Vehicle charge inlet structure

• US 7,988,453 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Loo, Weng Leong, Fujiwara, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/959,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/142, 180/65.27
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/90 adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• 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 vehicle charge inlet structure includes a first socket; a second socket; an electric power storage charged with power supplied from a first charge facility through the first charge connector or from a second charge facility through the second charge connector; a panel opening formed in a panel member defining a vehicle surface of the vehicle; and a box-shaped accommodating member positioned correspondingly to a position of the panel opening, wherein the accommodating member comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and the first wall portion extends in parallel with the vehicle surface and is provided with the first socket while the second wall portion extends diagonally toward the vehicle surface from an end of the first wall portion and is provided with the second socket.

Claims

1. A vehicle charge inlet structure comprising:

a first socket configured to receive a rapid electric power from a first charge connector provided at a first charge facility;

a second socket configured to receive a home electric power from a second charge connector provided at a second charge facility;

an electric power storage unit that stores electric power which is configured to be charged with power supplied from the first charge facility through the first charge connector or from the second charge facility through the second charge connector;

a box-shaped accommodating member for accommodating the first and second sockets which is embedded in a panel member toward an interior of the vehicle defining a vehicle surface of the vehicle;

a panel opening that is formed in the panel member and communicates with the accommodating member;

wherein the accommodating member comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and

the first wall portion extends in parallel with the vehicle surface and is provided with the first socket while the second wall portion extends diagonally toward the vehicle surface from one of ends of the first wall portion and is provided with the second socket.

2. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 1, wherein the first socket is capable of receiving a power higher than a power supplied to the second socket.

3. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a lid member openably covering the panel opening; and

a hinge mechanism openably supporting the lid member,

wherein the accommodating member further comprises a third wall portion to which the hinge mechanism is secured,

the third wall portion extends towards the vehicle surface from one of ends of the second wall portion, and

the second socket is disposed between a first joint portion jointing the first wall portion and the second wall portion and a second joint portion jointing the second wall portion and the third wall portion.

4. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 3, wherein the first charge socket and the second charge socket are arranged in an array in the horizontal direction.

5. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 3, wherein the panel member is a rear side panel provided at a side of the vehicle and defining the vehicle surface.

6. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first charge socket and the second charge socket are arranged in an array in the horizontal direction.

7. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 6, wherein the panel member is a rear side panel provided at a side of the vehicle and defining the vehicle surface.

8. The vehicle charge inlet structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the panel member is a rear side panel provided at a side of the vehicle and defining the vehicle surface.