Electrical connector inlet assembly with break-away mechanism for electric vehicle
First Claim
1. An electrical connector inlet assembly for recharging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a first housing with a mounting member for rigidly coupling said first housing to a structure of the vehicle;
a second housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein;
a joint assembly movably coupling said first housing to said second housing for limited relative movement therebetween;
a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said second housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector;
an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of electrical contacts between said retracted position and said extended position; and
a break-away mechanism for disengaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector from said second set of electrical contacts when coupled together and after application of an excessively high force therebetween, said break-away mechanism includinga release mechanism for moving said second set of contacts from said extended position to said retracted position upon a predetermined amount of relative movement between said first and second housings, anda trigger mechanism operatively coupled between said first and second housings for sensing relative movement between said first and second housings and operatively coupled to said release mechanism for activating said release mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector inlet assembly with a break-away mechanism coupled to an electric vehicle for receiving electrical energy. The break-away mechanism disconnects the contacts of the inlet assembly or receptacle from the contacts of the plug to prevent damage of the electrical connector assembly, upon application of a highly excessive force pulling the plug away from the receptacle prior to disengagement of the contacts. The electrical connector inlet assembly receives an electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts for mating with the electrical contacts of the electrical inlet assembly or receptacle. The plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are either automatically or manually uncovered only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle. The plug can be inserted into the receptacle with little or no force by the user since the contacts of the plug and receptacle are not electrically coupled together until after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.
69 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electrical connector inlet assembly for recharging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a first housing with a mounting member for rigidly coupling said first housing to a structure of the vehicle; a second housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein; a joint assembly movably coupling said first housing to said second housing for limited relative movement therebetween; a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said second housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector; an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of electrical contacts between said retracted position and said extended position; and a break-away mechanism for disengaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector from said second set of electrical contacts when coupled together and after application of an excessively high force therebetween, said break-away mechanism including a release mechanism for moving said second set of contacts from said extended position to said retracted position upon a predetermined amount of relative movement between said first and second housings, and a trigger mechanism operatively coupled between said first and second housings for sensing relative movement between said first and second housings and operatively coupled to said release mechanism for activating said release mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification