Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Assembly Convertible Between a Cord Set and a Charge Station

• US 20150054461A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Mueller, Mark Anthony, Hein, David A., Mueller, Mary, Topolewski, John N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,296,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An EVSE assembly convertible between a charge cord and a charge station includes a charge unit having a connector of a first type, a charge station sub-assembly having a connector of a second type, and a cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type. The connector of the charge station sub-assembly is hard-wired to an (240V) electrical circuit. The charge unit electrically connects to the charge station sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a (240V) charge station. The cord set sub-assembly further includes a power plug connectable to (one of a 120V and 240V) electrical outlet. The charge unit electrically connects to the cord set sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a (120V or 240V) cord set.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle supply equipment assembly convertible between a cord set and a charge station, the assembly comprising:

a charge unit having a connector of a first type;

a charge station sub-assembly having a connector of a second type; and

a cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the charge station sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a charge station;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the cord set sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a cord set.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a second cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the second cord set sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the second cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a second cord set.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the connector of the charge station sub-assembly is hard-wired to an electrical circuit, the charge unit being electrically connected to the electrical circuit while the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly form the charge station.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the electrical circuit is a 240V electrical circuit and the charge station is a 240V charge station.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the charge station sub-assembly further includes a charge station housing, the charge station housing having a receiving portion configured to physically receive therein a part of the charge unit, wherein the connectors of the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly connect to one another upon the part of the charge unit being received within the receiving portion of the charge station housing.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein:

the charge station housing is fixedly mounted to an exterior wall of an edifice and the connector of the charge station sub-assembly is hard-wired to an electrical circuit at a mounted portion of the wall, the charge unit being electrically connected to the electrical circuit while the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly form the charge station.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the cord set sub-assembly further includes a power plug connectable to an electrical outlet, the charge unit being electrically connected to the electrical outlet while the power plug is connected to the electrical outlet and while the charge unit and the cord set sub-assembly form the cord set.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein:

the electrical outlet is one of a 120V and a 240V electrical outlet and the cord set is one of a 120V and a 240V cord set.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising:

a second cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type, wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the second cord set sub-assembly while the connectors of the charge unit and the second cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a second cord set;

the second cord set sub-assembly further including a second power plug connectable to a second electrical outlet, the charge unit being electrically connected to the second electrical outlet while the second power plug is connected to the second electrical outlet and while the charge unit and the second cord set sub-assembly form the second cord set;

wherein the second electrical outlet is the other one of a 120V and a 240V electrical outlet and the second cord set is the other one of a 120V and a 240V cord set.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the connector of the first type and the connector of the second type correspond with one another such that the connector of the first type and the connector of the second type are enabled to connect to and disconnect from one another, the connector of the first type is disabled from connecting to another connector of the first type, and the connector of the second type is disabled from connecting to another connector of the second type.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the charge unit includes an EVSE control box, a charge cord, and a charge handle sequentially connected in series, the control box including the connector of the charge unit.

12. The assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the charge station sub-assembly is configured to automatically disconnect the connector of the charge station sub-assembly from the electrical circuit until the charge unit and the charge station sub-assembly form the charge station.

13. An electric vehicle supply equipment assembly convertible between a cord set and a charge station, the assembly comprising:

a charge unit having a connector of a first type;

a charge station sub-assembly having a connector of a second type, the connector of the charge station sub-assembly being hard-wired to an electrical circuit; and

a first cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type and a first power plug connectable to a first electrical outlet;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the electrical circuit while the connector of the charge unit and the connector of the charge station sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a charge station;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the first electrical outlet while the first power plug of the cord set sub-assembly is connected to the electrical outlet and the connectors of the charge unit and the cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a first cord set.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the first electrical outlet is one of a 120V and a 240V electrical outlet and the first cord set is one of a 120V and a 240V cord set.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein:

the electrical circuit is a 240V electrical circuit and the charge station is a 240V charge station.

16. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

a second cord set sub-assembly having a connector of the second type and a second power plug connectable to a second electrical outlet;

wherein the charge unit electrically connects to the second electrical outlet while the second power plug of the second cord set sub-assembly is connected to the second electrical outlet and the connectors of the charge unit and the second cord set sub-assembly are connected to one another to thereby form a second cord set.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein:

the first electrical outlet is one of a 120V and a 240V electrical outlet and the first cord set is one of a 120V and a 240V cord set;

the second electrical outlet is the other one of a 120V and a 240V electrical outlet and the second cord set is the other one of a 120V and a 240V cord set; and

the electrical circuit is a 240V electrical circuit and the charge station is a 240V charge station.

18. The assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the connector of the first type and the connector of the second type correspond with one another such that the connector of the first type and the connector of the second type are enabled to connect to and disconnect from one another, the connector of the first type is disabled from connecting to another connector of the first type, and the connector of the second type is disabled from connecting to another connector of the second type.

19. The assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the charge unit includes an EVSE control box, a charge cord, and a charge handle sequentially connected in series, the control box including the connector of the charge unit.

20. The assembly of claim 13 wherein:

the charge station sub-assembly is configured to automatically disconnect the connector of the charge station sub-assembly from the electrical circuit while the connector of the charge unit is disconnected from the connector of the charge station sub-assembly.