Dokumentenidentifikation |
EP0644622 27.04.1995 |
EP-Veröffentlichungsnummer |
0644622 |
Titel |
Steckverbinderanordnung zum Laden eines elektrischen Fahrzeugs. |
Anmelder |
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Yokkaichi, Mie, JP |
Erfinder |
Okada, Hajime c/o Sumitomo Wiring Systems,Ltd., Mie-ken, JP |
Vertreter |
derzeit kein Vertreter bestellt |
Vertragsstaaten |
DE, GB |
Sprache des Dokument |
En |
EP-Anmeldetag |
18.04.1994 |
EP-Aktenzeichen |
941060071 |
EP-Offenlegungsdatum |
22.03.1995 |
Veröffentlichungstag im Patentblatt |
27.04.1995 |
IPC-Hauptklasse |
H01R 13/623
|
IPC-Nebenklasse |
H01R 13/635
|
Beschreibung[en] |
This invention relates to an electric vehicle charging connector
assembly used for charging a power battery of an electric vehicle.
Social problems on environmental and energy affairs have recently
demanded provision of an electric vehicle loaded with a power battery. Some types
of electric vehicles have been put to practical use. The power battery provided
in a body of the electric vehicle needs to be frequently charged and accordingly,
an external battery charger needs to be readily connected to the power battery
of the electric vehicle. Use of a connector assembly has been proposed for the
purpose of connecting between the battery charger and the power battery of the
electric vehicle.
The connector assembly used for the above-described purpose includes
a vehicle side connector body mounted on the body of the electric vehicle and vehicle
side terminals enclosed in the vehicle side connector body. The terminals compose
a charging power circuit. The connector assembly further includes an external connector
body and external terminals enclosed in the external connector body. The external
connector body is mated with and unmated from the vehicle side connector body
mounted on the body of the electric vehicle so that the external terminals are
connected to and disconnected from the vehicle side terminals respectively.
Electrical connection between the terminals is unstable in the connector
assembly of the above-described type in the condition that both connector bodies
are not completely intermated such that the terminals are completely interfitted.
Charging in such a condition may result in an electrical disadvantage such as
generation of arc between the terminals of both sides. However, the conventional
connector assemblies are not provided with means with which an operator sees,
during a mating work, whether both connector bodies are completely interconnected
or not. In this case, the mating work may be completed even though both connector
bodies are not completely interconnected because of failure or misjudgment by
the operator and consequently, charging may be initiated by mistake.
Other examples of common connector assemblies, however no connector
assemblies specifically designed for electric vehicle charging applications are
disclosed in US-A-3,613,047 or US-A-4,808,127.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric
vehicle charging connector assembly wherein the operator can see, during the mating
work, whether the connector bodies are completely mated together or not.
A solution of this object is achieved by what is claimed in claim
1.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an electric vehicle charging
connector assembly for externally charging a power battery provided in a body of
an electric vehicle, thereby powering the electric vehicle, the connector assembly
comprising: a vehicle side connector body suitable to be provided on the body
of the electric vehicle; vehicle side power terminals enclosed in the vehicle side
connector body, the vehicle side power terminals composing a charging power circuit
for the power battery; an external connector body matable with and unmatable from
the vehicle side connector body; and external power terminals enclosed in the external
connector body to be electrically connected to the respective vehicle side power
terminals when the external connector body is mated with the vehicle side connector
body. Furthermore according to present invention there is provided a cam connecting
mechanism provided either on the vehicle side connector body or on the external
connector body so as to be located therebetween when both connector bodies are
mated together, the cam connecting mechanism including: cam grooves and cam projections
engaged with the respective cam grooves, clearance grooves provided to be continuous
to the respective cam grooves of the cam connecting mechanism, each clearance
groove extending at the side of the external connector body relative to a final
mating location of both connector bodies along a direction in which both connector
bodies are mated together, a lock mechanism holding both connector bodies in a
mated state when both connector bodies reach the final mating location, and a return
spring provided either on the vehicle side connector body or the external connector
body so as to be located therebetween when both connector bodies are mated together,
the return spring urging both connector bodies in a direction opposite the direction
in which both connector bodies are mated together when the cam projections are
engaged with the respective clearance grooves.
