Tension cable control duplexer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11408463-B2
Application number	US-201816225758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

An electric vehicle includes a charge port configured to selectively lock a charge plug to the charge port, a charge port door configured to provide access to the charge port, a charge port door lock configured to selectively lock the charge port door in a closed position, a primary manual release cable operably coupled to the charge port to manually unlock the charge plug from the charge port, and a secondary tension cable system coupled between the primary manual release cable and the charge port door lock. Actuation of the primary manual release cable simultaneously unlocks the charge plug from the charge port and actuates the secondary tension cable system to unlock the charge port door lock.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric vehicle comprising:
a charge port configured to selectively lock a charge plug to the charge port;
a charge port door configured to provide access to the charge port;
a charge port door lock configured to selectively lock the charge port door in a closed position;
a primary manual release cable operably coupled to the charge port to manually unlock the charge plug from the charge port; and
a secondary tension cable system coupled between the primary manual release cable and the charge port door lock,
wherein actuation of the primary manual release cable simultaneously unlocks the charge plug from the charge port and actuates the secondary tension cable system to unlock the charge port door lock.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the secondary tension cable system comprises a secondary tension coupling device and a secondary cable operably coupled to the charge port door lock for manually unlocking the charge port door lock.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the secondary tension coupling device comprises:
a primary cable interface portion for coupling to the primary manual release cable;
a secondary cable interface portion configured to couple to the secondary cable; and
an intermediate portion disposed between the primary cable interface portion and the secondary cable interface portion,
wherein actuation of the primary manual release cable causes actuation of the secondary cable via the secondary tension coupling device.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the secondary cable interface portion includes a hollow shell configured to receive one end of the secondary cable.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the hollow shell includes a cable receiving portion and a cable retention portion.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the cable receiving portion defines a cable slot configured to receive the secondary cable therethrough, and a retainer slot configured to receive a retainer coupled to the secondary cable.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein a width of the retainer slot is larger than a width of the retainer, and a width of the cable retention portion is smaller than the width of the retainer slot so as to facilitate securing the retainer to the cable retention portion.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the cable retention portion includes a retaining tab to facilitate securing and retaining the retainer within the cable retention portion.

9. The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising a mounting clip coupled to and extending from the secondary cable interface portion, the mounting clip configured to temporarily secure the secondary tension coupling device to a portion of the electric vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of spool pegs extending from the secondary cable interface portion, the plurality of spool pegs configured to take up excess length of the secondary cable.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spool pegs includes first, second, and third spool pegs.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the secondary cable is selectively wound around the secondary cable interface portion and secured between the first and second spool pegs, and between the third spool peg and the intermediate portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the primary cable interface portion includes a retention clip extending from a main body portion.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the retention dip and the main body portion define a receiving slot therebetween configured to receive the primary manual release cable.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the primary cable interface portion further includes a retention feature extending outwardly from the main body portion toward the retention clip, the retention feature configured to retain the primary manual release cable within the receiving slot.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the retention feature includes a ramped surface and a stop surface.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the retention clip includes an aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the retention feature therein.

18. The vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising:
wherein the primary cable interface portion includes a retention clip extending from a main body portion, wherein the retention clip and the main body portion define a receiving slot therebetween configured to receive the primary manual release cable, wherein the primary cable interface portion further includes a retention feature extending outwardly from the main body portion toward the retention clip, the retention feature configured to retain the primary manual release cable within the receiving slot, wherein the retention feature includes a ramped surface and a stop surface, and wherein the retention clip includes an aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the retention feature therein;
wherein the secondary cable interface portion includes a hollow shell configured to receive one end of the secondary cable, wherein the hollow shell includes a cable receiving portion and a cable retention portion, wherein the cable receiving portion defines a cable slot configured to receive the secondary cable therethrough, and a retainer slot configured to receive a retainer coupled to the secondary cable, wherein a width of the retainer slot is larger than a width of the retainer, and a width of the cable retention portion is smaller than the width of the retainer slot so as to facilitate securing the retainer to the cable retention portion, and wherein the cable retention portion includes a retaining tab to facilitate securing and retaining the retainer within the cable retention portion;
a mounting clip coupled to and extending from the secondary cable interface portion, the mounting clip configured to temporarily secure the secondary tension coupling device to a portion of the electric vehicle; and
a plurality of spool pegs extending from the secondary cable interface portion, the plurality of spool pegs configured to take up excess length of the secondary cable, wherein the plurality of spool pegs includes first, second, and third spool pegs, and wherein the secondary cable is selectively wound around the secondary cable interface portion and secured between the first and second spool pegs, and between the third spool peg and the intermediate portion.

Assignees

• Lampe James Tanner
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Lampe James Tanner

Classifications

• F16C2326/20

  Land vehicles · CPC title

• F16C1/101 Primary

  Intermediate connectors for joining portions of split flexible shafts and/or sheathings · CPC title

• F16C1/14

  Construction of the end-piece of the flexible member; Attachment thereof to the flexible member · CPC title

• B60K2015/0561

  Locking means for the inlet cover · CPC title

• B60K15/05

  Inlet covers · CPC title