Retractor and charging device including same

Abstract

The present invention provides a retractor for pulling and storing a charging cable of a charging device, the retractor comprising: a housing coupled to the charging device and including a discharge port; a drum which rotates around a shaft part inside the housing; a spiral spring having one end coupled to the shaft part of the housing and the other end coupled to the drum; a buffer bush fastened to the discharge port of the housing and including a through hole; and a wire which has one end fixed to the drum and extends outward via the discharge port and the through hole. The wire is drawn into and out from the housing according to the rotation direction of the drum.

Description

Retractor and charging device equipped therewith

[0001] The present invention relates to a retractor and a charging device, and more particularly, to an internal configuration for reducing noise and improving durability of a retractor provided in a charging device for an electric vehicle.

[0002] Typically, electric vehicles (EVs) have been slow to become practical for a long time due to issues such as the heavier weight of the batteries installed in the vehicle compared to gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles and the time required to charge them. However, with the recent depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution, interest in EVs, which run on electric energy rather than fossil fuels, has grown, leading to active research and development in this area.

[0003] As a result, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles has increased in recent years. Electric vehicles are equipped with batteries that supply power for propulsion and store energy. Therefore, to keep an electric vehicle running, the batteries must be charged. Consequently, infrastructure for charging electric vehicles is essential, and to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, fixed-mounted charging stations are being installed in various locations.

[0004] Here, electric vehicle charging devices are essential for building a stable charging infrastructure, ensuring electrical stability and long-term service life. This is because electric vehicle charging devices are primarily installed outdoors, such as in public buildings, parking lots in parks, highway rest areas, and apartment complexes.

[0005] In particular, for electric vehicles requiring frequent charging, the charging cable connecting the charger must be of a certain length for user convenience. Accordingly, a means of stably securing the charging cable is necessary.

[0006] Meanwhile, retractors are devices that automatically reel in or reel out cables or wires, and are widely used in various industries. They are particularly essential for organizing and storing cables in automobiles, electronics, and medical devices. They can also be used to secure charging cables in electric vehicle charging devices.

[0007] Therefore, to minimize damage to the charging cable, which has a certain length as described above, due to friction with the floor, a device is needed to secure the middle portion of the charging cable to the main body. Furthermore, a method is needed to secure the charging cable by minimizing the risk of damage to the device holding the charging cable.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to increase the durability of the product and extend its lifespan by minimizing wear and damage to the retractor discharge portion caused by the wire.

[0009] In addition, the present invention aims to provide a retractor and a charging device having the same, which improve product quality by reducing noise inside the retractor.

[0010] The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention proposes a retractor that pulls and stores a charging cable of a charging device. The retractor may have a housing that is coupled to the charging device and includes a discharge port. The retractor may include a drum that rotates around an axis within the housing. The retractor may include a spiral spring whose end is coupled to the axis of the housing and whose other end is coupled to the drum. The retractor may include a buffer bushing that is fastened to the discharge port of the housing and includes a through hole. The retractor may include a wire whose end is fixed to the drum and extends outward through the discharge port and the through hole, and the wire may be introduced into and withdrawn from the housing depending on the rotational direction of the drum.

[0012] The above-mentioned buffer bushing may have a cylindrical shape that extends outward by a certain length. The above-mentioned through hole may have a tapered shape in which the diameter increases from one end located on the inside of the housing to the other end located on the outside of the housing.

[0013] The above through hole may include a cylindrical section having a constant diameter close to one end of the through hole.

[0014] The other end of the above-mentioned through hole may include a curved portion on the inner surface that rubs against the wire.

[0015] The above-mentioned buffer bushing includes a catch portion at one end inserted into the housing, and the discharge port of the housing may include a protrusion that surrounds the catch portion and supports the catch portion against external pressure.

[0016] The above buffer bushing can be formed of the same material as the material of the above wire.

[0017] A spacer may further be included between the side surface of the spring and the inner surface of the drum to reduce frictional noise.

[0018] The above spacer may be characterized by having a surface roughness smaller than that of the inner surface of the drum.

[0019] The housing may further include a stopper made of rubber that is fastened to a wire extending outside the housing and has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the buffer bushing to prevent the wire from being drawn in.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging device includes a main body, a charging cable that receives power from the main body, and a retractor that pulls the charging cable upward and stores it using a wire, wherein the retractor includes a housing that is coupled to the charging device and includes a discharge port, a drum that rotates around an axis inside the housing, a spiral spring whose one end is coupled to an outlet of the housing and whose other end is coupled to the drum, a buffer bushing that is fastened to the discharge port of the housing and includes a through hole, and the wire whose one end is fixed to the drum and extends outward through the discharge port and the through hole, wherein the wire can be introduced into and withdrawn from the housing depending on the rotational direction of the drum.

