Charging connector for electric vehicle

• US 5,751,135 A
• Filed: 11/26/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Fukushima, Hirotaka, Hasegawa, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US08/753,497
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/107, 439/34, 439/152, 439/476.1, 439/488, 439/489, 439/490, 362/800
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7036 the switch being in series with coupling part, e.g. dead coupling, explosion proof coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• 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

In a charging connector device for an electric vehicle composed of a power supplying connector and a power receiving connector, an indicator lamp of a two color type is set in an illumination chamber within a case body of the power supplying connector. One color of the two colors is used for illumination. The power supplying connector includes a locking lever and a microswitch. When both connectors are provisionally coupled with each other, a securing piece at the one end of the locking lever runs over a securing protrusion of the power receiving connector so that the pressing potion at the other end of the locking lever presses a switch spring of the microswitch to be turned off, thereby giving rise to no energization of the charging connector device. When both connectors are completely coupled with each other, the lever is elastically restored by the action of a coil spring, thus energizing the connector device.

Claims

1. A charging connector device for an electric vehicle comprising a power supplying connector and a power receiving connector,

said power supplying connector comprising a single indicator lamp set in an illumination chamber which is disposed on said power supplying connector, said indicator lamp including two LEDs which emit two different colors such that a first LED emits one color during standby when said power supplying connector is connected to a charger and a second LED emits another color during charging, respectively,

wherein said power supplying connector further comprises:

a microswitch having a contact with a switch spring so as to allow energization of the connector device;

a locking lever having a securing piece at its first end and a pressing portion at its second end opposite to said first end, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end being axially supported, said pressing portion being engageable with said switch spring of said microswitch; and

said power receiving connector including a securing protrusion being engageable with said securing piece when both connectors are completely coupled with each other,

wherein when said power supplying connector and said power receiving connector are completely coupled with each other, said charging connector device is energized.

2. A charging connector device according to claim 1, wherein said power supply connector further comprises means for urging said locking lever for locking and releasing engagement between said pressing portion of said locking lever and said switch spring of said microswitch.

3. A charging connector device for an electric vehicle comprising a power supplying connector and a power receiving connector,

said power supplying connector comprising:

a microswitch having a contact with a switch spring so as to allow energization of said charging connector device;

a locking lever having a securing piece at its first end and a pressing portion at its second end opposite to said first end, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end being axially supported, said pressing portion being engageable with said switch spring of said microswitch; and

said power receiving connector including a securing protrusion engaged with said securing piece when both connectors are completely coupled with each other,

wherein when said power supplying connector and said power receiving connector are completely coupled with each other, said charging connector device is energized.

4. A charging connector device according to claim 3, further comprising means for urging said locking lever for locking and releasing engagement between said pressing portion of said locking lever and said switch spring of said microswitch.

5. A charging connector device for an electric vehicle comprising a power supplying connector and a power receiving connector,

said power supplying connector comprising:

a microswitch having a contact with a switch spring so as to allow the turn-on of electricity;

a locking lever having a securing piece at its first end and a pressing portion at its second end opposite to said first end, and an intermediate portion between said first end and said second end being axially supported, said pressing portion being engageable with said switch spring of said microswitch; and

said power receiving connector including a securing protrusion engaged with said securing piece when both connectors are completely coupled with each other; and

means for urging said locking lever for locking and releasing engagement between said pressing portion of said locking lever and said switch spring of the microswitch,

wherein when said power supplying connector and said power receiving connector are completely coupled with each other, said charging connector device is energized.