Charger locking mechanism
First Claim
1. A locking charger mechanism for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a charger port adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and having a slot formed in an exterior wall thereof;
a charger paddle having a charge coupling portion which is inserted into the slot of said charger port in either of two opposite orientations about a central axis of insertion prior to charging, said charge coupling portion having a pair of openings extending therethrough and a pair of raised stop areas adjacent said openings, anda locking mechanism mounted on said charger port including a cable, a rotatable link coupled to a first end of the cable, an actuator coupled to a second end of the cable for moving the cable to thereby move the rotatable link and a first pin oriented perpendicular to said slot and coupled to the rotatable link for movement into an armed position adjacent said slot in response to rotation of the rotatable link by the actuator; and
a spring loaded release mechanism including a second pin oriented perpendicular to said slot and coupled to a lever mechanism adapted to engage the first pin to prevent said first pin from moving into said slot prior to insertion of said charge coupling portion into said slot, said second pin engaging one of said raised stop areas upon insertion of said charge coupling portion to disengage said lever mechanism from said first pin, permitting said first pin to slide into one of said openings to lock said charger paddle in said charger port;
wherein said openings and raised stop areas are positioned symmetrically about said central axis so that said locking and release mechanisms are effective to lock said charger paddle in said charger port in either of said two opposite orientations of said charge coupling portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locking mechanism for locking a first member that is inserted into a second member into a first member, such as to secure an inductive coupler in a charge port while it is used to charge an electric vehicle. The locking mechanism prevents premature or malicious removal of the coupler before charging has been completed. The locking mechanism has logic that allows a user to set the lock in the charge port prior to insertion of the coupler. The locking mechanism has an actuator coupled to a rotatable link that is rotated thereby. A first pin is coupled to the rotatable link and a hole disposed in the first member that mates with the first pin to lock the inductive coupler in the charge port. A spring loaded release mechanism coupled to the first pin that permits the first pin to slide into the hole. Motion of the cable and the release mechanism releases and locks the first pin in the hole, or retracts the first pin from the hole, thus locking and unlocking the locking mechanism.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A locking charger mechanism for an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a charger port adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and having a slot formed in an exterior wall thereof; a charger paddle having a charge coupling portion which is inserted into the slot of said charger port in either of two opposite orientations about a central axis of insertion prior to charging, said charge coupling portion having a pair of openings extending therethrough and a pair of raised stop areas adjacent said openings, and a locking mechanism mounted on said charger port including a cable, a rotatable link coupled to a first end of the cable, an actuator coupled to a second end of the cable for moving the cable to thereby move the rotatable link and a first pin oriented perpendicular to said slot and coupled to the rotatable link for movement into an armed position adjacent said slot in response to rotation of the rotatable link by the actuator; and a spring loaded release mechanism including a second pin oriented perpendicular to said slot and coupled to a lever mechanism adapted to engage the first pin to prevent said first pin from moving into said slot prior to insertion of said charge coupling portion into said slot, said second pin engaging one of said raised stop areas upon insertion of said charge coupling portion to disengage said lever mechanism from said first pin, permitting said first pin to slide into one of said openings to lock said charger paddle in said charger port; wherein said openings and raised stop areas are positioned symmetrically about said central axis so that said locking and release mechanisms are effective to lock said charger paddle in said charger port in either of said two opposite orientations of said charge coupling portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification