Universal charge port connector for electric vehicles

• US 6,371,768 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Otto Dunkel Gmbh
• Inventors: Rohr, Guenter, Zielinski, Thomas E., Neblett, Larry L., Lescamela, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/282,529
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/911, 439/320
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5804 comprising a separate cable clamping part H01R13/5841 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/701 the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly has a male and female connector. The male connector has electrical contacts in a housing for conducting AC or DC current. The female connector also includes a housing with electrical contacts to electrically couple with the male electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are coupled between a power source and a rechargeable power user, such as batteries in an electric vehicle. A mechanism to terminate power of the rechargeable power user is coupled with the system to prohibit use of the rechargeable power user during charging.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a male connector having a housing, electrical contacts in said housing for conducting AC or DC current and said housing includes receptacles for receiving AC electrical contacts and separate receptacles for receiving DC electrical contacts;

a female connector having a housing for coupling with said male connector housing, electrical contacts in said female housing for coupling with said electrical contacts in said male housing, said housing of said female connector including receptacles for receiving AC electrical contacts and separate receptacles for receiving DC electrical contacts;

said connectors for coupling between a power source and a rechargeable power user; and

a mechanism for terminating power of the rechargeable power user prohibiting use of the rechargeable power user during charging.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rechargeable power user being an electric vehicle.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein said mechanism including a switch for cutting off power in said vehicle so that the vehicle is disabled during charging.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is coupled with the connector on the rechargeable power user.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said female housing having a cover for covering said electrical contacts in a disconnected position.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein said cover activating said mechanism upon opening of said cover to enable connection with said male connector.

7. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said mechanism is coupled to said cover for actuation to terminate power of the rechargeable user upon opening of said cover.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said mechanism comprises a switch that is actuated by said cover upon the opening of said cover to terminate power of the rechargeable user.

9. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a male connector having a housing, electrical contacts in said housing for conducting AC or DC current and said housing includes receptacles for receiving AC and DC electrical contacts;

a female connector having a housing for coupling with said male connector housing, electrical contacts in said female housing for coupling with said electrical contacts in said male housing, said connectors for coupling between a power source and a rechargeable power user;

said female housing having a cover for covering said electrical contacts when said male connector is disconnected from said female connector; and

a mechanism coupled to said cover and being actuated by said cover upon the opening of said cover to terminate power of the rechargeable power user prohibiting use of the rechargeable power user during charging, said mechanism being deactuated by said cover upon the closing of said cover to reestablish power of the rechargeable user.

10. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 9 wherein said mechanism comprises a switch that is switched between first and second states by said cover opening and closing.