Charging port lid for an electric vehicle having a first striking part contacting a location on a charging gun other than its unlocking operation part

• US 9,321,363 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamaru, Junichi, Kawasaki, Kyouhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US14/419,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20150183331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/35, 439/299, 439/310, 439/488, 439/490
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/053 with hinged connection to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0576 with actuator fixed to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/30 Preventing theft during charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• 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 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• 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

An external charging structure for an electric vehicle is provided with a normal charging port to be connected with a charging gun, and a charging port lid that closes when charging is not occurring to cover an opening of a port chamber where the normal charging port is disposed and opens when charging is occurring to ensure an open space allowing a port connection with the charging gun. In the external charging structure of the electric vehicle, the charging gun has a locking part for holding a port coupling in a position of electrical connection, and an unlocking operation part placed projecting from a surface of the gun and used for unlocking by a push operation. A first-striking part is disposed on a rear surface of the charging port lid, the first-striking part coming in contact with a location other than the unlocking operation part ahead of where contact would be made with the unlocking operation part when the charging port lid is closed toward the charging gun during charging.

Claims

1. An external charging structure for an electric vehicle, the external charging structure comprising:

a charging port configured to connect to a charging gun when a vehicle-mounted battery is charged; and

a charging port lid configured to close when charging is not occurring so as to cover an opening of a port chamber where the charging port is disposed and to open when charging is occurring to ensure an open space allowing a port connection with the charging gun,

the charging gun having a locking part configured to hold a coupling in a position where the charging gun is electrically connected with the charging port, and an unlocking operation part placed projecting from a surface of the gun and used for unlocking the locking part by a push operation in a closing direction of the charging port lid; and

a first-striking part disposed on a rear surface of the charging port lid, the first-striking part coming in contact with a location other than the unlocking operation part ahead of where contact would be made with the unlocking operation part when the charging port lid is closed in a closing direction of the charging port lid.

2. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

a position of contact made by the first-striking part is set in a position near the unlocking operation part when the charging gun is connected to the port.

3. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

a position of contact made by the first-striking part is set away from the unlocking operation part when the charging gun is connected to the port and away from a rotational center of the charging port lid.

4. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the charging port lid includes a monitor camera configured to capture images of the vehicle surroundings;

and

the first-striking part is formed on a camera cover for covering the monitor camera from a rear surface of the charging port lid.

5. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the charging port lid has an outer panel disposed outside the vehicle, and an inner panel disposed on the inner side the outer panel;

and

the first-striking part is formed by extending the inner panel toward the inside of the vehicle.

6. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the charging port lid includes a monitor camera configured to capture images of the vehicle surroundings;

and

the first-striking part is formed on a camera cover for covering the monitor camera from a rear surface of the charging port lid.

7. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the charging port lid includes a monitor camera configured to capture images of the vehicle surroundings;

and

the first-striking part is formed on a camera cover for covering the monitor camera from a rear surface of the charging port lid.

8. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the charging port lid has an outer panel disposed outside the vehicle, and an inner panel disposed on the inner side the outer panel;

and

the first-striking part is formed by extending the inner panel toward the inside of the vehicle.

9. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the charging port lid has an outer panel disposed outside the vehicle, and an inner panel disposed on the inner side the outer panel;

and

the first-striking part is formed by extending the inner panel toward the inside of the vehicle.

10. The external charging structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the first-striking part extends toward an inside of the vehicle.