WIRE HOUSING DEVICE, VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME, AND POWER FEEDING DEVICE

• US 20120262115A1
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Shinji, Ishii, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In a cord reel capable of housing a power cord for transmitting electric power from an external power source to a vehicle that can be externally charged, pulling-out of the power cord wound around the cord reel from the cord reel is suppressed based on a temperature of the power cord. This can prevent a hot charging cord from exerting influence on the surroundings, such as breakage of equipment or the like which touches the hot charging cord.

Claims

1. A wire housing device configured to be capable of housing a wire for transmitting electric power from a power source, comprising an inhibition unit configured to suppress pulling-out of said wire from said wire housing device in accordance with a temperature of said wire.

2. The wire housing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature detection unit for detecting said temperature; and

a control unit for controlling said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said wire from said wire housing device based on said temperature.

3. The wire housing device according to claim 2, wherein said control unit controls said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said wire if said temperature is higher than a first threshold value.

4. The wire housing device according to claim 3, wherein said control unit releases suppression of pulling-out of said wire if said temperature becomes higher than said first threshold value and thereafter becomes lower than a second threshold value which is lower than said first threshold value.

5. The wire housing device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a drum configured to be capable of winding and housing said wire; and

a ratchet mechanism provided to a rotation shaft of said drum,

wherein said inhibition unit includes a rotation suppression device configured to suppress rotation of said drum by operating under control of said control unit and engaging said ratchet mechanism.

6. A vehicle capable of being charged using electric power from an external power source, comprising:

a power receiving wire for transmitting the electric power from said external power source to said vehicle;

a wire housing device configured to be capable of housing said power receiving wire; and

an inhibition unit configured to suppress pulling-out of said power receiving wire from said wire housing device based on a temperature of said power receiving wire.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising:

a temperature detection unit for detecting said temperature; and

a control unit for controlling said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said power receiving wire from said wire housing device based on said temperature.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said control unit controls said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said power receiving wire if said temperature is higher than a first threshold value.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said control unit releases suppression of pulling-out of said power receiving wire if said temperature becomes higher than said first threshold value and thereafter becomes lower than a second threshold value which is lower than said first threshold value.

10. A power feeding device for transmitting electric power from an external power source, comprising:

a power feeding wire for transmitting the electric power from said external power source;

a wire housing device configured to be capable of housing said power feeding wire; and

an inhibition unit configured to suppress pulling-out of said power feeding wire from said wire housing device based on a temperature of said power feeding wire.

11. The power feeding device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a temperature detection unit for detecting said temperature; and

a control unit for controlling said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said power feeding wire from said wire housing device based on said temperature.

12. The power feeding device according to claim 11, wherein said control unit controls said inhibition unit to suppress pulling-out of said power feeding wire if said temperature is higher than a first threshold value.

13. The power feeding device according to claim 12, wherein said control unit releases suppression of pulling-out of said power feeding wire if said temperature becomes higher than said first threshold value and thereafter becomes lower than a second threshold value which is lower than said first threshold value.