IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,280,748
Granted Patent B2
US 12,280,748 · App. 17/741,603 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Anti-sticking device of inlet actuator

Inventors: Seung Woo Kim (Anyang-si, KR); Dae Hyun Kim (Bucheon-si, KR); Dong Geon Lee (Mungyeong-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
B60S1/62B60L53/16H01R13/62905
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,280,748
App. No.
17/741,603
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment device includes a housing, an actuator mounted in the housing, the actuator configured to be operated in response to a connection state of a charging plug, a drive shaft configured to be rotated in conjunction with an operation of the actuator, a lever arm rotatably provided outside the housing and connected to the drive shaft to be rotated together with the drive shaft, and a brush unit seated on the lever arm and configured to remove debris between the housing and the lever arm while being in contact with the housing during operation of the lever arm.

Claims (52)

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

an actuator mounted in the housing, the actuator configured to be operated in response to a connection state of a charging plug;

a drive shaft configured to be rotated in conjunction with an operation of the actuator;

a lever arm rotatably provided outside the housing and connected to the drive shaft to be rotated together with the drive shaft; and

a brush unit seated on the lever arm and configured to remove debris between the housing and the lever arm while being in contact with the housing during operation of the lever arm.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

store a number of rotations of the lever arm in response to the operation of the actuator; and

control the operation of the actuator so as to increase a rotation range of the lever arm beyond a preset range in response to the number of rotations of the lever arm reaching a preset number of rotations.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the brush unit comprises:

a connection portion connected to the drive shaft; and

an extension portion extended from the connection portion along the lever arm and comprising a debris removal portion in contact with the housing.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein a section of the debris removal portion is gradually reduced in a width thereof toward the housing.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the debris removal portion comprises a plurality of elastic bodies, the plurality of elastic bodies being elastically deformable and arranged along the extension portion.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the brush unit comprises the connection portion and the extension portion that are removably provided, and the debris removal portion is rotatably connected to the extension portion.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a connection structure provided at an end of the debris removal portion; and

a locking structure provided at a center portion of the connection portion and configured to be coupled to the connection structure.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the lever arm comprises:

a first slot configured to receive the connection portion therein; and

a second slot in communication with the first slot and extended to receive the debris removal portion in a longitudinal direction thereof.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising fixation ends extended from the extension portion in opposite directions of the debris removal portion, wherein the second slot of the lever arm has a same shape as a section of the extension portion.

10. A device of an inlet actuator, the device comprising:

a housing;

an actuator mounted in the housing, the actuator configured to be operated in response to a connection state of a charging plug;

a drive shaft configured to be rotated in conjunction with an operation of the actuator, the drive shaft comprising a gear part configured to be axially rotated together with the drive shaft;

a lever arm rotatably provided outside the housing and connected to the drive shaft to be rotated together with the drive shaft; and

a brush unit seated on the lever arm and configured to remove debris between the housing and the lever arm while being in contact with the housing during operation of the lever arm, wherein the brush unit comprises:

a connection portion connected to and arranged to be perpendicular to the drive shaft and engaged with the gear part; and

an extension portion extended from the connection portion along the lever arm and comprising a debris removal portion in contact with the housing.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein:

the lever arm comprises a seating groove portion depressed from the lever arm to receive the brush unit; and

the connection portion and the extension portion of the brush unit have circular circumferential surfaces so as to be rotatable in a seated state in the seating groove portion.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the connection portion of the brush unit comprises a gear connection section and a rotation section arranged along an outer circumferential surface thereof, the gear connection section being engaged to the gear part and the rotation section being inserted in the seating groove portion and shaped in an arc shape.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein in response to the drive shaft being rotated, the brush unit is configured to move together with the lever arm and perform a tilting movement, and the debris removal portion is configured to be rotated in a trajectory along the arc shape.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the housing in contact with the debris removal portion is shaped in a curved surface along the trajectory of rotation of the debris removal portion.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a housing provided in the vehicle body;

an actuator mounted in the housing and configured to be operated in response to a connection state of a charging plug;

a drive shaft configured to be rotated in conjunction with an operation of the actuator;

a lever arm rotatably provided outside the housing and connected to the drive shaft to be rotated together with the drive shaft; and

a brush unit seated on the lever arm and configured to remove debris between the housing and the lever arm while being in contact with the housing during operation of the lever arm.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the brush unit comprises:

a connection portion connected to the drive shaft; and

an extension portion extended from the connection portion along the lever arm and comprising a debris removal portion in contact with the housing.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein a section of the debris removal portion is gradually reduced in a width thereof toward the housing.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the debris removal portion comprises a plurality of elastic bodies, the plurality of elastic bodies being elastically deformable and arranged along the extension portion.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the brush unit comprises the connection portion and the extension portion that are removably provided, and the debris removal portion is rotatably connected to the extension portion.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the lever arm comprises:

a first slot configured to receive the connection portion therein; and

a second slot in communication with the first slot and extended to receive the debris removal portion in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2022
From: KIM, SEUNG WOO; KIM, DAE HYUN; LEE, DONG GEON
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059889/0581 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0157742 · Nov 16, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230150456A1 · May 18, 2023
References Cited (5)
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US 12122265B2 · Xiao · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20200108729A1 · Tsukamoto · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020061795A · 2020 [cited by applicant]