Housing of a charging device for a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a housing for an electrical connector, in particular for an electrical connector of a charging device for an electric vehicle, comprising: a first set of orifices and a second set of orifices for receiving the pins of the electrical connector, the orifices being holes passing through the housing from a first interface of the housing towards a second interface of the housing in a connection direction, the first interface of the housing being designed to cooperate with the housing of a mating electrical connector in the connection direction. The housing is characterized in that it comprises a first discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the first set of orifices, and the housing comprises a second discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the second set of orifices, the first discharge means and the second discharge means being isolated from each other to prevent fluid communication between the fluid from the first set of orifices and the fluid from the second set of orifices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing for a charging device for an electric vehicle, a charging device of this type, and a vehicle comprising a charging device of this type using said housing. Background Art

[0002] The propulsion of an electric vehicle is provided entirely or in part by one or more electric motors. It can absorb energy from an energy storage device (such as a rechargeable battery).

[0003] Examples of this type of electric vehicle are shown in Figure 1 in. Figure 1 The vehicle 1 in includes an electrical inlet 3 through which the battery of vehicle 2 (not visible in Figure 1 can be charged via a charging cable 5. The charging cable 5 includes a charging nozzle 9 at one end 7, which is provided with a handle 11 and a portion 13 for connecting to the electrical inlet 3 in the connection direction E. The other end 15 of the charging cable 5 opposite to the end 7 is connected to a charging station 17.

[0004] There are many standards for charging connectors, which depend on the geographical area where the vehicle is sold. For example, it is known to use a combined charging system or a charging connector of the CCS type in order to be able to charge an electric vehicle quickly using direct current (DC). This type of charging connector can include pins for direct current (DC) and pins for single-phase or three-phase alternating current (AC). DC power supply means that the battery can be charged relatively quickly, which is advantageous since its output power is at least 150 kW and the voltage is greater than 400 V.

[0005] In order to adapt to the charging of an electric vehicle in rainy weather, this type of known charging connector is provided with drain ports serving as drain holes at the positions of the cavities that accommodate the pins to drain water from the charging connector. However, it has been proven that in the case of heavy rain, the water discharged via the drain ports forms a conductive path, thus generating leakage current from high-voltage DC or AC terminals. With the currently known design of charging connectors, it has been proven that the shortest moisture path leads the leakage current to the charging nozzle. Therefore, for example, when the user manipulates the handle of the charging nozzle, there is a risk of forming a closed loop. The risk to the user increases with the electric power at the high-voltage DC terminals with a voltage higher than 400 V.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to improve the electrical safety when charging an electric vehicle, especially for a charging connector including high-voltage DC pins, especially in the case of heavy rain. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved by a housing for an electrical connector, in particular for an electrical connector of a charging device for an electric vehicle, the housing comprising a first set of orifices for receiving a first pin of the electrical connector and a second set of orifices for receiving a second pin of the electrical connector, the second pin having a voltage at its terminal which is higher than the voltage at the terminal of the first pin, the orifices being holes passing through the housing from a first interface of the housing towards a second interface of the housing in a connection direction, the first interface of the housing being designed to be coupled to the housing of a mating electrical connector in the connection direction, characterized in that the housing comprises a first discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the first set of orifices, and the housing comprises a second discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the second set of orifices, the first discharge means and the second discharge means being isolated from each other to prevent fluid communication between the fluid from the first set of orifices and the fluid from the second set of orifices.

[0008] Thus, depending on whether the fluid is from the first set of orifices or the second set of orifices, the housing according to the present invention can be used to selectively separate fluids. Since the first set of orifices can receive pins of a connector whose power output is lower than that of the pins of the second set of orifices, the first discharge means and the second discharge means can be used to prevent fluid communication between fluids having different electric potentials. Thus, for example, the housing can advantageously be used to fluidically isolate fluids that may come into contact with the terminals of a high-voltage DC connector.

[0009] The present invention relating to a housing for an electrical connector can be further improved by the following embodiments.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first discharge means and the second discharge means can each comprise a discharge duct, and the discharge duct of the first discharge means can be arranged in a direction opposite to the direction of the discharge duct of the second discharge means.

[0011] Thus, the housing is also designed to allow each fluid to be discharged in a different direction relative to each other, which means that fluid communication between the fluid from the first set of orifices and the fluid from the second set of orifices can be more effectively prevented.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the discharge duct of the first discharge means can be arranged to extend towards the first interface or towards the bottom of the housing in the direction of gravity.

