Door assembly for charging port of electric vehicle

Abstract

A door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle includes a housing accommodating the charging port and a door connected to one side of the housing. A link bracket is mounted inside the door, and a link portion connects the housing with the link bracket. A crushing portion removes foreign materials being introduced in a slot formed at the link bracket.

Claims

1. A door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle, comprising: a housing accommodating the charging port; a door connected to one side of the housing; a link bracket mounted inside the door; a link portion connecting the housing with the link bracket; and a crushing portion removing foreign materials being introduced in a slot formed at the link bracket.

2. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein the link portion includes a first link, a second link, and a third link, wherein first ends of the first link and the second link are hinge-connected with the housing, second ends of the first link and the second link are hinge-connected with the link bracket, and wherein a first end of the third link is hinge-connected with the second link, and a second end of the third link is hinge-connected with the link bracket through a slider.

3. The door assembly of claim 2, wherein a guide rail that guides the slider is fitted to the slot, and when the door is opened or closed, the slider slides along the guide rail.

4. The door assembly of claim 3, wherein the crushing portion includes: a slide pipe having teeth at an interior circumference thereof and penetration holes into which the slider is inserted at both sides thereof; a crusher engaged with the teeth; a rotation portion rotating the crusher when the door is opened or closed; and an elastic portion providing elastic force to the slider when the door is opened or closed.

5. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein a first end of the slide pipe is opened, and an end cap is mounted at a second end of the slide pipe.

6. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein a rubber element is attached at an exterior circumference of the slide pipe along a length direction of the slide pipe.

7. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein the crusher has a tapered shape at a first end thereof and an accommodating groove, in which a first end of the rotation portion is accommodated, at a second end thereof, and wherein a second end of the rotation portion is supported by the slider.

8. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein the crusher has screw threads formed at an exterior circumference thereof.

9. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotation portion includes a ball bearing.

10. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein the elastic portion includes a coil spring.

11. The door assembly of claim 10, wherein the elastic portion is compressed when the door is closed, and extends when the door is opened.

12. The door assembly of claim 6, wherein a plurality of rubber elements are attached at edges of the penetration holes along the length direction of the slide pipe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle according to a related art.

(2) FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a diagram illustrating a door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

(3) FIG. 2B is an extended view of a door of the charging door assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2B.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 2B.

(6) FIG. 5 is perspective view of a slide pipe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) In the following detailed description, the present disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

(8) The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

(9) Since each component shown in the drawings is arbitrarily illustrated for easy description, the present disclosure is not particularly limited to the components illustrated in the drawings.

(10) FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a diagram illustrating a door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, FIG. 2B is an extended view of a door of the charging door assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a slide pipe according an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 2A-4, a door 3 of a door assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept is opened such that a charging port 10 is connected to an external power supply and is closed to prevent foreign materials or moisture from flowing into the charging port 10.

(12) The door assembly according to the present disclosure may include a housing 1, the door 3, a link bracket 5, a link portion L, and a crushing portion 7.

(13) The housing 1 is disposed at one side of a vehicle body and accommodates the charging port 10.

(14) The door 3 is disposed at one side of the housing 1 to protect the charging port 10.

(15) The link bracket 5 is mounted inside the door 3 along a length direction thereof, and a slot 9 is formed at one side of the link bracket 5.

(16) A guide rail 11 is fitted to the slot 9 along a circumference thereof, and a slider 13 is inserted in the slot 9. The guide rail 11 guides the slider 13.

(17) The link portion L connects the housing 1 with the door 3. The link portion L may include a first link L1, a second link L2, and a third link L3.

(18) First ends of the first link L1 and the second link L2 are hinge-connected with the housing 1, and second ends thereof are hinge-connected with the link bracket 5.

(19) A first end of the third link L3 is hinge-connected with the second link L2, and a second end thereof is hinge-connected with the link bracket 5 through the slider 13.

(20) The slider 13 slides (reciprocates) along the guide rail 11 when the door 3 is opened or closed.

(21) The crushing portion 7 removes foreign materials generated in the slot 9 according to movement of the slider 13, thereby smoothly opening or closing the door 3.

(22) The crushing portion 7 may include a slide pipe 15, a crusher 30, a rotation portion 20, and an elastic portion 40.

(23) Teeth S are formed at an interior circumference of the slide pipe 15. Penetration holes H in which the slider 13 is inserted are formed at both sides of the slide pipe 15.

(24) A rubber element 19 having a watertight function is attached at an exterior circumference of the slide pipe 15 along a length direction thereof. In the present disclosure, four rubber elements 19 may be attached around the penetration holes H along a length direction thereof.

(25) The rubber element 19 blocks moisture inflow into the door 3 while the slider 13 moves along the guide rail 11, thereby reducing a freezing phenomenon.

(26) The crusher 30 is inserted in the slide pipe 15 and is engaged with the teeth S.

(27) A first end of the crusher 30 may have a tapered shape, and an accommodating groove in which a first end of the rotation portion 20 is accommodated may be formed at a second end of the crusher 30. Screw threads may be formed at an exterior circumference of the crusher 30.

(28) A second end of the rotation portion 20 is supported by the slider 13.

(29) When the door 3 is opened or closed, the crusher 30 slides and rotates along to the teeth S formed at the interior circumference of the slide pipe 15.

(30) The rotation portion 20 may include a ball bearing and supports the crusher 30.

(31) The elastic portion 40 is inserted in the slide pipe 15 and provides elastic force to the slider 13 when the door 3 is opened or closed.

(32) The elastic portion 40 may include a coil spring. The elastic portion 40 is compressed when the door 3 is closed, and extends when the door 3 is opened.

(33) A first end of the slide pipe 15 is opened, and an end cap 17 for supporting the elastic portion 40 is mounted at a second end of the slide pipe 15.

(34) That is, a first end of the elastic portion 40 is supported by the slider 13 and a second end of the elastic portion 40 is supported by the end cap 17.

(35) The crusher 30 and the elastic portion 40 are supported by the slider 13. When the door 3 is opened, the elastic portion 40 extends and the crusher 30 rotates and moves forward along the teeth S formed at the interior circumference of the slide pipe 15.

(36) When the door 3 is closed, the crusher 30 rotates and moves backward along the teeth S by operating force of a user transmitted through the third link L3. Here, the elastic portion 40 is compressed by the operating force.

(37) Foreign materials such as ice in the slide pipe 15 are crushed by the crusher 30 while the crusher 30 rotates and slides forward along the slide pipe 15, and accordingly, the slider 13 can smoothly perform sliding movement.

(38) While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.