Vehicle with a plurality of charging means

• US 9,233,619 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Tomoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US14/131,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid 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

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes: a battery; a charging unit and an onboard cable for feeding electric power to the battery from a power supply located externally to the vehicle; an inner lid operated for a charging operation by means of the charging unit; and a harness mechanically coupled to the inner lid for making an electrical connection between the battery and the onboard cable. The harness is configured so that the electrical connection made by the harness between the battery and the onboard cable is severed in response to displacement of the inner lid that is caused when the lid is operated. Accordingly, the vehicle having a simple configuration and including a plurality of charging means for charging the power storage device can be provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power storage device;

first charging means and second charging means for feeding electric power to said power storage device from a power supply located externally to the vehicle;

an operation member operated for a charging operation by means of said first charging means; and

connection means mechanically coupled to said operation member for making an electrical connection between said power storage device and said second charging means,

said connection means being configured so that the electrical connection made by said connection means between said power storage device and said second charging means is severed in response to displacement of said operation member that is caused when said operation member is operated,

said first charging means being a charging unit to which an external connector belonging to the power supply located externally to the vehicle is connectable,

said second charging means being a cable mounted on the vehicle and having a plug which is connectable to the power supply located externally to the vehicle,

said connection means being a wire having a connector which is connectable to said charging unit, for making an electrical connection between said charging unit and said cable,

said operation member being a lid configured to cover said charging unit and to be openable and closable, and

said connector being connected to said charging unit with said lid being closed, and removed from said charging unit in response to an operation of opening said lid.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a charging unit housing having an opening in a surface of a body of the vehicle for housing said charging unit therein, wherein

said lid is an outer lid configured to close the opening of said charging unit housing.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charging unit housing having an opening in a surface of body of the vehicle for housing said charging unit therein; and

an outer lid configured to close the opening of said charging unit housing, wherein

said lid is an inner lid disposed at said charging unit housing and configured to be attachable to and detachable from said charging unit.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said charging unit housing has a wire extension port formed to allow said wire to be extended toward said charging unit, and

said wire is configured so that a length of extension of said wire in said charging unit housing from said wire extension port is adjustable.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a cable reel on which said cable can be wound.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

said charging unit housing has a wire extension port formed to allow said wire to be extended toward said charging unit, and

said wire is configured so that a length of extension of said wire in said charging unit housing from said wire extension port is adjustable.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a power storage device;

first charging means and second charging means for feeding electric power to said power storage device from a power supply located externally to the vehicle;

an operation member operated for a charging operation by means of said first charging means; and

connection means mechanically coupled to said operation member for making an electrical connection between said power storage device and said second charging means,

said connection means being configured so that the electrical connection made by said connection means between said power storage device and said second charging means is severed in response to displacement of said operation member that is caused when said operation member is operated,

said first charging means being a cable mounted on the vehicle and having a plug which is connectable to the power supply located externally to the vehicle,

said second charging means being a charging unit to which an external connector belonging to the power supply located externally to the vehicle is connectable,

said connection means being a wire having a connector for making an electrical connection between said charging unit and said power storage device,

said operation member being a lid configured to cover said plug and to be openable and closable,

said lid having a connection unit which is electrically connected to said power storage device and to which said connector is connectable, and

said connector being connected to said connection unit with said lid being closed, and removed from said connection unit in response to an operation of opening said lid.