Charging apparatus

• US 9,327,606 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Tomoya, Kinomura, Shigeki, Arasu, Michiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun
• Application Number:
  US14/123,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 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 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 charging apparatus includes a fixed member to be fixed to a fixed object, a charging cable unit including a cable, a connecting portion connected to the cable and to be connected to a charging unit provided for a vehicle, a control unit controlling electric power to be supplied to the charging unit, and a case housing the control unit, a cable holder including a case housing section housing the case so as to be pulled out, the charging cable unit being arranged in the cable holder and the cable holder being attachable/detachable to/from the fixed member, and a restricting portion restricting exiting of the case housed in the case housing section from the case housing section when the cable holder is fitted to the fixed member.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus comprising:

a fixed member to be fixed to a fixed object;

a charging cable unit including a connecting portion connected to said cable and to be connected to a charging unit provided for a vehicle, a control unit controlling electric power to be supplied to said charging unit, and a case housing said control unit;

a cable holder including a case housing section housing said case so as to be pulled out, said charging cable unit being arranged in said cable holder and said cable holder being attachable/detachable to/from said fixed member; and

a restricting portion restricting exiting of said case housed in said case housing section from said case housing section when said cable holder is fitted to said fixed member.

2. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said restricting portion is formed on said fixed member and formed so as to project toward said cable holder fitted to said fixed member,

said cable holder has formed therein a through hole in which said restricting portion is to be inserted, and

said restricting portion projects from said through hole with said cable holder fixed to said fixed member.

3. The charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

an insertion opening which is open upwardly and communicates with said case housing section and through which said case is inserted is formed in said cable holder,

said cable holder includes a supporting portion supporting the bottom of said case located in said case housing section,

said through hole is formed above said case housed in said case housing section, and

said restricting portion is located above said case housed in said case housing section with said cable holder fixed to said fixed member.

4. The charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a fitting section in which a tool for preventing said restricting portion from being removed from said through hole can be fitted is formed in an area of said restricting portion that projects from said through hole.

5. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a charging circuit interrupt device.

6. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said charging cable unit is provided detachably from said cable holder.