Charging socket provided with a double-function feature piece having a draining and fixing function

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a charging receptacle, for example for a hybrid or electric vehicle, comprising an electrically insulating housing, one or more cavities within the housing for insertion of one or more electrical contacts, and a dual function feature partially protruding from an outer surface of the housing and comprising a securing part and a drainage part. The securing part protrudes from the electrically insulating housing and is configured for securing the electrically insulating housing to a protective mounting bracket, the drainage part comprising at least one drainage channel formed within the housing for draining fluid from the charging receptacle. Thus, the dual function feature performs both a drainage and a securing function and is easy to mold and saves production time and costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a charging socket for electric or hybrid vehicles. More specifically, this invention relates to a charging socket for electric or hybrid vehicles that further includes a drainage device for draining water that has entered the charging socket and a fixing device for securing the charging socket to a mounting bracket. More specifically, this invention relates to a charging socket for electric or hybrid vehicles in which the drainage device and the fixing device are implemented as a single, dual-function feature. Background Technology

[0002] It is known in the art that charging sockets for hybrid or electric vehicles are provided with drainage elements for draining fluid from the contact chamber and fixing elements for securing them to mating components (such as mating brackets). In practice, charging sockets for hybrid or electric vehicles typically operate at high voltages, and since contact with water spray and moisture is practically unavoidable, it is necessary to provide drainage elements to drain water that has entered the charging socket. Furthermore, it may be necessary to assemble the charging socket with a mating bracket to protect the charging socket from external environmental influences.

[0003] As described in patent application WO 2015 / 004053 A1 from the same applicant, a charging socket includes, for example, contact chambers, each having a drain opening through which fluid (gas or liquid) that has entered the contact chamber can be discharged. Each drain opening leads to a corresponding drain element, which directs the fluid to a drain connector, such as a hose. The drain elements typically require protective caps to prevent foreign objects from entering them. Furthermore, the charging socket may have mating covers to protect the electrical contact elements.

[0004] Examples of additional charging sockets with fixed parts forming different components and drain pipes are disclosed in documents JP 2019 160809A, WO 2018091422 A1 and WO 2018 / 092646 A1.

[0005] In existing charging sockets, the fixing and draining components are made into separate parts, and they are large in size, requiring a large amount of plastic to produce, thus having a significant environmental impact. Furthermore, they are difficult to mold and require complex tools for production.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a charging socket in which the fixing element and the draining element are molded into a single component that can perform both functions. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a charging socket having a drainage element and a fixing element for securing it to a mating part, wherein the drainage element and the fixing element are molded as a single component.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, for example for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, the charging socket comprising:

[0009] Electrically insulating housing;

[0010] One or more cavities for inserting one or more electrical contacts, the one or more cavities being housed within a housing;

[0011] A dual-function element that protrudes partially from the outer surface of the electrically insulating housing.

[0012] The dual-function element includes a fixing component and a drainage component, wherein the fixing component protrudes from the electrical insulating housing and is configured to secure the electrical insulating housing to a mounting bracket, and the drainage component includes at least one drainage channel formed within the housing for discharging fluid from the charging socket.

[0013] The advantage of this configuration is that the dual-function component is a single molded piece performing both functions (i.e., drainage and mounting to the bracket). This reduces the overall size of the charging socket, simplifies and speeds up the molding process for producing the charging socket, and reduces the amount of plastic required for production. Therefore, it reduces both time and production costs.

[0014] The housing of the charging socket according to the invention is made of a suitable electrically insulating, mechanically stable and anti-aging plastic material, for example by using injection molding technology.

[0015] Preferably, the dual-function element is formed on the lower surface of the electrically insulating housing. In fact, the dual-function element includes at least one drainage channel for draining fluid from the charging socket, and the fluid flows within the drainage channel due to gravity. Therefore, it is preferable to place the dual-function element on the lower surface of the charging socket, where the fluid tends to flow due to gravity.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein the fixing member includes a protruding surface configured to be fitted onto a mating assembly portion of a mounting bracket.

[0017] This construction is advantageous because the fixing components, including the protruding surface, can be easily molded and can be efficiently assembled onto the mating assembly portion of the mounting bracket, thereby maintaining the charging socket housing and mounting bracket in an assembled configuration.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein the fixing member includes a protruding surface configured to be inserted into a corresponding fixing opening of a mounting bracket.