[0021] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, noise inside a retractor can be reduced to provide a comfortable user environment and improve product quality.

[0022] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, wear and damage caused by wires can be minimized, thereby increasing the reliability of the retractor and improving the durability of the product, thereby extending its lifespan.

[0023] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the reliability and efficiency of an electric vehicle charging device can be improved by improving the stable placement and usability of a charging cable.

[0024] Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, since various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, such as preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of example only.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a charging device equipped with a retractor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a retractor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the AA section of Figure 2, showing the internal configuration of the retractor.

[0028] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB section of Figure 2.

[0029] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part D of Figure 4, and is a drawing for explaining the shape of the bush.

[0030] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the CC section of Figure 2 to explain the spacer configuration.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a drawing for comparing the roughness of the surface of a drum and the surface of a spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components are given the same reference numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0033] The suffixes "module" and "part" used in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of a related known technology is deemed to obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0034] In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0035] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0036] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0037] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0038] In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a charging device (1000) equipped with a retractor (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] A charging device (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a main body (1001) that supplies power to a charging cable (10), a retractor (100) located on the upper side of the main body (1001), and a wire (200) that connects the retractor (100) and the charging cable (10).

[0041] As described above, as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) increases, infrastructure for charging EVs is needed, and charging devices such as those shown in Figure 1 are being installed in various locations.

[0042] In particular, in the case of electric vehicles that require frequent charging, the length of the charging cable (10) connected to the charger must be secured to a certain extent for the convenience of the user. Accordingly, a means for stably mounting the charging cable (10) is required. Here, one end of the charging cable (10) is connected to a main body (1001) that supplies power to the charging cable (10), and the other end of the charging cable (10) is connected to a charger that is coupled to the electric vehicle when charging the electric vehicle.

[0043] Therefore, in order to minimize damage to the charging cable (10) of a certain length due to friction with the floor, it is necessary to place the middle part of the charging cable (10) on the main body (1001), and for this purpose, a retractor (100) may be positioned on the upper side of the main body (1001).

[0044] In addition, a charging device (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a wire (200) connecting a retractor (100) and a charging cable (10). Through this, the charging cable (10) can be stably placed, minimizing damage to the charging cable (10), and improving the user's convenience in charging an electric vehicle. Hereinafter, the retractor (100) provided in the charging device of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0045] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the configuration of the retractor (100) and the shape of the bush (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0046] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a retractor (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Fig. 2, showing the internal configuration of the retractor (100). Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of part D of Fig. 4, and is a drawing for explaining the shape of the bush (300).

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 together, a retractor (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing (110), a drum (120), a spiral spring (130), a wire (200), and a buffer bush (300). Here, one end of the wire (200) is fixed to the drum (120), and extends outward through a discharge port (140) of the housing (110) and a through hole (310) of the buffer bush (300), so that the other end can be connected to a charging cable.

[0048] The housing (110) is located at the upper end of the charging device (1000) and serves to protect and support internal components. The housing (110) is made of a durable material to protect internal components from external impact. At the lower end of the housing (110), there is a discharge port (140) through which a wire (200) is drawn in and out. The location of the discharge port (140) is not limited to the lower end. The housing (110) may include a drum (120) and a spiral spring (130) therein.

[0049] The drum (120) may be installed inside the housing (110). It is fixed to the center of the housing (110), i.e., the shaft (111), and can rotate about the shaft (111). The drum (120) serves to wind or unwind the wire (200), and the wire (200) may be wound around the drum (120). That is, one end of the wire (200) may be fixed to the drum (120).

[0050] Additionally, the drum (120) may include a spiral spring (130) therein and may have a fixing groove formed to fix the spiral spring (130). The drum (120) surrounds the spiral spring (130) and can rotate by the elastic force of the spiral spring (130) or an external force. The drum (120) enables the wire (200) to be smoothly wound and unwound.

[0051] The spiral spring (130) has one end fixed to the shaft (111) of the housing (110) and the other end fixed to a fixed groove provided inside the drum (120) to provide restoring force when the drum (120) rotates. That is, when the drum (120) rotates in a first direction by an external force pulling the wire (200), it accumulates elastic force, and when there is no external force, it provides restoring force to rotate the drum (120) in the second direction, which is the opposite direction, so that the wire (200) can be wound around the drum (120) again.

[0052] The wire (200) can be wound inside the housing (110) by being connected to the drum (120) at one end and extending outward through the discharge port (140) of the housing (110), and is drawn in and out of the housing (110) according to the rotational direction of the drum (120). Here, the other end of the wire (200) can be connected to a charging cable and serve to pull the charging cable when drawn in. The wire (200) can be designed to be made of durable STS304 material so as not to be damaged even with repeated use.