[0013] Thus, the discharge duct of the first discharge means can be used to discharge fluid from the side of the interface that is arranged to receive the mating connector, such as the connector of a charging nozzle for charging an electric vehicle. The discharge duct of the first discharge port can be used to discharge fluid from the vehicle.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the discharge pipe of the second discharge device may extend towards the second interface of the housing, in particular beyond the second interface of the housing. Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the discharge pipe of the second discharge device may extend from the second interface in a direction parallel to the connection direction and opposite to the first interface of the housing.

[0015] Therefore, the discharge pipe of the second discharge device is designed to discharge fluid towards the interior space of the vehicle. For this purpose, the discharge pipe of the second discharge device can be used to prevent fluid from discharging from the side where the user is located when charging the vehicle. By preventing fluid from the second set of orifices (which are used to receive high voltage terminals, in particular above 400 V) from discharging from the vehicle, the risk of forming a closed loop along the flow path of the fluid is minimized when the user charges their vehicle.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the discharge pipe of the first discharge device may be substantially perpendicular to the discharge pipe of the second discharge device.

[0017] Therefore, the discharge pipes are arranged such that fluid from each of the two sets of orifices discharges from the vehicle (towards the ground) along discharge pipes that are not parallel to each other. This type of configuration for the discharge pipes can be easily adapted to known housings of the prior art. Thus, the implementation of such an arrangement is simplified.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the second discharge device may include a discharge chamber that is bounded by a wall extending from the second interface of the housing, and the discharge chamber can be in fluid contact with the second set of orifices.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the discharge chamber can be closed by a sealing plug that has a certain dimension relative to the discharge chamber such that fluid from the second set of orifices can move between the discharge chamber and the sealing plug.

[0020] Therefore, the sealing plug can be used to provide a seal for the discharge chamber along the flow path of the fluid from the second set of orifices.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the discharge pipe of the second discharge device may be arranged to be aligned with an orifice provided in the sealing plug so that fluid from the discharge chamber can discharge towards the discharge pipe of the second discharge device.

[0022] Therefore, the fluid from the second set of orifices and collected in the discharge chamber can be discharged from the discharge chamber via the discharge pipe of the second discharge device.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the discharge chamber may be substantially "Y"-shaped.

[0024] By arranging the orifices of the second set of orifices on each side of the three regions defined by the Y-shaped profile, the Y-shape can be particularly used to enable the orifices of the second set of orifices to be isolated from each other, especially for the orifices for receiving high-voltage supply terminals.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the housing may include two sub-housings that may be interlocked or snap-fitted with each other in the connection direction, the first sub-housing including the first interface of the housing and the second sub-housing including the discharge duct of the second discharge means.

[0026] Thus, the housing can be easily assembled and does not require separate components such as screws or nuts for assembly or installation. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The present invention and its advantages will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, by way of preferred embodiments, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing an electric vehicle;

[0029] Figure 2a Schematic diagram showing the first interface of the housing according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2b Schematic diagram showing the first interface of the housing according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 Exploded view showing the housing according to the present invention, from which the second interface, the seal and the sealing plug of the housing can be observed;

[0032] Figure 4a View showing the second interface and the sealing plug of the housing;

[0033] Figure 4b View showing the second interface and the seal of the housing;

[0034] Figure 5 Cross-sectional view showing the connection between the housing according to the present invention and the charging nozzle. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0035] The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the drawings, by means of advantageous embodiments. The described embodiments are merely possible configurations, and it should be borne in mind that the various features described above may be provided independently of each other or may be completely omitted when implementing the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2a and 2b Showing a housing 10 for an electrical connector, in particular for an electrical connector of a charging device for an electric vehicle. The housing 10 is made of an electrically insulating material. The housing 10 may be manufactured from injection-molded plastic.

[0037] The housing 10 includes a first interface 12, which is designed to be coupled to the housing of a mating electrical connector in the direction indicated by arrow D in Figure 2a . The first interface 12 is specifically adapted to receive a mating electrical connector for a charging nozzle of an electric vehicle, such as Figure 1 shown in

[0038] and indicated by reference numeral 9. Figure 2a and 2b is not visible in Figure 3 but is shown in

[0039] The housing 10 includes a first set E1 of orifices 16, 18, 20 (hereinafter abbreviated as 16 - 20) and a second set E2 of orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 (hereinafter abbreviated as 22 - 32). The orifices 16 - 32 are through - holes that pass through the housing from one side to the other, such that they are open on the one hand at the location of the first interface 12 and on the other hand at the location of the second interface 14.

