Hinged flap cover with angled seal for electric vehicle charging inlet
AssigneeTE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
InventorsMatthew Bryan Hitchcock, Aaron James de Chazal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charging inlet for an electric vehicle (EV) includes a body defining an opening having a conductive terminal arranged therein. A sealing cover is pivotally attached to the body and is moveable between an open position exposing the opening and conductive terminal, and a closed position sealing the opening and the conductive terminal with respect to an external environment. A sealing element of the cover defines a sealing plug including an angled sealing rib defined about an outer periphery thereof. The sealing plug and sealing rib are configured to engage with the opening of inlet body for sealing the opening with the cover in the closed position.
Claims23
A charging inlet, comprising:
- a body defining an opening having a conductive terminal arranged therein;
- a sealing cover attached to the body and moveable between an open position, wherein the conductive terminal is exposed, and a closed position, wherein the opening and the conductive terminal are sealed with respect to the external environment, the sealing cover including a sealing element extending from the sealing cover and having a sealing rib formed about an outer periphery thereof for engaging with an interior sidewall of the opening, the sealing cover is moved between the open position and the closed position along an arcuate path, the sealing rib is oriented at an angle with respect to an exterior surface of the sealing element.
A sealing cover for a charging inlet of an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
- a body having a mounting end configured to pivotally attach to the charging inlet and defining a seal-receiving space;
- and
- a sealing element received within the seal-receiving space of the body and comprising:
- a base;
- a sealing plug extending from the base;
- and
- an angled sealing rib formed about an outer periphery of the sealing plug, the sealing plug and sealing rib configured to form a seal with a terminal opening of the charging inlet in a closed position of the sealing cover, the sealing rib comprises an annular rib defined about a central axis that is not parallel with a central axis of the sealing plug.
A charging inlet, comprising:
- a body defining an opening having a conductive terminal arranged therein;
- a sealing cover attached to the body and moveable between an open position, wherein the conductive terminal is exposed, and a closed position, wherein the opening and the conductive terminal are sealed with respect to the external environment, the sealing cover including a sealing element extending from the sealing cover and having a sealing rib formed about an outer periphery thereof for engaging with an interior sidewall of the opening, the sealing cover is moved between the open position and the closed position along an arcuate path, the sealing rib is angled with respect to the sealing element such that the sealing rib simultaneously engages about its entire circumference with a circumferential wall defining the opening as the sealing cover is moved from the open position into the closed position.
A sealing cover for a charging inlet of an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
- a body having a mounting end configured to pivotally attach to the charging inlet and defining a seal-receiving space;
- and
- a sealing element received within the seal-receiving space of the body and comprising:
- a base;
- a sealing plug extending from the base;
- and
- an angled sealing rib formed about an outer periphery of the sealing plug, the sealing plug and sealing rib configured to form a seal with a terminal opening of the charging inlet in a closed position of the sealing cover, the sealing rib extends radially from the sealing plug to a first height on a first side of sealing plug and extends radially from the sealing plug to a second height, greater than the first height, on a second side of the sealing plug opposite the first side.
A sealing cover for a charging inlet of an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
- a body having a mounting end configured to pivotally attach to the charging inlet and defining a seal-receiving space;
- and
- a sealing element received within the seal-receiving space of the body and comprising:
- a base;
- a sealing plug extending from the base, the sealing plug comprises a hollow interior space open on a first end thereof, the sealing plug comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs within the hollow interior space and extending in an axial direction of the plug;
- and
- an angled sealing rib formed about an outer periphery of the sealing plug, the sealing plug and sealing rib configured to form a seal with a terminal opening of the charging inlet in a closed position of the sealing cover.
A sealing cover for a charging inlet of an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
- a body having a mounting end configured to pivotally attach to the charging inlet and defining a seal-receiving space;
- and
- a sealing element received within the seal-receiving space of the body and comprising:
- a base;
- a sealing plug extending from the base;
- and
- an angled sealing rib formed about an outer periphery of the sealing plug, the sealing plug and sealing rib configured to form a seal with a terminal opening of the charging inlet in a closed position of the sealing cover, the sealing rib is angled such that it is oriented closer to the sealing cover on a side proximate the mounting end than on a side of the sealing cover opposite the mounting end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.