 5 has, for example, a motor connected to the rotation shaft of the lid member 23. The actuator 5 may have a reduction gear or the like. The actuator 5 is controlled by a control unit 50. The control unit 50 opens and closes the lid member 23 in response to a command from the vehicle 200.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the fitting portion 20 has a lower surface 20d facing downward. The fitting portion 20 is fixed to the vehicle 200 so that the lower surface 20d faces the road surface or the floor surface. The lower surface 20d is located below the insertion opening 21. The insertion opening 21 is located between the top surface 20u and the lower surface 20d in the up-down direction Z. The lower surface 20d is a flat surface on which the cover 3 can slide, and extends in the first direction L.

[0018] The charging inlet 1 has a scraper 6 that scrapes off dirt adhering to the cover 3. The scraper 6 is disposed below the lower surface 20d and faces the lower surface 20d in the vertical direction Z. A gap is provided between the lower surface 20d and the scraper 6 to allow the cover 3 to pass through. The scraper 6 comes into contact with the cover 3 that passes between the scraper 6 and the lower surface 20d, removing mud and foreign matter from the cover 3.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the cover 3 is an endless member formed in a ring shape. The cover 3 is flexible and can be deformed to fit the shape of the inlet body 2. The cover 3 is impact-resistant and abrasion-resistant, and can protect the inlet body 2. The cover 3 may be waterproof or stain-resistant. The cover 3 may be water-repellent. The cover 3 may be a rubber or resin belt, a fabric product formed by weaving fibers, or other products.

[0020] The cover 3 has an opening 31. The opening 31 penetrates the cover 3 and connects the external space of the cover 3 with the internal space enclosed by the cover 3. In this embodiment, the opening 31 has a rectangular shape. The shape and size of the opening 31 are set so that the connector 310 of the vehicle charging device 300 can pass through.

[0021] The opening 31 has a first end 31a and a second end 31b. The first end 31a and the second end 31b are ends of the opening 31 in the circumferential direction in which the cover 3 rotates. The first end 31a and the second end 31b are opposite sides of the rectangular opening 31 and face each other in the first direction L. The cover 3 has a shielding portion 32. The shielding portion 32 is a portion that covers the insertion port 21 of the inlet body 2. The illustrated shielding portion 32 is a portion near the opening 31 and does not have the opening 31. The shielding portion 32 in this embodiment is adjacent to the second end 31b in the circumferential direction of the cover 3.

[0022] The drive mechanism 4 is disposed in the inlet body 2. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the drive mechanism 4 has an actuator 40, a first pulley 41, a second pulley 42, and a third pulley 43. The actuator 40 is a power source, such as a motor, that rotates the cover 3. The first pulley 41, the second pulley 42, and the third pulley 43 rotatably support the cover 3. The axial directions of the first pulley 41, the second pulley 42, and the third pulley 43 are in the second direction W.

[0023] The first pulley 41, the second pulley 42, and the third pulley 43 are arranged with the fitting portion 20 between them. More specifically, the first pulley 41 and the third pulley 43 are arranged on a first side L1 in the first direction L with respect to the fitting portion 20. The second pulley 42 is arranged on a second side L2 in the first direction L with respect to the fitting portion 20. The first pulley 41 and the second pulley 42 face each other in the first direction L with the top surface 20u between them. The insertion opening 21 is arranged at the end of the fitting portion 20 on the second side L2.

[0024] The first pulley 41 is a drive pulley connected to the actuator 40. The second pulley 42 is a driven pulley and a tension pulley that applies tension to the cover 3. A spring applies a biasing force F1 in a first direction L that moves the second pulley 42 away from the first pulley 41. The third pulley 43 is a driven pulley and a guide pulley that guides the cover 3 to the lower surface 20d of the fitting portion 20. As shown in FIG. 6 , the third pulley 43 is disposed below the first pulley 41. The third pulley 43 aligns the cover 3 with the lower surface 20d of the fitting portion.

