Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector holding
device for holding a charging connector used to charge a
secondary battery mounted in a vehicle such as a battery-
powered electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle
(hereinafter, referred to as "electric vehicle"), and a
charging apparatus equipped with the same.
Background of the Invention
Recently, electric vehicles have been increasingly used
instead of gasoline or diesel vehicles, as environmental
issues are increasingly recognized worldwide. Herein, a
secondary battery mounted in the electric vehicle is charged
by feeding electric power from a charging apparatus via a
charging cable for example.
This type of charging apparatus for the electric
vehicle is known that, for instance, includes: a charging
connector adapted to be disconnectably connected to a
vehicle-side connector provided in the electric vehicle via
a charging cable extending outside from a pole erectly
installed on the ground; and a connector receiving part
provided on an upper and outer side of the pole, the
connector receiving part detachably holding the charging
connector by receiving a conductive part of the charging
connector (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. H11-122714).
In such case where the connector receiving part holds
the charging connector by receiving the conductive part of
the charging connector, the charging connector is likely to
be disconnected from the connector receiving part
unintentionally. Further, in the above connector receiving
part, the charging connector may be damaged by mischievous
manners, or be stolen.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above, an object of the present
invention is to provide a connector holding device capable
of locking a charging connector while preventing it from
being disengaged unintentionally with a relatively simple
structure.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a connector holding device including: a
holding part adapted to hold the charging connector for
charging a secondary battery of an electric vehicle; a
locking part adapted to be engaged with a latch part of the
charging connector to prevent the charging connector from
being disconnected; and a restriction part for restricting
the movement of the latch part.
The holding part may be a charging port of the electric
vehicle to which the charging connector is electrically
connected.
The restriction part may include a lock key part for
locking the restriction part in the state where the
restriction part restricts the movement of the latch part.
The holding part and the locking part may be provided
in an opening recessed inwardly in a box-shaped main body,
and the restriction part may be provided in the main body
and may partially cover the opening so as to restrict the
movement of the latch part.
The main body may include a cable holding part for
holding a charging cable extending from the charging
connector.
The main body may be provided with an attaching portion
for attaching the main body to a wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a charging apparatus including
the connector holding device. In accordance with the
present invention, the connector holding device can lock the
charging connector while preventing it from being disengaged
unintentionally with a relatively simple structure.
Further, the charging apparatus can lock the charging
connector while preventing it from being disengaged
unintentionally with a relatively simple structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of
embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figs. 1A to 1C show a state where a charging connector
is held in a connector holding device in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 1A
is a perspective view, Fig. 1B is a side view of a main
part, and Fig. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the main
part;
Figs. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing operations
of a restriction part of the connector holding device;
Figs. 3A and 3B show a state where the charging
connector is held in another connector holding device in
accordance with a modified example of the first embodiment,
wherein Fig. 3A is a front view, and Fig. 3B is a side view;
Figs. 4A to 4E show a connector holding device in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention, wherein Fig. 4A is a front view, Fig. 4B is a
right-side view, Fig. 4C is a top view, Fig. 4D is a rear
view, and Fig. 4E is a front view in which a position of the
restriction part is different from that in Fig. 4A;
Figs. 5A and 5B show a state where the connector
holding device in Figs. 4A to 4E is in use, wherein Fig. 5A
is a front view, and Fig. 5B is a right-side view;
Figs. 6A to 6C show a structure of the main part of the
connector holding device in Figs. 4A, wherein Fig. 6A is a
perspective view of a state where a lock key part is
unlocked, Fig. 6B is a perspective view of a state where the
lock key part is locked to restrict the restriction part to
move, and Fig. 6C is a left-side view illustrating the state
of Fig. 6B.
Figs. 7A and 7B show a charging apparatus equipped with
the connector holding device in Figs. 4A to 4E, wherein Fig.
7A is a front view, and Fig. 7B is a right-side view; and
Fig. 8 is a schematic circuit block diagram of the
charging apparatus equipped with the connector holding
device in Figs. 4A to 4E.
Detailed Description of the Embodiment
(First Embodiment)
A connector holding device 10 in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention will be described
in detail with reference to Figs. 1A to 2B.
The connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment includes: a holding part 1 for holding a charging
connector 30 used for charging a secondary battery (not
shown) of an electric vehicle; a locking part 2 adapted to
be engaged with a latch part 30g of the charging connector
30 to prevent the charging connector 30 from being
disconnected from the connector holding device 10; and a
restriction part 3 serving to restrict the latch part 30g to
move in a direction indicated by a dashed line arrow as
shown in Fig. 1B.
More specifically, the connector holding device 10 of
the present embodiment can hold the charging connector 30
serving as a charging gun, i.e., a plug of a gun-type to be
connected to a charging port (not shown) provided in an
electric vehicle. By using the charging connector 30, a
secondary battery of the electric vehicle is charged via a
charging cable 30d. The charging connector 30 includes an
L-shaped body part 30a having a cylindrical leading end
portion 30b and a charging cable 30d extending from the
other end portion opposite to the leading end portion 30b of
the body part 30a (see Fig. 1C). The charging connector 30
feeds electric power to the charging port via a conductive
part (not shown) incorporated in the leading end portion
30b. On the body part 30a of the charging connector 30,
there is provided a grip portion 30h for making it easier to
grip the charging connector 30 by user's hand. Further, the
charging cable 30d is connected to a receptacle (not shown)
on the side of a power source such as a commercial power
source and feeds the electric power to the electric vehicle.
Note that the charging cable 30d may have a diameter of 12
mm and appropriately a length of 3 m, 7.5 m or 15 m, as
desired.
The latch part 30g of the charging connector 30 is
formed into a hook shape having a metallic locking claw 30ga
to be hooked on the locking part provided in the charging
port of the electric vehicle, so that the charging connector
30 can hardly be disconnected from the charging port of the
electric vehicle while charging the secondary battery of the
electric vehicle.
A release button 30c of a push-button type is provided
on an outer surface of the body part 30a of the charging
connector 30. The locking claw 30ga of the latch part 30g
of the charging connector 30 is moved in a direction apart
from an outer periphery of the cylindrical leading end
portion 30b (see the dashed-line arrow shown in Fig. 1B) by
pressing the release button 30c. In other words, the latch
part 30g is configured to allow the locking claw 30ga to
move away from the outer periphery of the tip end portion
30b by the operation of the release button 30b.
Now, in non-charging mode of the secondary battery of
the electric vehicle, the connector holding device 10 of the
present embodiment can hold the charging connector 30 by
using the latch part 30g provided in the charging connector
30 for example.
The connector holding device 10 includes a main body
10a with a vertically elongated box-like shape. In a
substantially lower center portion of the front surface of
the main body 10a, there is provided an opening 10c recessed
inwardly. The holding part 1 and the locking part 2
provided on the outer periphery of the holding part 1 are
accommodated in the opening 10c recessed inwardly in the
box-shaped main body 10a. The holding part 1 is formed into
a bottom-closed cylindrical shape whose inner diameter is
slightly larger than an outer diameter of the leading end
portion 30b of the charging connector 30, so that the
holding part 1 can hold the charging connector 30. The
restriction part 3 has a cover portion that protrudes
forwardly from the main body 10a and functions as a cover
preventing sunlight or water from infiltrating into the
opening 10c. The cover portion of restriction part 3 of the
present embodiment is formed into a crescentic shape, in
front view, which is protruded upwardly and curved.
Further, the restriction part 3 is allowed to slide in a
vertical direction (see a bi-directional arrow shown in Fig.
1B) relative to the main body 10a. Namely, the restriction
part 3 can be slid between an upper release position as
shown in Fig. 2A and a lower restriction position as shown
in Fig. 2B.
Referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, the restriction part 3
is configured to be slidable vertically between a front
guide 100a and a rear guide 100b that are respectively
provided at the front inner surface and the rear inner
surface of the main body 10a. The restriction part 3
includes a thin plate portion 3b extended upwardly from the
upper end of the cover portion and a stopper portion 3c
extended rearward from the upper end of the thin plate
portion 3b. A protrusion 3d is provided at the front
surface of the thin plate portion 3b and upper and lower
positioning recesses 100ab are formed in the rear surface of
the front guide portion 100a. The protrusion 3d can be
engaged in the upper and lower positioning recesses lOOab.
