VEHICLE AND CHARGING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160280086A1
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: CURRY, Susan, LOPEZ, Juan, GIBEAU, John Paul, BASOUKEAS, Nondo G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/30 Preventing theft during charging
• 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: 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

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source in order to recharge a battery, a lock to secure the connector to the charging port, an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between a locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized, and a mechanical lock override configured to transition the lock to the unlocked condition.

Claims

1. A vehicle charging system comprising:

a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a battery;

a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port when in a locked condition;

an actuator configured to transition the lock between the locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized; and

a mechanical override configured to unlock the lock.

2. The vehicle charging system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric solenoid configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

3. The vehicle charging system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

4. The vehicle charging system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical override further comprises a handle and the lock is configured to transition from the locked condition to the unlocked condition when a user pulls the handle.

5. The vehicle charging system of claim 4, further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a battery;

a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port;

an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between a locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized; and

a mechanical lock override configured to transition the lock to the unlocked condition.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the actuator is an electric solenoid configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein actuator is an electric motor configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the mechanical lock override is spaced apart from the charging port.

10. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising an access door arranged to conceal the mechanical lock override when closed and permit access to the mechanical lock override when open.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the mechanical lock override further comprises a handle and wherein the lock is configured to unlock when a user pulls the handle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a controller programmed to, in response to a signal indicating that the access door is open, terminate a battery recharging operation.

14. An electric vehicle comprising:

a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a traction battery;

a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port when in a locked condition;

an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between the locked and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized;

a release configured to mechanically override the electrical actuator to transition the lock from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;

an access door arranged to conceal the mechanical release when closed and permit access to the mechanical release when open; and

a controller programmed to, in response to a signal indicating that the access door is open, terminate a traction battery recharging operation.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the release further comprises a handle and wherein the lock is configured to transition from the locked condition to the unlocked condition when a user pulls the handle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.