In mating both connector bodies together, the cam projections are
engaged with the respective cam grooves so that the external connector body comes
close to the vehicle side connector body such that both connector bodies are in
a state immediately before the final mating engagement. When each cam projection
reaches a beginning of the clearance groove, the vehicle side connector body is
returned with the cam projections along the respective clearance grooves and then
is thrust against the return spring so that it comes further close to the external
connector body. Both connector bodies are in the state of the final mating engagement
when each cam projection reaches the termination of the clearance groove. Subsequently,
the lock mechanism is actuated to hold the connector bodies in the state of the
final mating engagement. The mating work is thus completed, and the connector bodies
are completely mated together such that the terminals are completely connected
together without any electrical failure.
In above-described mating work, the operator needs to take it into
consideration whether the return spring returns the vehicle side connector body
back or not after it is thrust such that each cam projection reaches the termination
of the clearance groove. If the vehicle side connector body is caused to return
back, the connector bodies are not completely in the state of final mating engagement
since the lock mechanism is not actuated. In this case, the vehicle side connector
body is again caused to mate with the external connector body and thereafter, the
lock mechanism is actuated to hold both connector bodies in the state of final
mating engagement. Consequently, the mating work can be prevented from being finished
before the connector bodies are not completely interconnected because of failure
or misjudgement by the operator.
Advantageous modifications of the invention are subject matter of
the subclaims.
The invention now will be described, merely by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of an electric vehicle charging
connector assembly in accordance with the present invention, in which view both
connector bodies are unmated:
- Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the connector assembly in the state that a cam
projection of the vehicle side connector body has started engaging a cam groove
of the external connector body;
- Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the connector assembly in the state that the
cam projection has reached a start of a clearance groove :
- Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the connector assembly in the state that the
cam projection has reached a termination of the clearance groove such that the
connectors are in the final mating engagement;
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the external connector of the connector assembly;
- Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the external connector;
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the vehicle side connector of the connector
assembly;
- Fig. 8 is a front view of the vehicle side connector; and
- Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of an electric vehicle.
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 9 schematically illustrates an electric vehicle.
A power battery 101 is mounted in a body 100 of the electric vehicle. A vehicle
side connector 110 is mounted on one side of the body 100. An external connector
120 connected to a charging power source (not shown) is to be mated with and unmated
from the vehicle side connector 110.
Referring to Fig. 1, the vehicle side connector 110 comprises a cylindrical
vehicle side connector body 5 formed of a metal and an insulator 2 disposed in
the vehicle side connector body 5 and formed of a synthetic resin. Two vehicle
side power terminals 3 and three vehicle side signal terminals 4 are mounted in
the insulator 2. Each vehicle side power terminal 3 projects in the connector body
5 to serve as a male terminal. Each vehicle side signal terminal 4 is depressed
in the insulator 2 to serve as a female terminal. The vehicle side connector body
5 has two cam projections 6 formed on an outer periphery thereof at a front end
at intervals of 180 degrees.
The external connector 120 comprises an external connector body 11
formed of an electrically insulative synthetic resin, external power terminals
13 each embedded in a front wall of the connector body 11 and external signal
terminals 14 projecting from the front wall of the connector body 11. The external
power terminals 13 are formed into female terminals so as to be electrically connected
to the vehicle side power terminals 3 when the terminals 3 are fitted into them,
respectively. The external signal terminals 14 are formed into male terminals so
as to be fitted into the vehicle side signal terminals 4 respectively. Each vehicle
side power terminal 3 has a projecting portion projecting from the insulator 2
and each external signal terminal 14 also has a projecting portion projecting
from the front wall of the external connector body 5. The projecting portion of
each vehicle side power terminal 5 has a length longer than the projecting portion
of each external signal terminal 14. Consequently, the signal terminals 4 and
14 are connected and disconnected with a delay relative to connection and disconnection
of the power terminals 3 and 13. respectively.
A cylindrical sleeve 16 formed of a metal is mounted on an outer
periphery of the external connector body 11 so as to be rotated relative thereto.
The sleeve 16 projects forward of the external connector body 11 so as to surround
the external signal terminals 14. The external connector body 11 has an engagement
groove 15 formed in an overall outer periphery at the rear end thereof. The sleeve
16 has an annular limiting projection 16 formed on its inner periphery at the
rear end thereof so that it is projected inward. The limiting projection 16 is
fitted into the engagement groove 15 of the external connector body 11 so that
axial movement of the sleeve 16 is limited and its rotation is permitted.