[0040] The orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 and the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 of the second set E2 are provided with drain openings 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a for draining water. The drain openings are a set of holes, cavities or tubes that can be used to collect fluid that may accumulate in a cavity oriented towards the top of the housing 10 in the direction of gravity.

[0041] The orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 are arranged to receive low - voltage pins (i.e., electrical contacts), such as 12 V; while the orifices 22 - 32 of the second set of orifices E2 are arranged to receive pins with a voltage higher than that of the first set E1. The orifices 30, 32 of the second set of orifices E2 are specifically arranged to receive high - voltage DC power supply, especially with a voltage greater than 400 V. The housing 10 is adapted, for example, to a Combo - type connector.

[0042] The first interface 12 of the housing 10 includes a wall 34 that extends perpendicular to the interface 12 to form a drain chamber 36 between the wall 34 and the sets of orifices E1, E2.

[0043] Only the drain openings of the orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 are adapted to drain fluid from said orifices towards the drain chamber 36. Then, the fluid can be discharged via a drain pipe 38 located at the lowest point of the housing 10 in the direction of gravity G. The drain chamber 36 corresponds to the mating part of the charging nozzle.

[0044] The housing 10 includes a first discharge device that is adapted to discharge fluid, such as water from the first set of orifices E1, towards a discharge chamber 36 of a first interface 12 of the housing 10. The flow path of the fluid from the first set of orifices E1 is represented by the contour line T1 in Figure 2b . The discharge chamber 36 is formed by a seal provided on a second interface 14 of the housing 10 that is opposite and parallel to the first interface 12, and is not visible in Figure 2a and 2b , but is represented and described below in Figure 3 . Thus, the first discharge device according to the present invention includes a discharge chamber formed by a seal, in particular a seal made of rubber.

[0045] According to the present invention, the housing 10 includes a second discharge device that is adapted to discharge fluid from a second set of orifices E2 in a manner separated from the first set of orifices E1.

[0046] The second discharge device will be described in particular below with reference to Figure 3 , 4a and 5.

[0047] Figure 3 shows a second interface 14 of the housing 10 provided with the first set of orifices E1 and the second set of orifices E2 described above with reference to Figure 2a and 2b . Reference elements with the same reference numerals will not be described again, but reference should be made to Figure 2a and 2b .

[0048] The second interface 14 of the housing 10 includes a wall 40 that extends perpendicular to the interface and defines a discharge cavity 42. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 , the discharge cavity 42 is substantially Y-shaped. In a variant of the invention, the discharge cavity may have a different geometry.

[0049] Orifices 30 and 32 are for receiving high voltage DC terminals provided on either side of the discharge cavity 42.

[0050] The discharge cavity 42 is in fluid communication with the orifices 22 - 32 of the second set of orifices E2. Thus, the fluid from the orifices 22 - 32, in particular the discharge ports from the orifices 22 - 32, can be collected in the discharge cavity 42. The flow path of the fluid from the second set of orifices E2 is shown by the contour line T2 in Figure 3 .

[0051] In a variant, the discharge chamber 42 includes at least two chambers that are independent of each other and are arranged such that the high-voltage DC pins in the orifices 30, 32 are fluidically isolated from the high-voltage AC pins in the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28. Thus, this type of discharge chamber can include a first chamber for recovering fluid from the orifices 30, 32 and a second chamber that is isolated from the first chamber and is for recovering fluid from the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28.

[0052] In another variant, the first chamber can be used to discharge the fluid in contact with the high-voltage DC pin in the orifice 30; the second chamber can be used to discharge the fluid in contact with the high-voltage DC pin in the orifice 32, and the third chamber can be used to discharge the fluid in contact with the high-voltage AC pins in the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28; the first chamber, the second chamber, and the third chamber are configured to be fluidically isolated from each other.

[0053] The discharge chamber 42 is closed, for example, by a sealing plug 100 made of an elastomer. Figure 4a A diagram showing the sealing plug 100 disposed in the discharge chamber 42 is shown. The size of the sealing plug 100 is set such that the fluid from the discharge ports of the orifices 22 - 32 of the second set of orifices E2 can flow in the discharge chamber 42 along the second interface 14 in the direction of gravity G. To enable the fluid to be discharged from the discharge chamber 42, the sealing plug 100 is provided with a discharge hole 102 at the lowest point of the sealing plug 100 in the direction of gravity G.

