Charging Connector Cap Structure With Reaction Force Open Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cap structures for charging connectors in vehicles are prone to breakage when excessive loads are applied in the open direction due to reliance on contact with the housing for maintaining the open position.
Innovation Solution
An open-and-close structure for a cap and charging connector that utilizes a biasing member with sliding contact portions on the cap and biasing member, incorporating open position-maintaining and reaction force application means to balance forces and maintain the cap at the open position, even under excessive loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is maintained at the open position by bringing the contact portion into contact with the housing, then the open position can be maintained, but the cap may break when excessive load is applied
Solution Approach 1:
A reaction force application portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the cap and the biasing member. When the cap rotates from the open position, this portion comes into contact with the biasing member to apply a reaction force in the closing direction, preventing excessive load on the cap while maintaining reliable open position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction force application mechanism provides preliminary counter-action by applying a closing-direction force before excessive load can damage the cap. The biasing member is positioned to engage with the cap at a specific rotation angle, preemptively counteracting forces that would otherwise break the cap
2Ease of operation
If a biasing member is used to bias the cap in the opening direction, then the cap can be opened, but the cap may be damaged by excessive load in the open direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static contact-based open position maintenance to a dynamic reaction force mechanism. The biasing member and reaction force application portion work together to provide adaptive force control that responds to cap rotation, maintaining ease of operation while preventing damage through controlled force application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the likelihood of cap breakage by applying a reaction force in the closing direction to counteract excessive loads, ensuring reliable maintenance of the open position and eliminating the need for a cap lock.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member 106 has a compression spring 107 that applies a biasing force to the cap 110
Implementation Method 2
The cap-side cam surface includes a first cam surface 114 that extends with a gradually increasing distance with reference to the rotation shaft 105, a cam tip surface 115 at which the distance with reference to the rotation shaft 105 is the greatest, and a second cam surface 116 that extends beyond the cam tip surface 115 on the side opposite the first cam surface 114 with a gradually decreasing distance with reference to the rotation shaft 105
Data Source
AI summary
An open-and-close structure 1A for a cap includes a housing 2, a cap 3 rotatably supported on the housing 2, and a biasing member 43 configured to apply a biasing force near a rotation shaft 42 of the cap 3, wherein open position-maintaining means configured to maintain the cap 3 at an open position by a biasing force of the biasing member 43 and reaction force application means configured to apply a reaction force in a closing direction by the biasing member 43 to the cap 3 in response to a further movement of the cap 3 in an open direction from the open position are provided on at least one of a support portion 32 that is a cap-side sliding contact portion or a sliding contact member 45 that is a biasing member-side sliding contact portion.