The sleeve 16 has two spiral cam grooves 17 formed in the inner periphery
thereof. The cam projections 6 of the vehicle side connector body 5 are slidably
engaged with the respective cam grooves 17 from the front end of the sleeve 16.
Each cam groove 17 has in its rear end a clearance groove 18 extending straight
in a direction in which both connectors 110 and 120 are interconnected or in a
direction of the axis of rotation of the sleeve 16. Beginning portions of the
clearance grooves 18 are continuous to the spiral portions of the cam grooves 17
respectively. Lock grooves 19 are formed to be continuous to terminations of the
clearance grooves 18 respectively. The lock grooves 19 compose a lock mechanism
for holding both connector bodies 5 and 11 when they reach a final mating position.
The power terminals 3 and 13 are partially connected and the signal
terminals 4 and 14 are not connected when each cam projection 6 engages the beginning
portion of the clearance groove 18. The connectors 110 and 120 are thus in the
state of incomplete connection. When each cam projection 6 engages the termination
of the clearance groove 18, the insulators 2 and 11 of the respective connectors
110 and 120 collides with each other such that the power terminals 3 and 13 and
the signal terminals 4 and 14 are completely connected, whereupon the connectors
110 and 120 are in the state of final connection. Furthermore, when each cam Projection
6 engages the lock groove 19, the connectors 110 and 120 are held in the final
connection state, in which state the connectors 110 and 120 are not unmated even
when an external connecting or disconnecting force is applied to them.
A protecting plate 20 is provided in the external connector body
5 of the external connector 120. The protecting plate 20 has guide apertures 21
corresponding to the power terminals 3 and 13 and the signal terminals 4 and 14.
The protecting plate 20 includes legs 22 inserted into positioning holes 23 formed
in the external connector body 11, respectively, such that the protecting plate
comes close to and moves away from the front of the external connector body 11.
A return spring 25 comprising a compression coil spring is provided between the
protecting plate 20 and the external connector body 11 for urging the protecting
plate 20 in a direction in which the plate moves away from the connector body
11. In the state that the connectors 110 and 120 are disconnected, the return spring
25 urges the protecting plate 20 such that the external power terminals 13 and
the external signal terminals 14 are covered by the protecting plate 20. Consequently,
these terminals are prevented from being touched with hands or suffering from collision
of a foreign object, whereby the operator or the like can be prevented from receiving
an electric shock or occurrence of a short circuit can be prevented.
An operation for mating the connectors together will now be described.
In mating the connectors 110 and 120 together, both connectors are positioned so
that the terminals correspond to one another. The cam projections 6 of the vehicle
side connector 110 are engaged with the respective cam grooves 17, and the sleeve
16 is rotated relative to the insulators 2 and 11 so that the external connector
body 11 comes close to the external connector 120, as shown in Fig. 2. In the
meantime, the cam projections 6 slide along the respective cam grooves 17 and the
return spring 25 is pushed via the protecting plate 20 by the external connector
body 11 to be thereby compressed. The vehicle side power terminals 3 are connected
to the external power terminals 13 through the guide apertures 21 of the protecting
plate 20, respectively.
The sleeve 16 cannot be rotated when each cam projection 6 engaging
the cam groove 17 collides with the beginning portion of the clearance groove 18.
The connectors 110 and 120 are in the state of incomplete connection, as shown
in Fig. 3. Subsequently, the external connector body 11 is thrust straightforward
toward the external connector 120 against the return spring 25 so that both connectors
110 and 120 further come close to each other. In the meantime. the cam projections
6 slide along the respective clearance grooves 18 such that the return spring
25 is further compressed. Consequently, the external signal terminals 14 are connected
through the guide apertures 21 of the protecting plate 20 to the vehicle side signal
terminals 4, respectively.
The external connector body 11 cannot be thrust when each cam projection
6 collides with the termination of the clearance groove 18. The connectors 110
and 120 are in the state of final connection, as shown in Fig. 4. Subsequently,
the sleeve 16 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the cam projections 6
slide along the respective lock grooves 19. The mating work is completed when
the cam projections 6 collide with the terminations of the lock grooves 19 respectively
such that the sleeve 16 cannot be further rotated. In this state, the cam projections
6 are held in engagement with the respective lock grooves 19 by a frictional force
due to urge of the return spring 25 even when the operator releases his or her
hold of the sleeve 16. Thus. mating of the connectors 110 and 120 is completed,
and the terminals 3, 13, 4 and 14 are held in the state of complete connection
without occurrence of any electrical failure. Charging is initiated upon mating
of the connectors 110 and 120 as described above. Upon completion of charging,
the external connector body 11 is detached from the external connector 120 in a
reverse order.
