CHARGE CONNECTOR LOCKING APPARATUS

• US 20140111144A1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Electric Terminal Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Korea Electric Terminal Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Mo, Jung-Hyuk
• Granted Patent: US 9,362,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging connector locking apparatus. The apparatus includes a coupling latch installed in an inlet housing of the inlet connector to be supported by a resilient member so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle, and having an interlocking curved surface by which a tip end of the plug latch is guided; a fixing rod moved to be positioned at a side of the coupling latch facing the plug latch to prevent movement of the plug latch in a release direction; and a driving source for providing driving power for movement of the fixing rod.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A charging connector locking apparatus for locking a state in which a plug latch of a plug connector is coupled to an inlet connector when the inlet connector is coupled to the plug connector for charging, the charging connector locking apparatus comprising:

a coupling latch rotated while overcoming a resilient force of a resilient member and located adjacent to the plug latch due to an entry of the plug latch; and

a fixing rod, a tip end of which is positioned at one side of the coupling latch such that the coupling latch is rotated by the plug latch and maintains a state in which the coupling latch is located adjacent to the plug latch to stop an operation of the plug latch.

13. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a driving source for providing driving power for movement of the fixing rod.

14. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 13, wherein the driving source is located at one side of the mounting plate formed in the inlet housing of the inlet connector, and the driving source is operated for a predetermined time period in a state in which the coupling of the inlet connector and the plug connector is completed and in a state in which the charging is completed.

15. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 12, wherein the coupling latch is rotatably installed in a rotary shaft supported by the inlet housing to be supported by the resilient member.

16. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 15, wherein an interlocking piece extends from one side of the latch body forming a frame of the coupling latch to be downwardly inclined toward the plug connector, a positioning surface on which a tip end of the fixing rod is positioned is provided on one surface of the latch body, and an entry space into which a tip end of the plug latch inserted is provided at a lower portion of the latch body.

17. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 16, wherein a support end protrudes adjacent to the positioning surface of the coupling latch such that when the plug latch is not introduced, the support end prevents the fixing rod from being positioned on the positioning surface.

18. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fixing rod extends in a direction parallel to a rotation center axis of the coupling latch, is guided along one side of the inlet housing, and is supported by a support formed in the inlet housing.

19. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 18, wherein a catching step by which a tip end of the plug latch is caught protrudes from the inlet housing of the inlet connector at a location adjacent to the coupling latch, and guide ribs are provided at opposite ends of the catching step.

20. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 12, wherein an adapter bracket is provided along a periphery of a mounting plate of the inlet housing.

21. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 20, wherein a bracket body of the adapter bracket is formed along a periphery of the mounting plate to have a predetermined height, a penetration part through which a plug insertion part of the inlet housing is exposed is formed to pass through a center of the bracket body, and a mounting piece for mounting the adapter bracket to a panel of the vehicle is formed at one side of the bracket body.

22. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 21, wherein a driving source housing in which the driving source is positioned is integrally formed at one side of the adapter bracket, and the fixing rod passes through the bracket body to communicate an interior of the driving source housing with the penetration part.

23. A charging connector locking apparatus for locking a state in which a plug latch of a plug connector is coupled to an inlet connector when the inlet connector is coupled to the plug connector for charging, the charging connector locking apparatus comprising:

a coupling latch rotated while overcoming a resilient force of a resilient member to be located adjacent to a tip end of the plug latch due to an entry of the plug latch, and rotated about a rotary shaft by a restoring force of a resilient member in a state in which the plug latch is not introduced to be located at a location where an operation of the plug latch is not hindered;

a fixing rod, a tip end of which is positioned at one side of the coupling latch such that the coupling latch is rotated by the plug latch and maintains a state in which the coupling latch is located adjacent to the plug latch to stop an operation of the plug latch; and

a driving source for providing driving power for moving the fixing rod for a predetermined time period in a state in which the coupling of the inlet connector and the plug connector is completed and in a state in which the charging is completed.

24. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 23, wherein a catching step by which a tip end of the plug latch is caught protrudes from the inlet housing of the inlet connector at a location adjacent to the coupling latch, and guide ribs are provided at opposite ends of the catching step.

25. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 23, wherein the coupling latch is rotatably installed in a rotary shaft supported by the inlet housing to be supported by the resilient member, an interlocking piece extends from one side of the latch body forming a frame of the coupling latch to be downwardly inclined toward the plug connector, a positioning surface on which a tip end of the fixing rod is positioned is provided on one surface of the latch body, and an entry space into which a tip end of the plug latch inserted is provided at a lower portion of the latch body.

26. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 25, wherein a support end protrudes adjacent to the positioning surface of the coupling latch such that when the plug latch is not introduced, the support end prevents the fixing rod from being positioned on the positioning surface.

27. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 23, wherein an adapter bracket is provided along a periphery of a mounting plate of the inlet housing.

28. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 27, wherein a bracket body of the adapter bracket is formed along a periphery of the mounting plate to have a predetermined height, a penetration part through which a plug insertion part of the inlet housing is exposed passes through a center of the bracket body, and a mounting piece for mounting the adapter bracket to a panel of the vehicle is formed at one side of the bracket body.

29. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 28, wherein a driving source housing in which the driving source is positioned is integrally formed at one side of the adapter bracket, and the fixing rod passes through the bracket body to communicate an interior of the driving source housing with the penetration part.

30. A charging connector locking apparatus for locking a state in which a plug latch of a plug connector in a charging station is coupled to a latch catching step of an inlet connector when the inlet connector is coupled to the plug connector for charging, the charging connector locking apparatus comprising:

a driving source; and

a lever unit by which a locking lever operated by driving power of the driving source to be moved forward and rearward interrupts an operation of the plug latch provided in the plug connector coupled to the latch catching step.

31. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lever unit comprises a lever housing forming an external appearance of the lever unit, a pinion gear installed within the lever housing and forwardly and reversely rotated by driving power of the driving source, and a locking lever moved forward and rearward in conjunction with the pinion gear.

32. The charging connector locking apparatus of claim 31, wherein a cap is formed at a lengthwise side of the locking lever, and a switch provided with a switch lever for manipulating a push button in conjunction with the cam is further provided within the lever housing to detect a forward/rearward movement completion time point of the locking lever.

33-34. -34. (canceled)