Vehicle and charging system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016280086-A1
Application number	US-201514667170-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source in order to recharge a battery, a lock to secure the connector to the charging port, an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between a locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized, and a mechanical lock override configured to transition the lock to the unlocked condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle charging system comprising:
a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a battery; a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port when in a locked condition; an actuator configured to transition the lock between the locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized; and a mechanical override configured to unlock the lock.

2 . The vehicle charging system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an electric solenoid configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

3 . The vehicle charging system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an electric motor configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

4 . The vehicle charging system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical override further comprises a handle and the lock is configured to transition from the locked condition to the unlocked condition when a user pulls the handle.

5 . The vehicle charging system of claim 4 , further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.

6 . A vehicle comprising:
a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a battery; a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port; an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between a locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized; and a mechanical lock override configured to transition the lock to the unlocked condition.

7 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is an electric solenoid configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

8 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein actuator is an electric motor configured to advance a locking pin between an advanced position and a retracted position.

9 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the mechanical lock override is spaced apart from the charging port.

10 . The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising an access door arranged to conceal the mechanical lock override when closed and permit access to the mechanical lock override when open.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the mechanical lock override further comprises a handle and wherein the lock is configured to unlock when a user pulls the handle.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.

13 . The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a controller programmed to, in response to a signal indicating that the access door is open, terminate a battery recharging operation.

14 . An electric vehicle comprising:
a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source to recharge a traction battery; a lock configured to secure the connector to the charging port when in a locked condition; an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between the locked and an unlocked condition when energized, and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized; a release configured to mechanically override the electrical actuator to transition the lock from the locked condition to the unlocked condition; an access door arranged to conceal the mechanical release when closed and permit access to the mechanical release when open; and a controller programmed to, in response to a signal indicating that the access door is open, terminate a traction battery recharging operation.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the release further comprises a handle and wherein the lock is configured to transition from the locked condition to the unlocked condition when a user pulls the handle.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a pull cable mechanically linking the handle to the lock.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lopez Juan
• Gibeau John Paul
• Basoukeas Nondo G
• Curry Susan

Classifications

• B60L11/1818 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60L53/16 Primary

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• B60L2270/30

  Preventing theft during charging · CPC title