The operator should not finish the above-described mating work when
the sleeve 16 has been rotated. Subsequently, the operator needs to thrust the
external connector body 11 toward the external connector 120, perceiving the urging
force of the return spring 25. Incomplete connection of the terminals due to incomplete
mating of the connectors 110 and 120 can be evaded when completion of the thrust
of the external connector body 11 is confirmed. More specifically, the urging force
of the return spring 25 causes the external connector body 11 to depart from the
vehicle side connector 110 when the operator does not perform the operation to
lock the connectors 110 and 120 in the state of final connection because of failure
in operation or misjudgment by the operator after the external connector body
11 has been thrust toward the external connector 120. Upon confirmation of departure
of the external connector body 11 from the vehicle side connector 110, the operator
can understand that the connectors 110 and 120 are not locked in the state of final
connection and accordingly, are in the state of incomplete connection. In this
case. the external connector body 11 is thrust toward the external connector 120
and locked. Subsequently, the operator confirms that the external connector body
11 has not returned, completing the mating work.
According to the above-described connector assembly, the operator
can see whether the connectors have been completely mated together or not, in the
midst of the mating work. If the mating work is completed with the connectors
in the state of incomplete connection, the connectors are maintained in the incomplete
connection state when charging is initiated. However, such a situation can be avoided
even when the operator is inexperienced in mating the connectors such as in the
case where charging is performed at ordinary household.
In the above-described embodiment, the projecting portion of each
external signal terminal 14 has the length shorter than the projecting portion
of each vehicle side power terminal 3. Consequently, the signal terminals 4 and
14 are not connected in the incomplete connection state wherein the power terminals
3 and 13 are partially interfitted, whereby the incomplete connection of the connectors
is electrically detected. Consequently, a safety countermeasure can be readily
taken when the connectors 110 and 120 are incompletely mated together, for example,
the power terminals 3 and 13 are not energized.
In the foregoing embodiment the cam grooves 17 are formed in the inner
periphery of the sleeve 16 of the external connector 120 and the cam projections
6 are formed on the outer periphery of the vehicle side connector body 5 of the
vehicle side connector 110. The cam grooves may be formed in the outer periphery
of the sleeve 16 and the cam projections may be formed on the inner periphery of
the vehicle side connector body of the vehicle side connector, instead. Furthermore.
the cam grooves may be formed in the vehicle side connector body and the cam projections
may be formed on the external connector body.
Although the return spring 25 is provided in the external connector
120 in the foregoing embodiment, it may be provided in the vehicle side connector
body.
In the foregoing embodiment the cam projections 6 are engaged with
the respective cam grooves 17 and then the sleeve 16 is rotated for the purpose
of connection of the connectors 110 and 120. The cam grooves may be formed in
levers rotatably mounted on either connector and the cam projections may be formed
on the other connector, instead. In this modified form, the action of the levers
is utilized to mate the connectors together.
