IP Library Granted Patent US 9,346,368
Granted Patent B2
US 9,346,368 · App. 14/514,058 · Granted May 24, 2016

Motor vehicle charging inlet structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,346,368
App. No.
14/514,058
Granted
May 24, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle charging inlet structure includes: a first charging socket disposed in a recess portion of a vehicle body and connected to an electricity storage unit of a motor vehicle, the first charging socket being configured to be connected to a charging connector which supplies electric power from an external power supply to the electricity storage unit; a lid configured to open and close the recess portion; and a lock member configured to, when the lid is closed, come into engagement with the lid to fix the lid in a closed state and configured to, when the charging connector is connected to the first charging socket in a state in which the engagement of the lock member with the lid is released, come into press-contact with the charging connector to fix the charging connector in a connected state.

Claims (26)

1. A motor vehicle charging inlet structure, comprising:

a first charging socket disposed in a recess portion of a vehicle body and connected to an electricity storage unit of a motor vehicle, the first charging socket being configured to be connected to a charging connector which supplies electric power from an external power supply to the electricity storage unit;

a lid configured to open and close the recess portion; and

a lock member configured to, when the lid is closed, come into engagement with the lid to fix the lid in a closed state and configured to, when the charging connector is connected to the first charging socket in a state in which the engagement of the lock member with the lid is released, come into press-contact with the charging connector to fix the charging connector in a connected state,

wherein the lock member includes a lock pin which is axially reciprocated by an actuator,

when the lock pin is driven in one direction, one end portion of the lock pin engages with the lid, and

when the lock pin is driven in another direction, the other end portion of the lock pin comes into press-contact with the charging connector.

2. The inlet structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second charging socket disposed in the recess portion of the vehicle body and connected to the electricity storage unit, the second charging socket being larger in diameter than the first charging socket, and

wherein the first and second charging sockets are arranged side by side along one direction and the lock member is disposed in a space which adjoins the first charging socket, the space overlapping with the second charging socket in an arrangement direction of the first and second charging sockets.

3. The inlet structure of claim 2 , wherein an amount of electric power input to the second charging socket is larger than an amount of electric power input to the first charging socket.

4. The inlet structure of claim 3 , wherein a lock member engaging portion with which the lock member engages is formed in the lid, and

the lock member engaging portion includes a part holding portion configured to hold a part of the charging inlet structure when the lid is opened.

5. A motor vehicle charging inlet structure, comprising:

a first charging socket disposed in a recess portion of a vehicle body and connected to an electricity storage unit of a motor vehicle, the first charging socket being configured to be connected to a charging connector which supplies electric power from an external power supply to the electricity storage unit;

a lid configured to open and close the recess portion; and

a lock member configured to, when the lid is closed, come into engagement with the lid to fix the lid in a closed state and configured to, when the charging connector is connected to the first charging socket in a state in which the engagement of the lock member with the lid is released, come into press-contact with the charging connector to fix the charging connector in a connected state,

wherein the lock member includes a lock pin which is driven by an actuator so as to rotate about a rotation center,

when one end portion of the lock pin is oriented toward an upper side of the motor vehicle, the lock pin engages with the lid, and

when the lock pin is rotated such that the one end portion of the lock pin is oriented toward a lower side of the motor vehicle, the lock pin comes into press-contact with the charging connector.

6. The inlet structure of claim 5 , further comprising:

a second charging socket disposed in the recess portion of the vehicle body and connected to the electricity storage unit, the second charging socket being larger in diameter than the first charging socket, and

wherein the first and second charging sockets are arranged side by side along one direction and the lock member is disposed in a space which adjoins the first charging socket, the space overlapping with the second charging socket in an arrangement direction of the first and second charging sockets.

7. The inlet structure of claim 6 , wherein an amount of electric power input to the second charging socket is larger than an amount of electric power input to the first charging socket.

8. The inlet structure of claim 7 , wherein a lock member engaging portion with which the lock member engages is formed in the lid, and

the lock member engaging portion includes a part holding portion configured to hold a part of the charging inlet structure when the lid is opened.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 1, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 055472/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2014
From: BITO, TERUTOSHI
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 033949/0405 →