[0053] A stopper (210) made of rubber may be fastened to the wire (200) to prevent the wire (200) from being fully drawn in. The stopper (210) may have a shape with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the discharge port (140) or the buffer bushing (300), and may be made of rubber to cushion the impact upon drawing in due to the restoring force of the spring (130). The stopper (210) may be fastened to the wire (200) extending outward from the housing (110). That is, the stopper (210) may be located on the outside of the housing (110).

[0054] A buffer bushing (300) may be fastened to the discharge port (140) of the housing (110). The buffer bushing (300) serves to increase durability by buffering the impact and frictional force generated when the wire (200) is introduced or withdrawn. The buffer bushing (300) may have a cylindrical shape that extends outward from the housing (110) by a certain length. The buffer bushing (300) may include a through hole (310) in the center of the cylinder through which the wire (200) passes.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the shape and configuration of the buffer bush (300) will be described in detail.

[0056] As described above, the buffer bush (300) may have a cylindrical shape that extends outward from the housing (110) by a certain length. In addition, the buffer bush (300) may include a through hole (310) and a catch (320), and the through hole (310) may include a cylindrical section (311) and a curved section (313).

[0057] The through hole (310) is a passage through which the wire (200) passes, and may have a tapered shape in which the diameter increases from one end located on the inside of the housing (110) to the other end located on the outside of the housing (110). That is, one end of the through hole (310) may have a smaller diameter than the other end. Such a shape reduces friction and facilitates movement when the wire (200) is introduced and withdrawn, thereby minimizing wear and damage to the wire (200).

[0058] One end of the through hole (310) includes a cylindrical portion (311) with a constant diameter, which can serve to support the wire (200) so that it can move stably. In addition, the cylindrical portion (311) can have a tapered shape that spreads out from the other end of the cylindrical portion (311), so that the through hole (310) can have a funnel shape overall. Such a shape can minimize the friction area by allowing the wire (200) to make narrow or point contact with the buffer bush (300) when it is introduced or withdrawn.

[0059] That is, the through hole (310) may have an overall tapered shape or a funnel shape. In addition, the other end of the through hole (310) includes a curved portion (313) on the inner surface that rubs against the wire (200), and this curved portion (313) is formed in a trumpet shape with a diameter that increases as it goes toward the exit direction of the wire (200). The curved portion (313) is designed so that the wire (200) can move smoothly without being caught on sharp edges, thereby reducing wear of the wire (200) and improving durability.

[0060] In addition, the buffer bush (300) may be formed of the same material as the wire (200). Typically, the wire (200) is made of a material with higher rigidity than the buffer bush (300). In this case, the buffer bush (300) may be easily worn out due to friction of the wire (200). In order to solve this problem, the buffer bush (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention proposes a configuration that improves durability by being made of the same material as the wire (200).

[0061] Meanwhile, if the buffer bush (300) has a shape that is short enough to simply cover the discharge port (140), the wire (200) may be subject to wear and damage due to friction generated when it is introduced and withdrawn. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the buffer bush (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention is designed so that the buffer bush (300) has a certain length, and the inner circumference of the through hole (310) is formed in a trumpet shape so that the wire (200) can move smoothly. In addition, the friction between the wire (200) and the bush (300) is minimized through the funnel shape, thereby reducing wear and damage. Therefore, there is an effect of extending the life of the buffer bush (300) and improving the durability of the retractor (100).

[0062] The catch (320) is a portion formed at one end of the buffer bush (300) and is inserted and fixed into the discharge port (140) of the housing (110). The discharge port (140) may be designed to surround the catch (320) and may include a protrusion (141) that supports the buffer bush (300) against external impact. That is, the protrusion (141) may play a role in supporting the catch (320) against external pressure.

[0063] The catch (320) is securely connected to the discharge port (140) of the housing (110), so that the buffer bush (300) does not easily separate or move due to external impact or vibration. The protrusion (141) serves to disperse the impact when an external impact occurs. In particular, the protrusion (141) supports the buffer bush (300) against external pressure, thereby absorbing and alleviating the impact generated when the stopper (210) collides with the wire (200) when it is pulled in. In addition, it can also serve to prevent the buffer bush (300) from being pushed into the housing (110) due to the impact.

[0064] Hereinafter, the configuration of the spacer (400) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0065] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a CC section of Fig. 2 to explain the configuration of a spacer (400). Fig. 7 is a drawing for comparing the roughness of the surface of a drum (120) and the surface of a spacer (400) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 6, the spacer (400) may be placed between the inner surface of the drum (120) and the spiral spring (130). That is, it may be positioned between the side surface of the spiral spring (130) and the inner surface of the drum (120) surrounding it. At this time, the spacer (400) may be placed symmetrically.

