Charging connector for electric vehicle

• US 6,123,569 A
• Filed: 12/04/1996
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Fukushima, Hirotaka, Hasegawa, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/760,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 439/456, 439/459, 439/310, 439/34, 439/447
• US Class Current: 439/456
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• 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 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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 charging connector device for an electric vehicle is provided which includes a power receiving connector mounted on a vehicle body and a power supplying connector coupled or engaged with the power receiving connector. The power supplying connector includes a main cable path and a cable connecting portion. In the main cable path, a plurality of lead wires are arranged to be connected to a grounding terminal, a charging terminal and other terminals, and at least two wire securing shafts are provided for reducing tension exerted on the lead wires. Thus, a cable, connected to the power supplying connector, can be surely prevented from becoming disconnected from the power supply connector.

Claims

1. A charging connector device for an electric vehicle, said charging connector comprising:

a power supply connector, wherein said power supply connector includes a connector housing having a plurality of terminal chambers and a case body connected to said connector housing, said case body including a cable connection portion for a cable to be connected to a charger and a main cable path communicating with said cable connection portion, said main cable path incorporating a plurality of lead wires wrapped together in a bundle for at least a portion of their lengths, said plurality of wrapped lead wires to be connected to a grounding terminal and charging terminal and other terminals located in said plurality of terminal chambers, and at least two wire securing shafts located apart from one another for reducing tension applied to said plurality of wrapped lead wires, said at least two wire securing shafts being arranged on opposite sides of said plurality of wrapped lead wires, one after the other, and said cable connecting portion has a tapered area on a side of an outlet thereof and said grommet has a tapered tube for tightening said cable in cooperation with said tapered area when tension acts on said cable;

a power receiving connector, wherein said power supplying connector and said power receiving connector are completely coupled with each other so as to turn-on a supply of electricity to said charging connector device; and

a cable protector through which said cable is passed having a grommet fit in said cable connecting portion; and

a wire aligning shaft in said case body located in proximity to an opening of said terminal chamber for said grounding terminal in said main cable path for aligning one of said plurality of lead wires to be connected to said grounding terminal at a central position of said opening by straightening said lead wire after it leaves said at least two wire securing shafts prior to entry into said terminal chamber.