In the state shown in Fig. 2A, when the restriction
part 3 is pressed down, the restriction part 3 is slid down
while the thin plate portion 3b is elastically deflected to
allow the protrusion 3d to be disengaged from the upper
positioning recess lOOab. When the restriction part 3
reaches the position shown in Fig. 2B, the protrusion 3d is
engaged in the lower positioning recess lOOab to hold the
restriction part 3. At this time, the stopper portion 3c is
brought into contact with the upper surface of the rear
guide 100b, which prevents the restriction part 3 from
moving downward excessively. In the lower restriction
position as shown in Fig. 2B, the cover portion of the
restriction part 3 contacts with the latch part 30g and
restricts the latch part 30g to move in.the direction away
from the outer periphery of the leading end portion 30b.
Hereinafter, a method for utilizing the connector
holding device 10 of the present embodiment will be
described.
The connector holding device 10 holds the charging
connector 30 by inserting the cylindrical leading end
portion 30b of the charging connector 30 into the bottom-
closed cylindrical holding part 1.
When the charging connector 30 is inserted into the
holding part 1, the latch part 30g of the charging connector
30 comes into contact with the locking part 2 of the
connector holding device 10. Subsequently, the latch part
30g is deflected in the direction away from the leading end
portion 30b along a shape of the locking part 2 and is
restored to the leading end portion 30b when passing over
the locking part 2. Thus, the latch part 30g of the
charging connector 30 is engaged with the locking part 2 of
the connector holding device 10 (see Figs. 1B and 1C).
Next, the restriction part 3 can slide downward (lower
side in Fig. 1B) relative to the main body 10a, whereby the
charging connector 30 is sandwiched between the restriction
part 3 and the holding part 1 (see Figs. 1B and 1C) . The
latch part 30g of the charging connector 30, sandwiched
between the restriction part 3 and the holding part 1, can
hardly move in the direction apart from the outer periphery
of the cylindrical leading end portion 30b even if the
release button 30c of the charging connector 30 is pressed.
Thus, the movement of the latch part 30g is restricted, so
that the restriction part 3 can prevent the latch part 30g
from being disengaged from the locking part 2.
Note that a support frame 1C of the holding part 1 is
provided on an outer bottom surface of the bottom-closed
cylindrical holding part 1 such that the holding part 1 can
pivot about a support shaft 10e disposed in the main body
10a as a fulcrum. Thus, in the connector holding device 10
of the present embodiment, the holding part 1 can pivot
between the state where it directs in the substantially
forward direction of the main body 10a, which makes it
easier to insert the charging connector 30 into the holding
part 1; and the state where it inclines downwardly relative
to the forward direction of the main body 10a, which
releases the stress applied to the holding part 1.
Further, the connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment is not limited to the configuration as shown in
Figs. 1A to 1C where there are separately provided the
holding part 1 that holds the charging connector 30
partially inserted therein and the locking part 2 that is
engaged with the latch part 30g of the charging connector 30
to suppress the charging connector 30 held in the holding
part 1 from being disconnected. For instance, as shown in
Figs. 3A and 3B, the connector holding device 10 may include
a cylindrical rod in the opening 10c of the main body 10a,
and the locking claw 30ga of the latch part 30g of the
charging connector 30 is hooked thereon to be held. In
other words, the cylindrical rod may combine both functions
of the holding part 1 and the locking part 2. Such
connector holding device 10, for example, can be attached to
an exterior wall W of a house for use.
With the relatively simple structure as described
above, the connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment can lock the charging connector 30 while
preventing it from being disengaged unintentionally, thereby
making it possible to prevent the charging connector 30 from
being stolen or damaged by mischievous manners.
(Second Embodiment)
A connector holding device 10 in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to Figs. 4A to 6C. The second
embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, in
addition to the restriction part 3 and the locking part 2
engaged with the latch part 30g, there is provided a lock
key part 4 (see Fig. 6A) that locks the restriction part 3
in the state where the latch part 30g is restricted to move.
Note that the same reference numerals are assigned to the
same components as those in the first embodiment and
redundant description thereof will be omitted.
Hereinafter, the connector holding device 10 of the
present embodiment will be described in detail with
reference to Figs. 4A to 6C, and a charging apparatus 20
equipped with the connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment will be described in detail with reference to
Figs. 7A to 8.
