Self-closing electric socket cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035392-B2
Application number	US-201615367342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A computer is programmed to actuate an electric socket mounted to an exterior of a vehicle to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, that a cover is open, and that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:
actuate an electric socket mounted to a vehicle exterior to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a threshold, that a cover is open, and based on a message received via the electric socket from a second computer outside the vehicle following a request sent by the computer to the second computer, that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.

2. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to actuate the electric socket to close upon determining that a vehicle hitch is in a decoupled state.

3. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to actuate the electric socket to close by actuating a cover that is mechanically coupled to an electric actuator.

4. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to determine whether the cover is open based on data received from at least one of a proximity sensor and a camera mounted to one of the electric socket and the exterior of the vehicle.

5. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to determine whether the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state by determining, based on image data received from a camera sensor, whether an electric plug is connected to the electric socket.

6. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to determine whether the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state by determining whether an electrical resistance between two electric contacts of the electric socket is less than a resistance threshold.

7. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to actuate an output device upon determining that a vehicle hitch is in a mechanically coupled state and that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.

8. The computer of claim 7 , further programmed to determine that the vehicle hitch is in the mechanically coupled state based on image data received from a camera sensor.

9. The computer of claim 8 , wherein actuating the output device further includes actuating a vehicle transmission to inhibit a drive mode of the vehicle.

10. The computer of claim 1 , further programmed to actuate an output device upon determining that a vehicle hitch is in a mechanically decoupled state and that the electric socket is in an electrically engaged state.

11. A system, comprising:
an electric socket, including:
a body mountable to a vehicle exterior;
a plurality of electric contacts within the body;
a cover pivotably coupled to the body;
an electric actuator mechanically engaged with the cover; and

a computer, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:
actuate the electric socket mounted to the vehicle exterior of to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, that the cover is open, and that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state; and
determine whether the cover is open based on data indicating a direction of movement of the electric actuator and data indicating whether a motor load exceeds a load threshold.

12. The system of claim 11 , further programmed to actuate the electric socket to close by actuating the electric actuator to move the cover to a closed state, wherein the cover in the closed state covers the electric contacts of the electric socket.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the cover is mechanically coupled to the body via a pin having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the cover further includes a gear attached to the cover pivoting about the longitudinal axis of the pin.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electric actuator includes an electric motor having a shaft and a motor gear mounted to the shaft, wherein the motor gear is mechanically coupled to the gear of the cover.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gear of the cover is partially toothed having a first end tooth and a second end tooth, wherein the motor gear touches the first end tooth of a cover gear when the cover is open and the motor gear touches the second end tooth of the cover gear when the cover is closed.

16. A method, comprising:
actuating a cover of an electric socket mounted to an exterior of a vehicle to close when determined that the vehicle's speed exceeds a speed threshold and based on a message received via the electric socket from a second computer outside the vehicle following a request sent by the computer to the second computer, that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising causing an action when determined that the electric socket is in the electrically disengaged state and that a vehicle hitch is in a mechanically coupled state.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising causing an action when determined that the electric socket is in an electrically engaged state and that a vehicle hitch is in a mechanically decoupled state.

19. A computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:
actuate an electric socket mounted to a vehicle exterior of to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, that a cover is open, that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state; and that a vehicle hitch is in a decoupled state.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef
• Carremm Swadad A
• Pittenger Joel Allen
• Tippy David James

Classifications

• B60D1/62

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• H01R13/447 Primary

  Shutter or cover plate · CPC title

• B60D1/64 Primary

  Couplings or joints therefor · CPC title

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title

• B60D1/60

  Covers, caps or guards {, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices} · CPC title