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DE-102025146014-A1 - Cap mechanism and charging port

DE102025146014A1DE 102025146014 A1DE102025146014 A1DE 102025146014A1DE-102025146014-A1

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a cap mechanism is used for a charging inlet, which is an in-vehicle component. The charging inlet includes a housing with an interior space into which a power supply connector can be inserted. The cap mechanism comprises a holder attached to the housing, a cap rotatably held by the holder and movable into a closed position (where the cap covers the interior) and an open position (where the cap opens the interior), a first biasing element that biases the cap toward the closed position, and a locking mechanism that locks and holds the cap in the open position when the cap is moved into this position. When the power supply connector is inserted into the interior, the locking mechanism releases the cap when the power supply connector is engaged, allowing it to move toward the closed position.

Inventors

  • Hideki Mizuno
  • Masanori Nakamura
  • Teruhiko Ohike
  • Shinichi Kamura
  • Takao Murakami

Assignees

  • YAZAKI CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251107
Priority Date
20241112

Claims (6)

  1. A cap mechanism (30) used for a charging inlet (1) that is an in-vehicle component, wherein: the charging inlet (1) includes a housing (10) in which an interior (20a) is formed into which a power supply connector (2) can be fitted; and the cap mechanism (30) comprises: a holder (40) attached to the housing (10); a cap (50) rotatably held by the holder (40) and movable into a closed position (P1), in which the cap (50) covers the interior (20a), and an open position (P2), in which the cap (50) opens the interior (20a); a first biasing element (32) that biases the cap (50) towards the closed position (P1); and a locking mechanism (35) that locks and holds the cap (50) in the open position (P2) when the cap (50) is moved into the open position (P2), and in a case where the power supply connector (2) is inserted into the interior (20a), releases the locking mechanism by pushing the power supply connector (2) and allows the cap (50) to move towards the closed position (P1).
  2. The cap mechanism (30) according to Claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism (35) includes a rotary section (51) which is integrally provided with the cap (50) and has an engagement groove (54, 55) on an outer peripheral surface, and a lever (60) which can engage with the engagement groove (54, 55), the cap (50) is locked and held at the open position (P2) by the lever (60) engaging with the engagement groove (54, 55) when the cap (50) is open at the open position (P2), and the locking at the open position (P2) is released in such a way that the power supply connector (2) abuts the lever (60) and the lever (60) is removed from the engagement groove (54, 55) when the power supply connector (2) is inserted into the interior (20a).
  3. The cap mechanism (30) according to Claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism (35) includes a second preload element (34) which exerts a preload to maintain a position of the lever (60) in a case where the lever (60) is engaged with the engagement groove (54, 55).
  4. The cap mechanism (30) according to Claim 2 or 3 , wherein the lever (60) comprises a first section (61) extending towards a rear side in an insertion direction of the power supply connector (2), and a second section (63) curved from the first section (61) towards an inside of the interior (20a), wherein in a case where the power supply connector (2) is inserted into the interior (20a), the power supply connector (2) abuts the second section (63).
  5. The cap mechanism (30) according to any of the Claims 1 until 3 , which further comprises: a damper section (70) that reduces a preload force (F1) of the first preload element (32).
  6. A loading inlet (1) comprising: the cap mechanism (30) according to any of the Claims 1 until 3 ; and the case (10).

Description

Background of the invention Field of invention Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cap mechanism and a charging inlet. Description of the related technique For example, the Japanese unexamined patent application, first publication no. 2012-240645 , a vehicle loading inlet comprising an inlet box attached to an external fairing of the vehicle and a cap connected to the inlet box via a hinge mechanism to open and close an opening of the inlet box. [State of the art document] [Patent document] Patent document 1: Japanese unexamined patent application, first publication no. 2012-240645 Summary of the invention However, with the charging inlet of patent document 1, it is necessary to manually close the cap after charging is complete, which causes work on the operator's side. One embodiment consists of providing a cap mechanism and a charging inlet that can reduce the work of an operator during charging. According to one embodiment, a cap mechanism is used for a charging inlet, which is an in-vehicle component, wherein the charging inlet includes a housing in which an interior is formed into which a power supply connector can be fitted, and the cap mechanism includes a holder attached to the housing, a cap rotatably held by the holder and movable into a closed position in which the cap covers the interior, and an open position in which the cap opens the interior, a first biasing element that biases the cap towards the closed position, and a locking mechanism that locks and holds the cap in the open position when the cap is moved into the open position, and which, when the power supply connector is inserted into the interior, releases the lock by pushing the power supply connector and allows the cap to move towards the closed position. According to one embodiment, it is possible to reduce the work of an operator at the time of loading. Brief description of the drawings 1 is a perspective view of a charging inlet in a first embodiment.2 Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a structure around a cap mechanism of the charging inlet in the first embodiment.3 This is a perspective view of the cap mechanism according to the first embodiment.4 is a top view showing a structure around a holder of the cap mechanism in the first embodiment.5 is a view that represents a state in which an interior space is open in the first embodiment and a power supply connector is inserted into the interior space.6 is a view that represents a state in which the interior is open in the first embodiment and the insertion of the power supply connector is complete.7 is a view that represents a state immediately after a power supply connector has been pulled out of the interior in the first embodiment.8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a structure around a cap mechanism of a charging inlet in a second embodiment.9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part around a cap mechanism in a third embodiment. Detailed description of the invention The following sections describe embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the following description, configurations with the same or similar functions are designated by the same reference numerals. Redundant descriptions of these configurations may be omitted. The configuration described below The figuration does not limit the scope of the embodiments. In the present disclosure, the terms are defined as follows. The term "connection" is not limited to a mechanical connection and may also include an electrical connection. That is, the term "connection" is not limited to a case in which two elements that are connection targets are directly connected to each other, and may also include a case in which two elements that are connection targets are connected by another element placed between them. The term "receiving" is not limited to a case in which the entire component is received, but may also include a case in which only part of the component is received (a state in which the remaining part of the component protrudes). The term "facing" means that the virtual projections of two target objects overlap when viewed from a certain direction. Thus, the term "facing" is not limited to a case in which two target objects are directly facing each other, but may include a case in which two target objects are facing each other in a state in which another element is located between the two target objects. “Parallel”, “perpendicular” or “the same” can each contain “essentially parallel”, “essentially perpendicular” or “essentially the same”. In the present disclosure, a +X direction, a -X direction, a +Y direction, a -Y direction, a +Z direction, and a -Z direction are defined as follows. The +X direction is a direction from a first end face 41a to a second end face 41b of a holder body 41 described later (see 3 The -X direction is a direction opposite to the +X direction. In the following, when the +X and -X directions are not distinguished, the directions are simply