Charge coupling for electric vehicle

• US 5,556,284 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tsutomu, Yamada, Shinichi, Saito, Masashi, Miyazaki, Sho, Wakata, Shigekazu, Saijo, Eiji, Itou, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/446,453
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/348, 439/35, 439/332-335, 439/578-580, 439/310, 180/65.1, 296/97.22
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6276 comprising one or more balls engaging in a hole or a groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A charge coupling for an electric vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a charger to an electric vehicle battery when a supply connector to the charger is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electric vehicle. A locking member is provided for temporarily locking the supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitting position, the locking device being further provided with a spiral groove extending from the half fitting position to the complete fitting position. An engagable boss which projects from a distal end of either the vehicle inlet or supply connector is adapted to detachably engage the spiral groove and the supply connector is provided, on its outer periphery, with a handle for assisting rotation of the supply connector so that the engagable boss moves within the spiral groove from an outer end to a terminating end. A holding member is provided on either the vehicle inlet or supply connector and serves to maintain the supply connector at the complete fitting position in the vehicle inlet when the engagable boss reaches the terminating end of the spiral groove.

Claims

1. A charge coupling for conducting current from a charger to a battery of an electric vehicle, when a supply connector connected to said charger is fully fitted to a vehicle inlet provided on said electric vehicle, the coupling comprising;

a locking device for temporarily locking said supply connector to said vehicle inlet at a half fitted position,

said supply connector being connected to the charger via a charge cable, the supply connector being provided in a connector housing with coaxial supply terminals;

said vehicle inlet being provided in an inlet housing with coaxial terminals adapted to couple with said supply terminals;

said locking device being provided on a circumference of a distal end of either said vehicle inlet or said supply connector, said locking device including a spiral groove extending from a half fitting position of said supply connector relative to said vehicle inlet, to a complete fitting position of said supply connector relative to said vehicle inlet, and an engagable boss projecting from a distal end of one of said vehicle inlet and said supply connector, said engagable boss being adapted to detachably engage with said spiral groove;

said supply connector being provided, on an outer periphery, with a handle for assisting rotation of said supply connector whereby said engagable boss moves into said spiral groove between an outer end and a terminating end thereof, and

a holding member provided on either said vehicle inlet or said supply connector, to maintain said supply connector at said complete fitting position in said vehicle inlet when said engagable boss reaches said terminating end of said spiral groove.