|
Anspruch[de] |
- Verbinderanordnung zum Laden eines elektrischen Fahrzeugs, für das externe
Beladen einer Batterie (101), welche in einer Karosserie (100) eines elektrischen
Fahrzeugs vorgesehen ist, und durch die das elektrische Fahrzeug mit Energie versorgt
wird, wobei die Verbinderanordnung enthält:
- einen fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper (5), der zur Anordnung an der Karosserie
(100) des elektrischen Fahrzeugs geeignet ist;
- fahrzeugseitige Leistungsanschlüsse (3), welche im fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper
(5) enthalten sind, wobei die fahrzeugseitigen Leistungsanschlüsse (3) einen Beladungsleistungsschaltkreis
für die Batterie (101) bilden;
- einen externen Verbinderkörper (11), der mit dem fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper
(5) verbindbar und trennbar ist; und
- externe Leistungsanschlüsse (13), die im externen Verbinderkörper (11) enthalten
sind, um elektrisch mit den jeweiligen fahrzeugseitigen Leistungsanschlüssen (3)
verbunden zu sein, wenn der externe Verbinderkörper (11) mit dem fahrzeugseitigen
Verbinderkörper (5) verbunden ist,
gekennzeichnet durch
- einen Mitnehmerverbindermechanismus, der entweder am fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper
(5) oder am externen Verbinderkörper (11) so vorgesehen ist, um dazwischen angeordnet
zu sein, wenn beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) zusammengefügt sind, wobei der Mitnehmerverbindermechanismus
enthält:
- Mitnehmemuten (17) und Mitnehmervorsprünge (6), die mit den jeweiligen Mitnehmemuten
(17) in Eingriff sind,
- Zwischennuten (18), die in Fortsetzung zu den jeweiligen Mitnehmernuten (17)
des Mitnehmerverbindermechanismus vorgesehen sind, wobei sich jede Zwischennut
(18) auf der Seite des externen Verbinderkörpers (11) relativ zu einer Endverbindungsstelle
von beiden Verbinderkörpem (5, 11) längs einer Richtung erstreckt, in welcher beide
Verbinderkörper (5, 11) miteinander verbunden werden,
- einen Verriegelungsmechanismus (19, 6), der beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) in
einen verbundenen Zustand hält, wenn beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) die Endverbindungsstelle
erreicht haben, und
- eine Rückstellfeder (25), die entweder am fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper (5)
oder am externen Verbinderkörper (11) so vorgesehen ist, um dazwischen angeordnet
zu sein, wenn beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) miteinander verbunden sind, wobei
die Rückstellfeder (25) beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) in eine Richtung entgegengesetzt
der Richtung vorspannt, in welcher beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) zusammengefügt
sind, wenn die Mitnehmervorsprünge (6) mit den jeweiligen Zwischennuten (18) in
Eingriff sind.
- Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß:
- der Mitnehmerverbindermechanismus eine Hülse (16) enthält, die an einem distalen
Ende des mit dem fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper (5) zusammzufügenden externen
Verbinderkörpers (11) vorgesehen ist, und wobei ein Begrenzungsvorsprung (16a)
zwischen dem externen Verbinderkörper (11) und der Hülse (16) zur Begrenzung einer
axialen Bewegung der Hülse (16) relativ zum externen Verbinderkörper (11) vorgesehen
ist; und daß
- die Mitnehmemuten (17) an der inneren Peripherie der Hülse (16) in einer spiralförmigen
Konfiguration ausgebildet sind und die Mitnehmervorsprünge (6) vom fahrzeugseitigen
Verbinderkörper (5) überstehen, um mit den jeweiligen, auf der inneren Peripherie
der Hülse (16) ausgebildeten Mitnehmemuten (17) in Eingriff zu sein.
- Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, ferner gekennzeichnet durch eine
Schutzplatte (20), die am externen Verbinderkörper (11) vorgesehen ist, um in der
Richtung hin und her bewegt zu werden, in welche der externe Verbinderkörper (11)
mit dem fahrzeugseitigen Verbinderkörper (5) zusammengefügt wird, sowie in der
entgegengesetzten Richtung hierzu, wobei die Schutzplatte (20) in die Richtung
vorgespannt wird, die entgegengesetzt zur Richtung ist, in welcher der externe
Verbinder (120) mit dem fahrzeugseitigen Verbinder (110) verbunden wird, wobei
die Rückstellfeder (25) in Kontakt mit der Schutzplatte (20) ist, und wobei die
Schutzplatte (20) aus einem isolierenden Material ausgebildet ist und Öffnungen
(21) aufweist, durch welche die fahrzeugseitigen Leistungsanschlüsse (3) oder die
externen Leistungsanschlüsse (13) eingefügt sind.
- Verbinderanordnung nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, ferner gekennzeichnet durch fahrzeugseitige
Signalanschlüsse (4) und externe Signalanschlüsse (14), welche jeweils im fahrzeugseitigen
Verbinderkörper (5) und dem externen Verbinderkörper (11) enthalten sind, wobei
die fahrzeugseitigen und externen Signalanschlüsse (4, 14) elektrisch miteinander
verbunden sind, wenn beide Verbinderkörper (5, 11) miteinander verbunden sind,
wobei jeder der fahrzeugseitigen und externen Signalanschlüsse (4, 14) einen überstehenden
Abschnitt aufweist, der in die Richtung übersteht, in welcher beide Verbinder (110,
120) miteinander verbunden werden, wobei der überstehende Abschnitt jedes der fahrzeugseitigen
und externen Signalanschlüsse (4, 14) eine derart festgelegte Länge aufweist, daß
die fahrzeugseitigen und externen Signalanschlüsse (4, 14) verzögert zur Verbindung
und Entkopplung der fahrzeugseitigen und externen Leistungsanschlüsse (3, 13) verbunden
und entkoppelt werden.
