US 12,434,581 B2
Support mechanism for a charging cable
Ari Nurminen, Lahti (FI); Petri Korhonen, Lahti (FI); and Esa Istukaissaari, Lahti (FI)
Assigned to Kempower Oy, Lahti (FI)
Appl. No. 18/572,566
Filed by Kempower Oyj, Lahti (FI)
PCT Filed Apr. 6, 2022, PCT No. PCT/FI2022/050222
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/275428, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 5, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 20215777 (FI), filed on Jul. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0294078 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. B60L 53/18 (2019.01)
CPC B60L 53/18 (2019.02) [B60L 2200/18 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A support mechanism of a charging cable for electric vehicles, the charging cable comprising at its distal end a charging plug connectable to a charging inlet of an electric vehicle, the support mechanism comprising a first shaft or a mounting plate, a second shaft, a first beam, a second beam, at least two joints, and at least one spring element for facilitating movement of the support mechanism at least in a vertical dimension between an idle position and an operating position, wherein, in the idle position, the entire support mechanism and the charging plug are placed above a space reserved for parking the electric vehicle, and wherein, in the operating position, the charging plug is provided within the space reserved for parking the electric vehicle during a charging operation, and wherein the charging plug is approximately at a same horizontal level as the charging inlet of the electric vehicle, wherein a first spring element is configured to control a position of the first beam attached to the first shaft or the mounting plate by a first joint, wherein the first shaft or the mounting plate is arranged in a vertical position, wherein a first end of the first spring element is pivotably attached to the first shaft or the mounting plate at a position that is vertically below the position at which the first beam is pivotably attached to the first shaft or the mounting plate, wherein a second end of the first spring element is pivotably attached to the first beam, and wherein an effective stiffness of the at least one first spring element is adjustable by changing a point of attachment of the second end of the first spring element to the first beam, characterized in that the second shaft is fixed to the first beam in a predefined angle, and in that the support mechanism comprises at least one second spring element configured to control position of the second beam attached to the second shaft by a second joint, wherein a first end of the second spring element is pivotably attached to the second shaft and a second end of the second spring element is pivotably attached to the second beam, and wherein an effective stiffness of the at least one second spring element is adjustable by changing a point of attachment of the second end of the second spring element to the second beam.