[0067] A spacer (400) is positioned between the inner surface of the drum (120) and the spiral spring (130) to reduce noise caused by friction. The spacer (400) is made of a material with high strength and excellent chemical resistance, and its surface has a rougher surface than the inner surface of the drum (120), thereby minimizing friction. The spacer (400) may have a shape corresponding to the side surface of the spiral spring (130). For example, it may have a circular shape.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a drawing for comparing the surface roughness of a drum (120) and a spacer (400) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 (a) is an enlarged drawing of the surface of the inner side of the drum (120), and FIG. 7 (b) is an enlarged drawing of the surface of the spacer (400). The inner side of the drum (120) generally has a high surface roughness, which makes friction likely to occur, whereas the spacer (400) has a low surface roughness, which can minimize friction.

[0069] Referring to Fig. 7 (a), the inner surface of the drum (120) has a relatively high surface roughness, which may cause friction when in contact with the spiral spring (130). This may cause wear of the spring (130) and friction noise.

[0070] Referring to Fig. 7 (b), the spacer (400) has a surface roughness lower than that of the inner surface of the drum (120), thereby significantly reducing friction with the spiral spring (130). This minimizes noise generated when the spring (130) rotates inside the drum (120) and reduces wear of the spring (130). The smooth surface of the spacer (400) ensures smooth rotation of the spring (130), thereby improving the performance and durability of the entire retractor (100) system.

[0071] That is, as a result of comparing the surface roughness of the inner surface of the drum (120) and the spacer (400), the surface of the spacer (400) is smoother and has a lower coefficient of friction, so that friction and noise generated at the contact surface with the spring (130) can be significantly reduced. Through such structural improvement, the noise of the retractor (100) can be reduced and the convenience of use can be improved.

[0072] In summary, the retractor (100) and charging device (1000) equipped therewith according to one embodiment of the present invention effectively reduce noise within the retractor (100) and minimize wear and damage to the wire (200), thereby enhancing durability. This significantly enhances user convenience and product reliability.

[0073] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0074] The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any respect and should be considered illustrative only. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. In a retractor that pulls and stores the charging cable of the charging device, A housing coupled to the charging device and including a discharge port; A drum that rotates around an axis inside the housing; A spiral spring, one end of which is coupled to the shaft of the housing and the other end is coupled to the drum; A buffer bushing that is fastened to the discharge port of the above housing and includes a through hole; and First, it includes a wire fixed to the drum and extending outward through the discharge port and the through hole, The above wire is a retractor that is introduced and withdrawn into the housing according to the rotation direction of the drum.

2. In paragraph 1, The above buffer bushing It has a cylindrical shape that extends outward by a certain length, The above through hole A retractor characterized by a tapered shape in which the diameter becomes wider from one end located on the inside of the housing to the other end located on the outside of the housing.

3. In paragraph 2, The above through hole A retractor characterized by including a cylindrical section having a constant diameter close to one end of the above through hole.

4. In paragraph 2, The other end of the above through hole A retractor characterized by including a curved portion on the inner surface that rubs against the wire.

5. In paragraph 1, The above buffer bushing Includes a catch at one end to be inserted into the above housing. The outlet of the above housing is In a shape that surrounds the above-mentioned hanging part, characterized by including a protrusion that supports the catch against external pressure. Retractor.

6. In paragraph 1, The above buffer bushing It is characterized by being formed of the same material as the material of the above wire. Retractor.

7. In paragraph 1, A retractor further comprising a spacer positioned between the side of the spring and the inner side of the drum to reduce frictional noise.

8. In paragraph 7, The above spacer characterized in that the surface roughness is smaller than that of the inner surface of the drum. Retractor.

9. In paragraph 1, A retractor characterized in that it further includes a stopper made of rubber material that is connected to a wire extending outside of the housing and has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the buffer bushing to prevent the wire from being drawn in.

10. Body; A charging cable that supplies power from the main body; and Includes a retractor that pulls the charging cable upward using a wire, The above retractor A housing coupled to the charging device and including a discharge port; A drum that rotates around an axis inside the housing; A spiral spring, one end of which is connected to the outlet of the housing, and the other end is connected to the drum; A buffer bushing that is fastened to the discharge port of the above housing and includes a through hole; and First, the wire is fixed to the drum and extends outward through the discharge port and the through hole, A charging device having a retractor, characterized in that the wire is introduced and withdrawn into the housing according to the rotational direction of the drum.

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