|
Anspruch[en] |
- An electric vehicle charging connector assembly for externally charging a power
battery (101) provided in a body (100) of an electric vehicle, thereby powering
the electric vehicle, the connector assembly comprising:
- a vehicle side connector body (5) suitable to be provided on the body (100)
of the electric vehicle;
- vehicle side power terminals (3) enclosed in the vehicle side connector body
(5), the vehicle side power terminals (3) composing a charging power circuit for
the power battery (101);
- an external connector body (11) matable with and unmatable from the vehicle
side connector body (5); and
- external power terminals (13) enclosed in the external connector body (11)
to be electrically connected to the respective vehicle side power terminals (3)
when the external connector body (11) is mated with the vehicle side connector
body (5),
characterized by
- a cam connecting mechanism provided either on the vehicle side connector body
(5) or on the external connector body (11) so as to be located therebetween when
both connector bodies (5, 11) are mated together, the cam connecting mechanism
including:
- cam grooves (17) and cam projections (6) engaged with the respective cam grooves
(17),
- clearance grooves (18) provided to be continuous to the respective cam grooves
(17) of the cam connecting mechanism, each clearance groove (18) extending at the
side of the external connector body (11) relative to a final mating location of
both connector bodies (5, 11) along a direction in which both connector bodies
(5, 11) are mated together,
- a lock mechanism (19, 6) holding both connector bodies (5, 11) in a mated state
when both connector bodies (5, 11) reach the final mating location, and
- a return spring (25) provided either on the vehicle side connector body (5)
or the external connector body (11) so as to be located therebetween when both
connector bodies (5, 11) are mated together, the return spring (25) urging both
connector bodies (5, 11) in a direction opposite the direction in which both connector
bodies (5, 11) are mated together when the cam projections (6) are engaged with
the respective clearance grooves (18).
- The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that:
- the cam connecting mechanism comprises a sleeve (16) provided on a distal end
of the external connector body (11) to be fitted with the vehicle side connector
body (5) and a limiting protrusion (16a) provided between the external connector
body (11) and the sleeve (16) for limiting an axial movement of the sleeve (16)
relative to the external connector body (11); and
- the cam grooves (17) are formed in an inner periphery of the sleeve (16) into
a spiral configuration and the cam projections (6) project from the vehicle side
connector body (5) to be engaged with the respective cam grooves (17) formed in
the inner periphery of the sleeve (16).
- The connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized by
a protecting plate (20) provided on the external connector body (11) to be moved
reciprocally in the direction in which the external connector body (11) is mated
with the vehicle side connector body (5) and the direction opposite thereto, the
protecting plate (20) being urged to the direction opposite the direction in which
the external connector (120) is mated with the vehicle side connector (110), with
the return spring (25) in contact with the protecting plate (20), the protecting
plate (20) being formed from an insulative material and having apertures (21)
through which the vehicle side power terminals (3) or the external power terminals
(13) are inserted.
- The connector assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterized
by vehicle side signal terminals (4) and external signal terminals (14) enclosed
in the vehicle side connector body (5) and the external connector body (11), respectively,
the vehicle side and external signal terminals (4, 14) being electrically connected
together when both connector bodies (5, 11) are mated together, each of the vehicle
side and external signal terminals (4, 14) having a projecting portion projecting
in the direction in which both connectors (110, 120) are mated together, the projecting
portion of each of the vehicle side and external signal terminals (4, 14) having
a length so set that the vehicle side and external signal terminals (4, 14) are
connected and disconnected with a delay relative to connection and disconnection
of the vehicle side and external power terminals (3, 13).
