Charge coupling for electric vehicle

• US 5,816,643 A
• Filed: 05/27/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• 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: Itou, Hikaru, Tanaka, Tsutomu, Yamada, Shinichi, Saito, Masashi, Miyazaki, Sho, Wakata, Shigekazu, Saijo, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/863,331
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.02, 439/310, 439/34
• US Class Current: 296/97.22
• 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 electrical vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a charger to a battery on the electrical vehicle when a supply connector connected to power a source is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electric vehicle, this charge coupling including a locking device for temporarily locking the supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitting position, the electric vehicle being provided, on its body, with an accommodating chamber outwardly open to expose the vehicle inlet, the accommodating chamber being provided on its interior with a draining mechanism, including inclined walls.

Claims

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

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

said electrical vehicle being provided on its body, with an accommodating chamber having an outward opening which exposes said vehicle inlet, said accommodating chamber being provided on its interior with a draining mechanism, including inclined walls,

a cover attached to said opening of said accommodating chamber being provided with a heater for heating the interior of said chamber.

2. The charge coupling of claim 1 wherein said interior of said accommodating chamber is covered with a water repellent layer.

3. The charge coupling of claim 1 wherein said accommodating chamber is provided with a draining port, in the vicinity of an opening edge.

4. The charge coupling of claim 1 wherein said groove is adjacent said opening.

5. The charge coupling of claim 1 wherein said walls incline toward said groove.

6. The charge coupling of claim 1 wherein said chamber is defined by a ceiling wall, two depending side walls, a floor wall between lower ends of said side walls, and an inner wall, facing said opening, contiguous with said ceiling wall, said side walls, and said floor wall, said groove being adjacent a periphery of said inner wall.

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

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

said electrical vehicle having an accommodating chamber with an outward opening which exposes said vehicle inlet, said accommodating chamber being provided on its interior with a draining mechanism on an inner wall which faces said outward opening, at least one water collection groove on said inner wall, recessed from a plane thereof in a direction away from said opening, and in communication with an exterior of said chamber.

8. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said groove is adjacent said opening.

9. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said walls incline toward said groove.

10. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said chamber is defined by a ceiling wall, two depending side walls, a floor wall between lower ends of said side walls, and an inner wall, facing said opening, contiguous with said ceiling wall, said side walls, and said floor wall, said groove being adjacent a periphery of said inner wall.

11. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said groove is adjacent a periphery of said inner wall.

12. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said interior of said accommodating chamber is covered with a water repellent layer.

13. The charge coupling of claim 7 wherein said accommodating chamber is provided with a draining port, in the vicinity of an opening edge.