Like the first embodiment, the connector holding device
10 of the present embodiment includes the holding part 1
adapted to hold the charging connector 30 for charging the
secondary battery (not shown) of the electric vehicle; the
locking part 2 adapted to be engaged with the latch part 30g
of the charging connector 30 to suppress the charging
connector 30 from being separated from the connector holding
device 10; and the restriction part 3 serving to restrict
the movement of the latch part 30g.
The connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment, for example, can hold the charging connector 30
in non-charging mode of the secondary battery of the
electric vehicle and includes a box-shaped main body 10a.
The opening 10c recessed inwardly is provided in a
substantially center portion of the front surface of the
main body 10a. Further, the holding part 1 and the locking
part 2 are provided in the opening 10c recessed inwardly in
the box-shaped main body 10a. Furthermore, the restriction
part 3 is provided in the body 10a and partially covers the
opening 10c.
Besides, the main body 10a has a rectangular front part
10aa, a rectangular rear part 10ab, and a cable holding part
10ac capable of holding the charging cable 30d between the
rear part lOab and the front part lOaa (see Fig. 5B) . An
upper part of the cable holding part lOac is, for example,
formed into a semi-cylindrical shape on which the charging
cable 30d with a diameter of, e.g., 12 mm can be wound four
turns without being overlapped. Further, the upper end of
the semi-cylindrical cable holding part 10ac is lowered than
that of the front part 10aa to prevent the charging cables
30d wound thereon from falling down from the front part 10aa
of the main body 10a. In other words, the main body 10a
includes the cable holding part 10ac capable of holding the
charging cable 30d extending from the charging connector 30.
In the front side of the main body 10a of the connector
holding device 10, there is provided the bottom-closed
cylindrical holding part 1 having a hollow part la whose
inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of
the leading end portion 30b of the charging connector 30.
Note that the holding part 1 is provided with a guide groove
lb (see Fig. 4A) into which a guide protrusion (not shown)
provided in the leading end portion 30b of the charging
connector 30 is inserted to be held. Further, the connector
holding device 10 of the present embodiment is configured to
pivotally hold a shaft 1d provided to the holding part 1
(see a dashed arrow shown in Fig. 4B) relative to the body
10a within the main body 10a (see Figs. 3B and 4B) . That
is, the holding part 1 is allowed to pivot between the state
where it directs substantially the forward direction of the
main body 10a (see Fig. 4A) and the state where it inclines
downwardly relative to the forward direction of the body
10a, which release the stress applied to the holding part 1
(see Fig. 4E). Thus, in the connector holding device 10, it
is possible to easily insert the leading end portion 30b of
the charging connector 30 into the holding part 1.
Herein, the restriction part 3 of the connector holding
device 10 can be switched between the state where the
movement of the latch part 30g is not restricted (see Fig.
4A) and the state where the movement of the latch part 30g
is restricted (see Fig. 4E). Further, the connector holding
device 10 includes a lock key part 4 (see Figs. 6A to 6C)
for locking the restriction part 3 in the state where the
restriction part 3 restricts the movement of the latch part
30g (see Fig. 5A).
The restriction part 3 protrudes forwardly from the
front part 10aa of the connector holding device 10 and forms
a cover slidable in a vertical direction relative to the
main body 10a. When the restriction part 3 is slid
vertically relative to the main body 10a, a lock 4a is
exposed to the front part lOaa of the body 10a (see Figs. 4E
and 5A). Herein, when the charging connector 30 is inserted
into the restriction part 3 and subsequently the restriction
part 3 is slid down relative to the main body 10a, the
connector holding device 10 sandwiches the charging
connector 30 between the restriction part 3 and the holding
part 1 of the main body 10a. The latch part 30g of the
charging connector 30, which is sandwiched between the
restriction part 3 and the holding part 1, is prevented from
moving apart from the outer periphery of the cylindrical
leading end portion 30b even if the release button 30c of
the charging connector 30 is pressed. Therefore, the
restriction part 3 restricts the movement of the latch part
30g, thereby making it difficult to release the engagement
of the latch part 30g and the locking part 2.
Now, in the connector holding device 10, when the
restriction part 3 is slid down to the state where the latch
part 30g of the charging connector 30 is locked in
engagement, the lock 4a of the lock key part 4 is exposed to
the outside. In the lock key part 4, when a key (not shown)
is engaged with the cylindrical lock 4a having a pair of
notch parts 4aa and turned over, the lock 4a is rotated.