[0025] The actuator 40 is controlled by a control unit 50. The control unit 50 moves the cover 3 to the open position and the closed position using the drive mechanism 4. Here, the position of the cover 3 is the rotational position of the cover 3 when the cover 3 rotates while being supported by the pulleys 41, 42, and 43. The position of the cover 3 can be identified by the position of the opening 31 in the rotational direction.

[0026] 1, 5, and 6 show the cover 3 in the open position. In the open position, the cover 3 faces the opening 31 toward the insertion opening 21 of the fitting portion 20. The opening 31 faces the insertion opening 21 in the first direction L and opens the insertion path of the connector 310 into the insertion opening 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening width Wd1 of the opening 31 in the second direction W is larger than the width of the connector 310 and larger than the width of the insertion opening 21. Therefore, the opening 31 of the cover 3 can open the entire insertion opening 21 toward the outside space. The connector 310 is inserted into the insertion opening 21 while passing through the opening 31 while moving along the first direction L.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the cover 3 is in the open position, the first end 31a of the opening 31 is located above the insertion opening 21, and the second end 31b is located below the insertion opening 21. In other words, the opening 31 opens the portion of the fitting portion 20 from the top surface 20u to the bottom surface 20d toward the external space. As shown in FIG. 6 , the first end 31a of the opening 31 is retracted toward the first side L1 from the second pulley 42. Therefore, when the connector 310 is inserted into the insertion opening 21, the first end 31a and the connector 310 are less likely to interfere with each other. Furthermore, the second end 31b is retracted toward the first side L1 from the end 20e of the bottom surface 20d. Therefore, when the connector 310 is inserted into the insertion opening 21, the second end 31b and the connector 310 are less likely to interfere with each other.

[0028] The drive mechanism 4 has a detection means for detecting the position of the cover 3. The detection means detects, for example, the first end 31a and the second end 31b of the opening 31. However, the positions of the detection target on the cover 3 are not limited to the first end 31a and the second end 31b. The means for detecting the rotational position of the cover 3 is, for example, an optical sensor or a switch. The drive mechanism 4 controls the operation of the actuator 40 based on the detection result of the detection means.

[0029] When vehicle charging device 300 engages connector 310 with charging inlet 1 to perform charging, control unit 50 moves cover 3 to the open position. During charging, control unit 50 also causes actuator 5 to open lid member 23. This opens insertion opening 21, allowing connector 310 to be inserted into fitting portion 20.

[0030] When charging is completed and the connector 310 is detached from the fitting portion 20, the control unit 50 moves the cover 3 to the shielding position and closes the lid member 23. Figures 7 and 8 show the cover 3 in the shielding position. When the cover 3 is in the shielding position, the shielding portion 32 faces the insertion opening 21 of the inlet body 2, as shown in Figure 8. The shielding portion 32 faces the insertion opening 21 in the first direction L, and covers the insertion opening 21 from the outside space. The insertion opening 21 is further closed by the lid member 23. In other words, the insertion opening 21 is protected by a double structure of the lid member 23 and the cover 3.

[0031] 7, when the cover 3 is in the closed position, the opening 31 faces the top surface 20u of the fitting portion 20. In other words, the opening 31 is accommodated in the gap between the top surface 20u and the body of the vehicle 200.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 8 , when the cover 3 is in the shielding position, the shielding portion 32 is inclined so as to face diagonally downward. The shielding portion 32 extends from the second pulley 42 to the underside 20d of the fitting portion 20 in a direction inclined with respect to the first direction L. As shown in FIG. 6 , in the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, the second pulley 42 is located on the second side L2 with respect to the end 20e of the underside 20d. Therefore, the cover 3 is inclined so as to face toward the first side L1 as it approaches the end 20e from the second pulley 42. The downward inclination of the shielding portion 32 makes it easier for mud and foreign matter adhering to the shielding portion 32 to peel off from the cover 3. The mud and foreign matter remaining on the shielding portion 32 is scraped off by the scraper 6 when the cover 3 moves to the open position.

