Locking device for power feeding plug

• US 8,376,768 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kurumizawa, Naoto, Katagiri, Toshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/101,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20110281452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 439/304, 439/310, 439/133, 439352-358
• US Class Current: 439/304
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• 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 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• 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 locking device for a power feeding plug that prevents unauthorized removal of the power feeding plug from an inlet. The locking device includes a lock mechanism that locks the power feeding plug to the inlet. The lock mechanism includes an actuator and a lock member pivotable by the actuator between a lock position, at which the lock member locks the power feeding plug to the inlet, and an unlock position.

Claims

1. A locking device for a power feeding plug that prevents unauthorized removal of the power feeding plug from an inlet, wherein the power feeding plug includes a lock arm that is pivotally coupled to the power feeding plug and engageable with the inlet, the locking device comprising:

a lock mechanism that locks the power feeding plug to the inlet, wherein the lock mechanism includes;

an actuator that generates drive force; and

a lock member including a planar surface, wherein the lock member is pivotable in a plane that is parallel to the planar surface by the drive force of the actuator so that the lock member is pivoted to a lock position at which the lock member locks the power feeding plug to the inlet by restricting pivoting of the lock arm engaged with the inlet.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising a seal arranged between the lock member and a location to which the lock member is coupled, wherein the seal prevents fluid from entering the lock mechanism.

3. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising an absorption mechanism that absorbs pivoting force of the lock member while permitting driving of the actuator when an obstacle obstructs pivoting of the lock member to the lock position, wherein the absorption mechanism automatically moves the lock member to the lock position with the absorbed pivoting force when the obstacle is removed.

4. The locking device according to claim 3, wherein the absorption mechanism further includes:

a conversion member that converts the drive force of the actuator to the pivoting force of the lock member; and

a connection member arranged between the conversion member and the lock member to pivot the lock member in cooperation with the conversion member.

5. The locking device according to claim 4, further comprising a deadlock mechanism that holds the lock member at the lock position, wherein

the deadlock mechanism includes a deadlock member that engages the lock member at the lock position to prohibit pivoting of the lock member, and

when the conversion member receives the drive force of the actuator and pivots the lock member from the lock position to an unlock position, the deadlock member is disengaged from the lock member in cooperation with the conversion member to release the lock member.

6. The locking device according to claim 5, wherein

the deadlock member includes a hooking portion,

the lock member includes a hooking groove that receives the hooking portion at the lock position, and

the conversion member includes a guide that guides disengagement of the hooking portion from the hooking groove when the conversion member is driven by the actuator.

7. The locking device according to claim 4, wherein the conversion member includes:

a worm gear coupled to the actuator; and

a worm wheel engaged with the worm gear;

wherein the worm wheel cooperates with the connection member to rotate the lock member between the lock position and an unlock position.

8. The locking device according to claim 4, wherein the conversion member includes:

a plate member linearly movable by the drive force of the actuator and including an elongated hole extending therethrough; and

a connection pin inserted into the elongated hole of the plate member to connect the plate member and the lock member;

wherein the connection pin converts moving force of the plate member to pivoting force of the lock member, and the connection pin cooperates with the plate member and the connection member to rotate the lock member between the lock position and an unlock position.

9. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a component coupled to the actuator to transmit the drive force of the actuator to the lock member; and

a recovery mechanism that, when excessive operation of the actuator separates the component from the actuator, re-couples the component to the actuator to prepare the lock mechanism for the next operation.

10. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein

the power feeding plug includes a hook, and

when the drive force of the actuator rotates the lock member to a position at which the lock member is engageable with the hook of the power feeding plug, the lock mechanism is held in a lock state.

11. A power receiving connector with a locking device for preventing unauthorized removal of a power feeding plug, wherein the power receiving connector includes an inlet for receiving the power feeding plug, and the power feeding plug includes a lock arm that is pivotally coupled to the power feeding plug and engageable with the inlet, the power receiving connector comprising the locking device, wherein the locking device comprises:

a lock mechanism that locks the power feeding plug to the inlet, wherein the lock mechanism includes;

an actuator that generates drive force; and

a lock member including a planar surface, wherein the lock member is pivotable in a plane that is parallel to the planar surface by the drive force of the actuator so that the lock member is pivoted to a lock position at which the lock member locks the power feeding plug to the inlet by restricting pivoting of the lock arm engaged with the inlet.

12. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 11, further comprising a seal arranged between the lock member and a location to which the lock member is coupled, wherein the seal prevents fluid from entering the lock mechanism.

13. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 11, further comprising an absorption mechanism that absorbs pivoting force of the lock member while permitting driving of the actuator when an obstacle obstructs pivoting of the lock member to the lock position, wherein the absorption mechanism automatically moves the lock member to the lock position with the absorbed pivoting force when the obstacle is removed.

14. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 13, wherein the absorption mechanism further includes:

a conversion member that converts the drive force of the actuator to the pivoting force of the lock member; and

a connection member arranged between the conversion member and the lock member to pivot the lock member in cooperation with the conversion member.

15. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 14, further comprising a deadlock mechanism that holds the lock member at the lock position, wherein

the deadlock mechanism includes a deadlock member that engages the lock member at the lock position to prohibit pivoting of the lock member, and

when the conversion member receives the drive force of the actuator and pivots the lock member from the lock position to an unlock position, the deadlock member is disengaged from the lock member in cooperation with the conversion member to release the lock member.

16. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 15, wherein

the deadlock member includes a hooking portion,

the lock member includes a hooking groove that receives the hooking portion at the lock position, and

the conversion member includes a guide that guides disengagement of the hooking portion from the hooking groove when the conversion member is driven by the actuator.

17. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 14, wherein the conversion member includes:

a worm gear coupled to the actuator; and

a worm wheel engaged with the worm gear;

wherein the worm wheel cooperates with the connection member to rotate the lock member between the lock position and an unlock position.

18. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 14, wherein the conversion member includes:

a plate member linearly movable by the drive force of the actuator and including an elongated hole extending therethrough; and

a connection pin inserted into the elongated hole of the plate member to connect the plate member and the lock member;

wherein the connection pin converts moving force of the plate member to pivoting force of the lock member, and the connection pin cooperates with the plate member and the connection member to rotate the lock member between the lock position and an unlock position.

19. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a component coupled to the actuator to transmit the drive force of the actuator to the lock member; and

a recovery mechanism that, when excessive operation of the actuator separates the component from the actuator, re-couples the component to the actuator to prepare the lock mechanism for the next operation.

20. The power receiving connector with a locking device according to claim 11, wherein

the power feeding plug includes a hook, and

when the drive force of the actuator rotates the lock member to a position at which the lock member is engageable with the hook of the power feeding plug, the lock mechanism is held in a lock state.