Battery charger with wiring opening for conducting wire connection therethrough

• US 6,316,908 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kajiura, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/731,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/107, 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A charger includes a power source device having an outer casing constructed by housing, an upper housing and a side cover, which are formed of metal. Circuit boards and electric components are mounted to the lower housing. An indicator, a coupler resting case and a sensor are mounted on the upper housing. An opening is formed in the upper housing so that wires extending from the indicator and the sensor can be connected to wires extending from the circuit board through the opening of the upper housing, after the upper housing is placed on the lower housing. The opening is closed by a cover and is electromagnetically sealed.

Claims

1. A charger for a vehicle, comprising a power source unit and a feeding coupler connected to the power source unit via a cable and adapted to be coupled to a receiver of a vehicle, said power source unit comprising:

an outer casing including a metallic base having an electric circuit component mounted thereon and a metallic tubular member having a closed end and placed on said metallic base so as to cover said electric circuit component;

an electric member mounted on said tubular member in an electromagnetically shielded state;

said tubular member having an opening for connecting wires between said electric member and said electric circuit component through said opening; and

an electromagnetically shielding material covering said opening.

2. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric member is mounted on said tubular member such that said electric member is at least partially exposed from an external surface of said tubular member.

3. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular member has a bulge portion integrally formed with said tubular member in which said electric member is accommodated in such a manner as to be partially exposed from the external surface of said tubular member, said opening being formed in said bulge portion.

4. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric member is mounted on the outside of said tubular member in an electromagnetically shielded state.

5. A charger as set forth in claim 4, wherein said wires include electrically shielded wiring extending to the outside of said tubular member and connected to said electric member.

6. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically shielding material comprises a metallic housing cover mounted on said tubular member in a such a manner as to cover said electric member and said wiring exposed from the external surface of said tubular member, or is located on the outside of said tubular member, and said opening.

7. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric member is an indicator.

8. A charger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric member is a detector for detecting insertion or removal of said feeding coupler into or from a coupler rest portion provided on the outside of said tubular member.

9. A charger for a vehicle, comprising a power source unit, and a feeding coupler connected to said power source unit via a cable and adapted to be coupled to a receiver of a vehicle, said power source unit comprising:

an outer casing including a metallic base having an electric circuit component mounted thereon, and a metallic tubular member having a closed end and placed on said metallic base so as to cover said electric circuit component; and

an electric member provided on said metallic base.

10. A charger as set forth in claim 9, wherein said electric member is an indicator.

11. A charger as set forth in claim 9, wherein said electric member is a detector for detecting insertion or removal of said feeding coupler into or from a coupler rest portion provided on the outside of said tubular member.