Inside the main body 10a of the connector holding device 10,
an elongated flange 4b is connected to the lock 4a in the
state where a support plate 10b fixed to the main body 10a
is interposed between the flange 4b and the lock 4a, as
shown in Figs. 6A to 6C. The flange 4b is rotated about an
axis of the lock 4a as the lock 4a is rotated. In a tip end
portion of the flange 4b, there are provided a pair of
protrusions 4ba, 4ba protruding from one surface of the
flange 4b toward an inner wall surface of- the main body 10a.
A recess 4bb is defined between the protrusions 4ba, 4ba.
Further, the support plate 10b supports a slide part 3a
moving together with the restriction part 3 and having a
cross section with a substantially C-shape. In the slide
part 3a, there is provided a protrusion part 3aa protruding
toward inside the main body 10a of the connector holding
device 10 (see Fig. 6C). The protrusion part 3aa is grasped
by the protrusions 4ba, 4ba of the flange 4b in the state
where the latch part 30g of the charging connector 30 is
locked in engagement. Thus, the lock key part 4 can
suppress the restriction part 3 to move relative to the body
10a, so that the restriction part 3 is locked in the state
where the movement of the latch part 30g is restricted.
Note that the connector holding device 10, which is
used in the non-charging mode of the secondary battery in
the electric vehicle, may be provided in the charging port
to which the charging connector 30 is electrically connected
in the charging mode of the secondary battery of the
electric vehicle. In other words, the connector holding
device 10 can be provided on the electric vehicle side. In
this case, the holding part 1 functions as the charging port
of the electric vehicle to which the charging connector 30
is electrically connected.
The connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment may be equipped in the charging apparatus 20 as
shown in Figs. 7 A and 7B. The charging apparatus 20
illustrated in Figs. 7A and 7B serves as, for example, a
charging station for charging a secondary battery of an
electric vehicle at a parking lot of a public and commercial
facilities. The charging apparatus 20 is configured to
include a rectangular parallelepiped housing 21 having an
openable door body 22 on its front side; and a receptacle
block 23 (see Fig. 8) provided within the housing 21.
The door body 22 is formed into a rectangular shape by
using a metal plate. A left end of the door body 22 is
supported at a front and left end of the housing 21 through
a hinge (not shown) in such a manner that the door body 22
can pivot between a closed position in which the housing 21
. is closed and an open position in which the housing 21 is
opened. A locking device 22' is attached to the door body
22, whereby the door body 22 is locked with respect to the
housing 21 when the door body 22 is in the closed position.
Further, a cutout 22a for extending the charging cable 30d
to the outside is formed at a lower corner of the door body
22.
The connector holding device 10 is attached on the
right-side of the housing 21 of the charging apparatus 20.
For this reason, an attaching part 10d for attaching the
connector holding device 10 on the housing 21 is provided in
the main body 10a (see Fig. 4D). The attaching part lOd is
constituted by, for example, two through holes 11a and 11b
respectively provided at upper and lower portions of the
rear part 10ab in such a manner that the connector holding
device 10 is attached on a side surface of the housing 21 of
the charging apparatus 20 with screws (not shown) . The
upper through hole 11a is designed to sustain such a load as
the connector holding device 10 or the charging cable 30d.
The through hole 11a is constituted by a circular hole 11aa
with a large diameter in plane view; and an extension hole
11ab extended upwardly from an upper part of the circular
hole llaa and having a diameter slightly larger than that of
the above screw (not shown). The lower through hole 11b is
formed to have a circular shape of which a diameter is
slightly larger than that of the screw (not shown) . Thus,
the attaching part 10d can adjust the connector holding
device 10 in position to be fixed.
As shown in Fig. 8, the receptacle block 23 of the
charging apparatus 20 is mainly composed of an earth leakage
circuit breaker 35 and a receptacle 31 having an insertion
port 31A corresponding to a three-pole plug. The receptacle
31 is disposed to incline obliquely and downwardly within
the housing 21, so that a power plug provided at an opposite
end of the charging cable 30d to the charging connector 30
can be easily connected thereto and water drops are
prevented from infiltrating thereinto.
