Charge receptacle for plug-in electric vehicle

• US 7,794,280 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Markyvech, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US12/397,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 439/34, 439/620.26, 439/620.27, 439/620.29, 439/620.31, 439/620.33, 307/10
• US Class Current: 439/620.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicular electrical system includes an electrical energy storage device, a charge receptacle shaped to mate with a charge plug, at least one fuse connected to the charge receptacle, and a plurality of conductors electrically interconnecting the electrical energy storage device and the at least one fuse. Substantially all of the plurality of conductors are electrically connected between the electrical storage device and the at least one fuse.

Claims

1. A vehicular electrical system comprising:

an electrical energy storage device;

a charge receptacle shaped to mate with a charge plug;

at least one fuse connected to the charge receptacle; and

a plurality of conductors electrically interconnecting the electrical energy storage device, the charge receptacle, and the at least one fuse, wherein substantially all of the plurality of conductors are electrically connected between the electrical storage device and the at least one fuse.

2. The vehicular electrical system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a plurality of conductive members connected to the charge receptacle and a plurality of conductive wires, and all of the plurality of conductive wires are electrically connected between the electrical energy storage device and the at least one fuse.

3. The vehicular electrical system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of conductive members comprises a plurality of conductive pins electrically connected to a first side of the at least one fuse and the plurality of conductive wires are electrically connected to a second side of the at least one fuse.

4. The vehicular electrical system of claim 3, further comprising a wire harness at least partially housing at least some of the plurality of conductive wires.

5. The vehicular electrical system of claim 4, wherein the charge receptacle comprises first and second opposing sides, a first engagement formation on the first side thereof and shaped to mate with the charge plug, and a second engagement formation on the second side thereof and shaped to mate with the wire harness.

6. The vehicular electrical system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of conductors further comprises a second plurality of conductive members connected to the charge receptacle, wherein the second plurality of conductive members and the wire harness are arranged such that when the wire harness is mated with the second engagement formation, the second plurality of conductive members electrically interconnect the at least one fuse and the plurality of conductive wires.

7. The vehicular electrical system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuse is removably connected to the charge receptacle in a substantially fixed position.

8. The vehicular electrical system of claim 7, wherein the at least one fuse is at least partially housed within the charge receptacle.

9. The vehicular electrical system of claim 8, wherein the charge receptacle is configured such that the at least one fuse is manually removable from the charge receptacle only when the charge plug is not mated with the charge receptacle.

10. The vehicular electrical system of claim 9, wherein the charge receptacle is shaped to mate with a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard 1772 compliant charge plug.

11. An electric vehicular charging system comprising:

a battery charger comprising a power supply and a charge plug electrically connected to the power supply; and

a charge receptacle having an engagement formation shaped to mate with the charge plug;

at least one fuse removably housed within the charge receptacle, wherein the charge plug and the charge receptacle are configured such that the at least one fuse is not manually removable from the charge receptacle when the charge plug is mated with the engagement formation;

a battery; and

a plurality of conductors electrically interconnecting the battery, the at least one fuse, and the engagement formation, wherein substantially all of the plurality of conductors are electrically connected between the battery and the at least one fuse.

12. The electric vehicle charge system of claim 11, wherein the charge plug is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard 1772 compliant charge plug.

13. The electric vehicle charge system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a plurality of conductive members connected to the charge receptacle and electrically interconnecting the engagement formation and the at least one fuse and a plurality of conductive wires, all of the plurality of conductive wires being electrically connected between the battery and the at least one fuse.

14. The electrical vehicle charge system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of conductive members comprises a plurality of conductive pins that electrically interconnect the charge plug and the at least one fuse when the charge plug is mated with the engagement formation.

15. A vehicular electrical system comprising:

an electrical energy storage device;

a charge receptacle shaped to mate with a charge plug;

at least one fuse removably connected to the charge receptacle in a substantially fixed position and at least partially housed within the charge receptacle; and

a plurality of conductors electrically interconnecting the electrical energy storage device and the at least one fuse, wherein substantially all of the plurality of conductors are electrically connected between the electrical storage device and the at least one fuse,

wherein the charge receptacle is configured such that the at least one fuse is manually removable from the charge receptacle only when the charge plug is not mated with the charge receptacle.

16. The vehicular electrical system of claim 15, wherein the charge receptacle is shaped to mate with a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard 1772 compliant charge plug.