LOCKING DEVICE FOR POWER FEEDING PLUG

• US 20110300736A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Katagiri, Toshiharu, Kahara, Keiji, Hirashita, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/347
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A locking device that locks a power feeding plug to a power receiving connector, one of the power feeding plug and the power receiving connector including a hook, the other one of the power feeding plug and the power receiving connector including a catch, the locking device including a lock bar that is moved between a first lock position, at which it holds the hook on the catch and a first unlock position, at which it permits the hook to move away from the catch. A wire is moved between a second lock position, at which it is engaged with the lock bar and restricts movement of the lock bar to the first unlock position, and a second unlock position, at which it is disengaged from the lock bar and permits movement of the lock bar to the first unlock position. A motor is arranged at a position separated from the power receiving connector. A cam transmits the driving force of the motor to the wire.

Claims

1. A locking device that locks a power feeding plug to a power receiving connector, one of the power feeding plug and the power receiving connector including a hook, the other one of the power feeding plug and the power receiving connector including a catch, the locking device comprising:

a first restriction member moved between a first lock position, at which the first restriction member holds the hook on the catch, and a first unlock position, at which the first restriction member permits the hook to move away from the catch, wherein when the hook moves away from the catch, the first restriction member is moved to the first unlock position in cooperation with the hook;

a second restriction member moved between a second lock position, at which the second restriction member is engaged with the first restriction member and restricts movement of the first restriction member from the first lock position to the first unlock position, and a second unlock position, at which the second restriction member is disengaged from the first restriction member and permits movement of the first restriction member to the first unlock position;

a drive source arranged at a position separated from the power receiving connector, wherein the drive source generates driving force that moves the second restriction member; and

a transmission member that transmits the driving force of the drive source to the second restriction member.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the drive source is a motor;

the transmission member includes;

a cam driven and rotated by the motor, and

an engagement member coupled to the second restriction member; and

the engagement member is engaged with and moved by the cam thereby moving the second restriction member from the second lock position to the second unlock position.

3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the second restriction member includes a wire.

4. The locking device according to claim 2, further comprising a wire that couples the engagement member to the second restriction member.

5. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a recess formed in one of the first restriction member and the second restriction member; and

a projection formed on the other one of the first restriction member and the second restriction member, wherein the projection is engageable with the recess;

wherein the projection engages with the recess when the second restriction member is moved from the second unlock position to the second lock position in a state in which the first restriction member is located at the first lock position.

6. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission member includes an engagement member coupled to the second restriction member, and the locking device further comprises a biasing member that biases the engagement member in a direction in which the second restriction member moves to the second lock position.

7. The locking device according to claim 6, wherein

the transmission member includes a cam driven and rotated by the drive source;

the cam includes a first peripheral surface, which defines an outer path, and a second peripheral surface, which defines an inner path;

when the second peripheral surface of the cam engages with the engagement member, the engagement member receives biasing force from the biasing member and moves the second restriction member to the second lock position; and

when the first peripheral surface of the cam engages with the engagement member, the engagement member pushes the biasing member and moves the second restriction member to the second unlock position.

8. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first case arranged in the power receiving connector, wherein the first case accommodates the first restriction member; and

a second case separated from the first case, wherein the second case accommodates the drive source and the transmission member;

wherein the second restriction member is arranged between the first case and the second case.