One end of a power cable 34 is connected to the
receptacle 31 in the receptacle block 23 via the earth
leakage circuit breaker 35. The other end of the power
cable 34 is extended to the outside of the housing 21 and
connected to an external power source (not shown) such as a
commercial power source. That is, electric power is fed to
the receptacle 31 from the external power source via the
power cable 34. When the power plug of the charging cable
30d is inserted into the receptacle 31 and the charging
connector 30 is connected to the charging port provided in
the electric vehicle, the secondary battery mounted in the
electric vehicle is charged.
Further, an interlock device 32 is provided in the
receptacle block 23. The interlock device 32 includes a
switch 32A, an exciting coil 32B connected to the power feed
line via the switch 32A, and a relay contact 32C inserted
into the power feed line connected to the receptacle 31 and
closed only when the exciting coil 32B is excited.
The switch 32A is disposed to protrude toward the door
body 22 within the housing 21. Further, a drive piece (not
shown) is provided to protrude from a rear side of the door
body 22 toward inside the housing 21. When the door body 22
is in the closed position, the drive piece presses the
switch 32A and the switch 32A is turned on. Furthermore,
when the door body 22 is in the open position, the switch
32A is relieved from the pressing by the drive piece and the
switch 32A is turned off.
In other words, when the door body 22 is in the closed
position, the switch 32A is turned on and an exciting
current flows into the exciting coil 32B. Thus, the relay
contact 32C is closed and the power feed line is connected
to the charging connector 30 via the receptacle 31. On the
other hand, when the door body 22 is not in the closed
position, the switch 32A is turned off. Thus, the relay
contact 32C is opened and the power feed line is
disconnected to the charging connector 30 via the receptacle
31. For this reason, no electric power is fed until the
power plug of the charging connector 30 is connected to the
receptacle 31 and the door body 22 is closed. As a result,
in the state where the door body 22 is opened and the
charging cable 30d within the housing 21 is allowed be
touched, no electric power is fed. This makes it possible
to prevent an electric shock.
Further, in the receptacle block 23, there is provided
a lighting control circuit 33 for performing a light control
of two indicators 33A (see Fig. 7A) indicating whether or
not the power plug of the charging connector 30 is connected
to the receptacle 31 and feeds the electric power. The
respective indicators 33A are constituted by, for example, a
green light and a red light emitting diode. For instance,
the lighting control circuit 33 lights on one indicator 33A
to emit green light when the electric power is fed. The
lighting control circuit 33 lights it off when no electric
power is fed. Further, in the charging mode of the
secondary battery, the lighting control circuit 33 lights on
the other indicator 33A to emit red light.
Note that, although not shown, a Charging Circuit
Interrupt Device (CCID) is provided in the charging
apparatus 2 0 or the charging cable 30d, in which the CCID
detects a connecting condition with the electric vehicle,
performs leakage detection, and disconnects a power feeding
line between the electric vehicle and the power source when
detecting abnormality. The CCID includes a relay (not
shown) for switching on and off the power feed line between
the external power source and the secondary battery of the
electric vehicle; and a control circuit (not shown). The
CCID interrupts the power feed line feeding the electric
power from the external power source to the secondary
battery of the electric vehicle when the relay is opened.
Further, the CCID is allowed to feed the electric power to
the secondary battery of the electric vehicle from the
external power source when the relay is closed. The control
circuit transmits a pilot signal to an Electronic Control
Unit (ECU) (not shown) mounted in the electric vehicle,
thereby notifying the rated current of the external power
source and the charging cable 30d. This enables the ECU to
charge the secondary battery of the electric vehicle by a
charging current based on the rated current of the external
power source and the charging cable 30d. Further, the
control circuit has a function to forcibly open the relay
for interrupting the power feed line when detecting
abnormality such as electric leakage.
In the charging apparatus 2 0 including the connector
holding device 10 of the present embodiment, the extra
portion of the charging cable 30d is allowed to be wound on
the cable holding part 10ac in the charging mode of the
electric vehicle, so that the charging cable 30d can be held
without extending on the ground. Further, even in the non-
charging mode, the charging cable 30d can be held without
extending on the ground by winding the charging cable 30d on
the cable holding part 10ac (see Figs. 5B, 7A and 7B).
