Multi-voltage charging terminal access port

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021126475-A1
Application number	US-201816981920-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2018
Publication date	Apr 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-voltage charging terminal access port includes at least one housing, a first charging terminal within the housing and configured to receive a first charging voltage, a second charging terminal within the housing and configured to receive a second charging voltage that is different from the first charging voltage, a first movable cover plate mounted within the housing, the first movable cover plate including a first access hole and being movable between a first position in which the first access hole is laterally offset from the first charging terminal to obstruct access to the first charging terminal and a second position in which the first access hole is aligned with the first charging terminal to allow access to the first charging terminal.

First claim

1 . A multi-voltage charging terminal access port, comprising:
at least one housing; a first charging terminal within the at least one housing and configured to receive a first charging voltage; a second charging terminal within the at least one housing and configured to receive a second charging voltage that is different from the first charging voltage; a first movable cover plate mounted within the at least one housing, the first movable cover plate comprising a first access hole and being movable between a first position wherein the first access hole is laterally offset from the first charging terminal to obstruct access to the first charging terminal and a second position wherein the first access hole is aligned with the first charging terminal to allow access to the first charging terminal; and a second movable cover plate mounted within the at least one housing, the second movable cover plate comprising a second access hole and being movable between a third position wherein the second access hole is laterally offset from the second charging terminal to obstruct access to the second charging terminal and a fourth position wherein the second access hole is aligned with the second charging terminal to allow access to the second charging terminal.

2 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 1 , wherein when the first movable cover plate is in the second position, the first movable cover plate obstructs access to the second charging terminal, and wherein when the second movable cover plate is in the fourth position, the second movable cover plate obstructs access to the first charging terminal.

3 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixed cover plate above the first and second movable cover plates; wherein the first movable cover plate comprises a first locking pin extending therefrom toward the fixed cover plate; wherein the fixed cover plate comprises a detent latch configured to receive and hold the first locking pin when the first movable cover plate is in the second position.

4 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 3 , wherein the second movable cover plate comprises a second locking pin extending therefrom toward the fixed cover plate; and
wherein the detent latch is configured to receive and hold the second locking pin when the second movable cover plate is in the fourth position.

5 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 3 , wherein the fixed cover plate comprises a release hole therethrough, wherein the release hole is aligned with the detent latch, and wherein the multi-voltage charging terminal access port further comprises:
a lid rotatably attached to the at least one housing; and a release pin attached the lid; wherein the lid is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the lid is in the closed position, the release pin extends through the release hole in the fixed cover plate and into the detent latch.

6 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first spring attached to the first movable cover plate and configured to bias the first movable cover plate in the first position; and a second spring attached to the second movable cover plate and configured to bias the second movable cover plate in the third position; wherein when the first movable cover plate is in the second position, the first movable cover plate is held in position by the detent latch against a bias force exerted by the first spring; and wherein when the second movable cover plate is in the fourth position, the second movable cover plate is held in position by the detent latch against a bias force exerted by the second spring.

7 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 6 , wherein, when the lid is closed, the release pin extends through the release hole in the fixed cover plate and into the detent latch.

8 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 7 , wherein when the lid is closed, the release pin is arranged to push the first locking pin or the second locking pin out of the detent latch, when the first locking pin is pushed out of the detent latch, the bias force of the first spring causes the first movable cover plate to return to the first position, and when the second locking pin is pushed out of the detent latch, the bias force of the second spring causes the second movable cover plate to return to the third position.

9 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of guide rails mounted on an interior of the at least one housing, wherein the first movable cover plate is slidable along the first pair of guide rails between the first and second positions; and a second pair of guide rails mounted on the interior of the at least one housing, wherein the second movable cover plate is slidable along the second pair of guide rails between the third and fourth positions.

10 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 4 , wherein the first movable cover plate comprises a first tab that extends from a side of the first movable cover plate, wherein the first locking pin extends from the first tab toward the fixed cover plate, and wherein the second movable cover plate comprises a second tab that extends from a side of the second movable cover plate, wherein the second locking pin extends from the second tab toward the fixed cover plate.

11 . A multi-voltage charging terminal access port, comprising:
at least one housing; a first charging terminal within the at least one housing and configured to receive a first charging voltage; a second charging terminal within the at least one housing and configured to receive a second charging voltage that is different from the first charging voltage; and a movable cover plate mounted within the at least one housing, the movable cover plate comprising a first access hole and a second access hole; wherein the movable cover plate is movable between a first position, a second position and a third position; wherein, when the movable cover plate is in the first position, the first access hole is laterally offset from the first charging terminal to obstruct access to the first charging terminal and the second access hole is aligned with the second charging terminal to allow access to the second charging terminal; wherein, when the movable cover plate is in the second position, the first access hole is aligned with the first charging terminal to allow access to the first charging terminal and the second access hole is laterally offset from the second charging terminal to obstruct access to the second charging terminal; and wherein, when the movable cover plate is in the third position, the movable cover plate obstructs access to both the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal.

12 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 11 , further comprising:
a fixed cover plate above the movable cover plate; wherein the movable cover plate comprises a locking pin extending therefrom toward the fixed cover plate; and wherein the fixed cover plate comprises a first detent latch configured to receive and hold the locking pin when the movable cover plate is in the first position and a second detent latch configured to receive and hold the locking pin when the movable cover plate is in the second position.

13 . The multi-voltage charging terminal access port of claim 12 , wherein the fixed cover plate comprises a first release hole therethrough and a second release hole therethrough, wherein the first release hole is ali

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Preisig Nicolas
• Goris Christopher

Classifications

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H01M50/591

  Covers · CPC title

• H01R13/4534

  Laterally sliding shutter · CPC title

• H01M50/543

  Terminals · CPC title

• H01M10/44

  Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title