[0054] Figure 3 Also shown is a seal 50 that can be used to form the discharge chamber 36 (visible at the position of the interface 12, in Figure 2b ). On one of its interfaces, the seal 50 includes a protrusion 52 that is substantially rectangular in the illustrated example and has a shape complementary to the cavity 44 at the position of the interface 14 of the housing 10. The seal 50 also includes a plurality of holes 54a - g, the size and arrangement of which are set according to the orifices 16, 28, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 of the housing 10. Each of the holes 54a - g includes walls 56a - g that extend perpendicular to the seal 50 in the same direction as the protrusion 52.

[0055] Figure 4b A diagram showing the seal 50 disposed at the position of the interface 14 of the housing 10 is shown, i.e., in this case, the seal 50 is assembled with the housing 10. In Figure 4b the illustrated assembled case, the protrusion 52 of the seal 50 has been inserted into the corresponding cavity 44 of the interface 14 of the housing 10. Thus, the seal 50 can be used to connect the discharge ports of the orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 (see Figure 2b the markings 16a, 18a, 20a therein) to the discharge chamber 36 located at the position of the interface 12 of the housing 10 in a sealed manner.

[0056] According to the present invention, and as Figure 3 shown, the housing 10 includes two sub-housings 10a, 10b. The first sub-housing 10a corresponds to the Figure 2a and Figure 2b shown housing, and includes orifice sets E1 and E2 and a discharge duct 38. The second sub-housing 10b is designed to be mounted on the second interface 14 of the first sub-housing 10a. The sub-housings 10a, 10b can be assembled by interlocking or by snap-fit.

[0057] The second sub-housing 10b includes a discharge duct 202. Figure 3 The discharge duct 202 shown is tubular. In a variant, the discharge duct can have a different geometry.

[0058] The discharge duct 202 is arranged such that, when the housing 10 is in the assembled state, the hollow portion 204 of the discharge duct 202 communicates with the discharge orifice 102 of the sealing plug 100. Fluid can be discharged from the discharge chamber 42 via the hollow portion 204.

[0059] According to the present invention, a first discharge duct 38 is provided to discharge fluid from the first set of orifices E1, and a second discharge duct 202 is provided to discharge fluid from the second set of orifices E2. The second discharge duct 202 of the second part of the housing 200 is arranged such that it is substantially perpendicular to the discharge duct 38. In addition, the second discharge duct 202 is arranged such that fluid is discharged from the second interface 14 in a direction D1 away from the first interface 12. Thus, fluid communication between the fluid from the second set of orifices E2 (which may come into contact with the high-voltage DC terminal) and the fluid from the first set of orifices E1 is prevented.

[0060] In addition, as Figure 5 shown, the second discharge duct 202 can be provided with an extension 206 to further increase the length L1 of the second discharge duct 202.

[0061] Thus, the length L1 of the second discharge duct 202 (optionally increased by the length of the tube 206) is longer than the length of the moisture path, which can be formed on the side of the interface 12 between the orifices 22 - 32 of the second set E2 and the charging nozzle 300.

[0062] This arrangement can be used to make the path traveled by the fluid from the second set of orifices E2 longer than the path traveled by the fluid from the first set of orifices E1. Thus, this arrangement can reduce the risk of leakage current generated by the fluid from the high-voltage DC orifices E1, which preferentially occurs on the shortest moisture path, which will be on the interface 12.

[0063] Thus, the present invention can be used to separate the fluid from the high voltage DC and AC orifices E2 from the fluid from the terminal with a lower voltage and from the housing 10 (to which the user can connect the charging nozzle 300, see Figure 5 ). As Figure 5 shown, the housing 10 is provided relative to the vehicle 400, which is provided with a body 402, a part of which is shown in Figure 5 . The body 402 defines an internal space 404 relative to the external space of the vehicle 400.

[0064] Advantageously, the second discharge pipes 202, 206 are provided in the internal space 404 of the vehicle 400, allowing the fluid to be discharged into the interior area of the vehicle in the direction D1, at a distance from the interface 12 and the charging nozzle 300 (not visible in Figure 5 ). The fluid is then discharged from the vehicle towards the ground. Thus, the fluid with a higher voltage is taken out and discharged along a path that corresponds to the longest path in the path through which the leakage current could pass to reach the handle that can be grasped by the user of the charging nozzle 300.

[0065] Therefore, depending on whether the fluid is from the first group of orifices E1 or the second group of orifices E2, the fluid from the orifices 16 - 18 - 20 - 22 - 24 - 26 - 28 - 30 - 32 of the housing 10 can be selectively discharged to different sides of the body 402 of the vehicle 400.

