Patent ID: 7990105
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A power supply device for a vehicle, the power supply device comprising: a plurality of batteries; a battery container arranged to house the plurality of batteries; a safety plug unit connecting base including a plurality of plus electrodes and a plurality of minus electrodes, each plus electrode electrically connected to a plus terminal of a respective battery through wiring and each minus electrode electrically connected to a minus terminal of a respective battery through wiring, the plus electrodes and the minus electrodes being disposed outside of the battery container; a safety plug unit arranged to be coupled to the safety plug unit connecting base, the safety plug unit including coupling electrodes arranged to electrically connect the plus electrodes and the minus electrodes and thereby connect the plurality of batteries in series to define a power supply circuit when the safety plug unit is coupled to the safety plug unit connecting base; a removal preventing mechanism arranged to be selectively and mechanically moved to a closed position to prevent decoupling of the safety plug unit from the safety plug unit connecting base and moved to a completely open position, while the safety plug unit is coupled to the safety plug unit connecting base, to thereafter allow the decoupling of the safety plug unit from the safety plug unit connecting base; a switch arranged to selectively open and close the power supply circuit while the safety plug unit is still coupled to the safety plug unit connecting base; and a switch operating mechanism arranged to maintain the switch in an open condition when the removal preventing mechanism is moved to the open position, while the safety plug unit is coupled to the safety plug unit connecting base, to thereafter allow the decoupling of the safety plug unit from the safety plug unit connecting base.