In the connector holding device 10, it is possible to
wind the charging cable 30d on the cable holding part 10ac
to be held as described above, so that the charging cable
30d is not extended on the ground in the charging mode.
Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive stress from
being applied to the charging cable 30d by such as hooking
it by user's foot. Further, the charging cable 30d is not
extended on the ground even in the non-charging mode, so
that the charging cable 30d is prevented from being an
obstacle for passage, such as hooking it by a foot, near the
housing 21. Furthermore, the cable holding part 10ac is
disposed on the outer side of the housing 21, so that the
charging cable 30d is not necessary to be accommodated
within the housing 21. Therefore, the housing 21 can be
avoided from being enlarged in size.
In cases where the CCID is provided in the charging
apparatus 20 or the charging cable 30d, "the charging cable
30d includes a signal line for communicating with electronic
equipments mounted in the electric vehicle, in addition to
power lines connected to the secondary battery of the
electric vehicle. Thus, the charging cable 30d has a larger
diameter as compared with the case where including only the
power lines. Further, it is preferred that the charging
cable 30d has an enough length to connect the charging
apparatus 20 and the electric vehicle even if it is parked
distantly from the charging apparatus 20. Furthermore, in
the charging cable 30d, there is provided the charging
connector 30 for connecting the electric vehicle thereto.
If left outside, the charging cable 30d may be an obstacle
for passage, such as hooking it by a foot, near the housing
21. For this reason, it will be of a great advantage that
the cable holding part 10ac is provided integrally with the
connector holding device 10 to hold the charging cable 30d.
Note that the connector holding device 10 is provided
on the right side of the housing 21 of the charging
apparatus 20 as shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, but not limited to
this, may be provided on the left side or the front side
thereof. Further, the connector holding device 10 is not
necessary to be provided on the housing 21 of the charging
apparatus 20 but may be provided on an exterior wall of a
house. The number of connector holding devices 10 is not
limited to one but may be more than one if necessary.
Furthermore, like the holding part 1 and the locking part 2
of the connector holding device 10 as shown in Figs. 3A and
3B, the connector holding device 10 of the present
embodiment may be configured to combine functions of the
holding part 1 and the locking part 2.
The charging apparatus 20 including the connector
holding device 10 of the present embodiment is allowed to
lock the charging connector 30 and prevent it from being
disengaged unintentionally with a relatively simple
structure. For this reason, the charging apparatus 20
including the connector holding device 10 can prevent the
charging connector 30 from being stolen or damaged by
mischievous manners.
While the invention has been shown and described with
respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
We claim:
1. A connector holding device, comprising:
a holding part adapted to hold a charging connector for
charging a secondary battery of an electric vehicle;
a locking part adapted to be engaged with a latch part
of the charging connector to prevent the charging connector
from being disconnected; and
a restriction part for restricting the movement of the
latch part.
2. The connector holding device as set forth in Claim 1,
wherein the connector holding device is provided in the
electric vehicle; and
the holding part is a charging port of the electric
vehicle to which the charging connector is electrically
connected.
3. The connector holding device as set forth in Claim 1 or
2, wherein the restriction part includes a lock key part for
locking the restriction part in the state where the
restriction part restricts the movement of the latch part.
4. The connector holding device as set forth in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding part and the locking part
are provided in an opening recessed inwardly in a box-shaped
main body; and
the restriction part is provided in the main body and
partially covers the opening so as to restrict the movement
of the latch part.
5. The connector holding device as set forth in Claim 4,
wherein the main body includes a cable holding part for
holding a charge cable extending from the charging
connector.
6. The connector holding device as set forth in Claim 4 or
5, wherein the main body includes an attaching portion for
attaching the main body to a wall.
7. A charging apparatus equipped with the connector
holding device as set forth in any one of Claims 1 and 3 to
6.

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed a connector holding device and a
charging apparatus using the same, in which the connector
holding device can lock a charging connector while prevent
it from being disengaged unintentionally with a relatively
simple structure. The connector holding device includes a
holding part 1 adapted to hold a charging connector 30 for
charging a secondary battery of an electric vehicle, a
locking part 2 adapted to be engaged with a latch part 30g
of the charging connector 30 to prevent the charging
connector 30 from being disconnected, and a restriction part
3 for restricting the latch part 30g to move.