[0066] The present invention can be adapted to any standard adopted by the charging socket, which is specific to the region where the vehicle is sold.

[0067] The described embodiments are merely possible configurations, and it should be borne in mind that the various features of the various embodiments can be combined together or provided independently of each other.

[0068] List of reference numerals

[0069] 1: Vehicle

[0070] 3: Electrical inlet

[0071] 5: Charging cable

[0072] 7: End

[0073] 9: Charging nozzle

[0074] 11: Handle

[0075] 13: Connection part

[0076] 15: End

[0077] 17: Charging terminal

[0078] 10: Housing

[0079] 10a, 10b: Sub - housing

[0080] 12; First interface

[0081] 14: Second interface

[0082] 16, 18, 20, E1: First group of orifices

[0083] 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, E2: Second group of orifices

[0084] 34: Wall

[0085] 36: Discharge chamber

[0086] 38: Discharge pipe

[0087] 40: Wall

[0088] 42: Discharge cavity

[0089] 44: Cavity

[0090] 50: Seal

[0091] 52: Protrusion

[0092] 54a - g: Holes

[0093] 56A - g: Walls

[0094] 100: Sealing plug

[0095] 102: Hole

[0096] 202: Discharge pipe

[0097] 204: Hollow part

[0098] 206: Extension of the discharge pipe

[0099] 300: Charging nozzle

[0100] 400: Vehicle

[0101] 402: Body

[0102] 404: Interior space of the vehicle

[0103] 406: Exterior space of the vehicle

[0104] D: Connection direction

[0105] D1: Discharge direction

[0106] G: Direction of gravity

[0107] L1: Length of the discharge pipe

[0108] T1; T2: Flow paths

Claims

1. A housing for an electrical connector, in particular for an electrical connector of a charging device for an electric vehicle, comprising: a first set of apertures (16, 18, 20) for receiving first pins of the electrical connector, and a second set of apertures (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) for receiving second pins of the electrical connector, wherein the voltage at the terminals of the second pins is higher than the voltage at the terminals of the first pins, the apertures (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) being holes passing through the housing from a first interface (12) of the housing towards a second interface (14) of the housing in a connection direction, the first interface (12) of the housing being designed to be coupled to the housing of a mating electrical connector in the connection direction, characterized in that the housing includes a first discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the first set of apertures (16, 18, 20), and the housing includes a second discharge means adapted to discharge fluid from the second set of apertures (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32), the first discharge means and the second discharge means being isolated from each other to prevent fluid communication between the fluid from the first set of apertures (16, 18, 20) and the fluid from the second set of apertures (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32).

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein, The first discharge means and the second discharge means each include a discharge pipe (38, 202), and the discharge pipe (38) of the first discharge means is arranged in a direction opposite to the direction of the discharge pipe (202) of the second discharge means.

3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein, The discharge pipe (38) of the first discharge means is arranged to extend towards the first interface (12) or towards the bottom of the housing in the direction of gravity.

4. The housing according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The discharge pipe (202) of the second discharge means extends towards the second interface (14) of the housing, in particular extending beyond the second interface (14) of the housing.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein, The discharge pipe (202) of the second discharge means extends from the second interface (14) in a direction parallel to the connection direction and opposite to the first interface (12) of the housing.

6. The housing according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The discharge pipe (38) of the first discharge means is substantially perpendicular to the discharge pipe (202) of the second discharge means.

7. The housing according to claim 1, wherein, The second discharge means includes a discharge chamber (42) defined by a wall (40) extending from the second interface (14) of the housing, and the discharge chamber (42) is in fluid contact with the second set of apertures.

8. The housing according to claim 7, wherein, The discharge chamber (42) is closed by a sealing plug (100), and the sealing plug has a dimension relative to the discharge chamber (42) such that fluid from the second set of apertures can move between the discharge chamber (42) and the sealing plug (100).

9. The housing according to claim 8, wherein, The discharge pipe of the second discharge means is arranged to be aligned with a hole (102) provided in the sealing plug (100) so that fluid from the discharge chamber (42) can be discharged towards the discharge pipe (202, 204) of the second discharge means.

10. The housing according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the discharge chamber (42) is substantially "Y"-shaped.

11. The housing according to claim 3, comprising two sub-housings (10a, 10b) that can be interlocked or snap-fitted with each other in the connection direction, the first sub-housing (10a) including the first interface (12) of the housing, and the second sub-housing (10b) including the discharge pipes (202, 204) of the second discharge means.

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