|
Anspruch[fr] |
- Un assemblage de connecteur pour charger un véhicule électrique pour charger
du dehors une batterie de puissance (101) prévue dans un corps (100) d'un véhicule
électrique et alimenter ce faisant le véhicule électrique, l'assemblage de connecteur
comprenant:
- un corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5) susceptible d'être prévu sur le corps
(100) du véhicule électrique;
- des terminaux de puissance côté véhicule (3) compris dans le corps de connecteur
côté véhicule (5), les terminaux de puissance côté véhicule (3) composant un circuit
d'alimentation en puissance pour la batterie de puissance (101);
- un corps de connecteur extérieur (11) pouvant être cadré et ne pas être cadré
avec le corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5); et
- des terminaux de puissance extérieurs (13) compris dans le corps de connecteur
extérieur (11), à être connectés électriquement aux terminaux de puissance côté
véhicule (3) respectifs quand le corps de connecteur extérieur (11) est cadré
avec le corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5),
caractérisé par
- un mécanisme de connexion de came prévu ou sur le corps de connecteur côté
véhicule (5) ou sur le corps de connecteur extérieur (11), de manière à être positionné
entre ceux-ci quand les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) sont cadrés, le mécanisme
de connexion de came comprenant:
- des rainures de came (17) et des projections de came (6) engagées avec les
rainures de came respectives (17),
- des rainures de dégagement (18) prévues à être en continuation aux rainures
de came (17) respectives du mécanisme de connexion de came, chaque rainure de dégagement
(18) s'étendant au côté du corps de connecteur extérieur (11) par rapport à une
position finale de cadre des deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) le long d'une direction
dans laquelle les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) sont cadrés,
- un mécanisme de verrouillage (19, 6) tenant les deux corps de connecteur (5,
11) dans un état cadré quand les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) atteignent la
position finale de cadre, et
- un ressort de rappel (25) prévu ou sur le corps de connecteur côté véhicule
(5) ou sur le corps de connecteur extérieur (11), de manière à être positionné
entre ceux-ci quand les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) sont cadrés, le ressort
de rappel (25) poussant les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) dans une direction
opposée à la direction dans laquelle les deux corps de connecteur (5, 11) sont
cadrés quand les projections de came (6) sont engagées avec les rainures de dégagement
(18) respectives.
- L'assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que:
- le mécanisme de connexion de came comprend une gaine isolante (16) prévue sur
une extrémité distale du corps de connecteur extérieur (11) à être ajusté avec
le corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5) et une protubérance limite (16a) prévue
entre le corps de connecteur extérieur (11) et la gaine isolante (16) pour limiter
un mouvement axial de la gaine isolante (16) par rapport au corps de connecteur
extérieur (11); et
- les rainures de came (17) sont formées dans une périphérie intérieure de la
gaine isolante (16) en une configuration en spirale et les projections de came
(6) sont en saillie du corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5), à être engagées
avec les rainures de came (17) respectives formées dans la périphérie intérieure
de la gaine isolante (16).
- L'assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé de plus
par une plaque de protection (20) prévue sur le corps de connecteur extérieur (11),
à être déplacée réciproquement dans la direction dans laquelle le corps de connecteur
extérieur (11) est cadré avec le corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5) et dans
la direction opposée à celle-ci, la plaque de protection (20) étant poussée à la
direction opposée à la direction dans laquelle le connecteur extérieur (120) est
cadré avec le connecteur côté véhicule (110), par le ressort de rappel (25) en
contact avec la plaque de protection (20), la plaque de protection (20) étant
formée d'un matériau isolant et ayant des ouvertures (21) à travers lesquelles
les terminaux de puissance côté véhicule (3) ou les terminaux de puissance extérieurs
(13) sont insérés.
- L'assemblage de connecteur selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé de
plus par des terminaux de signal côté véhicule (4) et des terminaux de signal extérieurs
(14) compris dans le corps de connecteur côté véhicule (5) et le corps de connecteur
extérieur (11) respectivement, les terminaux de signal côté véhicule et extérieurs
(4 , 14) étant électriquement connectés quand les deux corps de connecteur (5,
11) sont cadrés, chacun des terminaux de signal côté véhicule et extérieurs (4,
14) ayant une portion de projection en saillie dans la direction dans laquelle
les deux connecteurs (110, 120) sont cadrés, la portion de projection de chacun
des terminaux de signal côté véhicule et extérieurs (4, 14) ayant une longueur
déterminée de manière que les terminaux de signal côté véhicule et extérieurs (4,
14) sont connectés et déconnectés avec un délai relatif à la connexion et la déconnexion
des terminaux de puissance côté véhicule et extérieurs (3, 13).
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Patent Zeichnungen (PDF)
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