[0033] In the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, when the cover 3 is in the closed position, the underside 20d of the fitting portion 20 is covered by the cover 3. Therefore, mud and foreign matter are less likely to adhere to the underside 20d. Furthermore, the cover 3 covers the underside 20d and can protect the fitting portion 20.

[0034] As described above, the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment includes the inlet body 2, the flexible annular cover 3, the drive mechanism 4, and the control unit 50. The inlet body 2 is disposed on the vehicle 200 and has the insertion opening 21 into which the charging connector 310 is inserted. The cover 3 covers the inlet body 2 so as to surround it, and has an opening 31 through which the connector 310 can pass. The drive mechanism 4 rotates the cover 3 to move the position of the opening 31. The control unit 50 controls the drive mechanism 4. According to the charging inlet 1 of this embodiment, the insertion opening 21 can be protected by covering it with the cover 3.

[0035] The control unit 50 of this embodiment moves the cover 3 to an open position and a closed position using the drive mechanism 4. The open position is a position where the opening 31 faces the insertion port 21, allowing the connector 310 to be inserted into the insertion port 21. The closed position is a position where the insertion port 21 is covered and hidden by the shielding portion 32 of the cover 3. The shielding portion 32 is a portion of the cover 3 that does not have the opening 31. The charging inlet 1 of this embodiment can protect the insertion port 21 by positioning the cover 3 in the closed position.

[0036] The charging inlet 1 of this embodiment includes a cover member 23 that can close the insertion opening 21, and an actuator 5 that rotates the cover member 23 to open and close the insertion opening 21. Closing the insertion opening 21 with the cover member 23 more reliably protects the insertion opening 21.

[0037] The charging inlet 1 of this embodiment has a scraper 6 that removes foreign matter adhering to the cover 3. The scraper 6 can prevent foreign matter and mud from accumulating on the cover 3.

[0038] The shape and arrangement of the opening 31 in the cover 3 are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment. The shape and arrangement of the drive mechanism 4 are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment. The shape and arrangement of the insertion opening 21 are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment.

[0039] The charging inlet 1 does not have to have the lid member 23. For example, if the cover 3 can sufficiently prevent mud and foreign matter from entering the insertion opening 21, the lid member 23 may be omitted. Note that if the charging inlet 1 has the lid member 23, the lid member 23 and the cover 3 may be driven by a single actuator. In this case, the lid member 23 and the cover 3 can be operated in conjunction with each other.

[0040] The contents disclosed in the above embodiments can be implemented in appropriate combinations.

[0041] 1: Charging inlet 2: Inlet body 3: Cover 4: Drive mechanism 5: Actuator 20: Fitting portion 20d: Underside 20u: Top surface 21: Insertion opening 22: Fixing portion 23: Lid member 31: Opening 31a: First end 31b: Second end 32: Shielding portion 40: Actuator 41: First pulley 42: Second pulley 43: Third pulley 50: Control unit 300: Vehicle charging device 310: Connector 320: Moving mechanism L: First direction W: Second direction Z: Up / down direction

Claims

1. A charging inlet comprising: an inlet body that is disposed in a vehicle and has an insertion port into which a charging connector is inserted; a flexible annular cover that surrounds and covers the inlet body and has an opening through which the connector can pass; a drive mechanism that rotates the cover to move the position of the opening; and a control unit that controls the drive mechanism.

2. A charging inlet as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the drive mechanism to move the cover to an open position and a covered position, the open position being a position in which the opening faces the insertion port to allow insertion of the connector into the insertion port, and the covered position being a position in which the insertion port is covered and concealed by a covering portion that is a portion of the cover that does not have the opening.

3. The charging inlet according to claim 1, comprising: a cover member capable of closing the insertion opening; and an actuator that rotates the cover member to open and close the insertion opening.

4. The charging inlet according to claim 1, further comprising a scraper for removing foreign matter adhering to the cover.

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