[0019] This configuration is advantageous because the retaining components, including the protruding surface, can be easily molded and can be efficiently inserted into the corresponding retaining opening of the mounting bracket to keep the charging socket housing and mounting bracket in an assembled configuration.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein at least two drainage channels are formed, the drainage channels are adjacent to each other and form a drainage member having a rectangular cross-section having two long sides and two short sides, and the protruding surface of the fixing member protrudes outward beyond one of the two long sides of the drainage member.

[0021] The advantage of this configuration is that the drainage and fixing components share a single interface, eliminating the need to separate them along the outer surface of the charging socket and allowing for a reduction in the overall size of the charging socket. This reduces production time and costs and simplifies the molding process. Because the dual-function components include a drainage component and a fixing component sharing a protruding surface, the distance between the side of the charging socket facing the vehicle and the side facing the charging plug can be reduced.

[0022] The drainage channels can preferably have an orthogonal geometry, such that when a series of adjacent drainage channels are formed, the resulting drainage component can have a substantially rectangular cross-section. The drainage component thus has a rectangular cross-section having two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides. A protruding surface can be formed corresponding to one of the two long sides. The protruding surface can project outwards beyond the charging socket housing and can extend along the entire length of one of the two long sides. According to this preferred embodiment, the protruding surface can form the limiting interface of the drainage component and can also form a fixing portion for securing to the mating assembly portion of the mounting bracket.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein a protruding surface extends outward beyond the longer side of a drainage member closer to one or more cavities.

[0024] The advantage of this configuration is that the assembly process of the mounting bracket on the charging socket housing is both simplified and faster. In fact, the protruding surface is easy for the user to handle because it is separate from the vehicle chassis where the charging socket is installed.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, the charging socket further comprising a bracket mounted on an electrically insulating housing, wherein the bracket includes an assembly portion fitted with a fixing component for securing the bracket to the electrically insulating housing.

[0026] The advantage of this design is that the charging socket is protected from external environmental influences by a bracket mounted on an electrically insulating housing. Furthermore, the housing can be secured to the vehicle chassis via the bracket, which further holds the courtesy lights, whose LEDs are positioned within the housing.

[0027] The bracket is configured to enclose the charging socket and is secured thereto by an assembly portion on which the charging socket's fixing components are mounted. In this way, the relative position between the charging socket housing and the bracket is fixed and maintained during operation. In practice, the charging socket is subjected to mechanical vibration during use, therefore it is necessary to reliably secure and mount the bracket to the electrically insulating housing of the charging socket.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing member includes a protruding surface, and the bracket is assembled to the charging socket housing by pivotally mounting it about the protruding surface. Preferably, when assembling the bracket and housing, the protruding surface of the fixing member may abut against a mating portion of the bracket, and in this way, the bracket can be securely fastened to the charging socket housing.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein the bracket further includes a fixing opening into which a fixing member is inserted so as to secure the bracket to an electrically insulating housing.

[0030] The advantage of this design is that the charging socket is protected from external environmental influences by a bracket mounted on an electrically insulating housing. Furthermore, the housing can be secured to the vehicle chassis via the bracket, which further holds the courtesy lights, whose LEDs are positioned within the housing.

[0031] The bracket is preferably mounted on the charging socket such that the fixing parts of the housing are inserted into the fixing opening of the bracket, thereby securing the bracket to the electrically insulating housing and maintaining it in the correct position during operation of the charging socket. In practice, because the charging socket is subjected to mechanical vibration during use, it is necessary to reliably fix and mount the bracket to the electrically insulating housing of the charging socket.

[0032] In one exemplary configuration, the fixing opening may be larger than the fixing member, allowing the fixing member to be inserted therein and subsequently held in place by a support portion of the fixing opening. In another exemplary configuration, the fixing opening may be sized to allow for precise assembly of the fixing member, ensuring the bracket is better secured to the charging socket housing.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the invention, a charging socket is provided, wherein the bracket further includes a flat protective portion and is configured such that when the bracket is mounted on an electrically insulating housing, the flat protective portion covers a drainage component to prevent external elements from entering the housing.

[0034] This configuration is advantageous because it provides specific and complete protection for the drainage components and prevents external elements from entering and damaging the housing, while still allowing water to flow out of the charging socket through the drainage components. Furthermore, this configuration eliminates the need for a protective cap to cover the drainage channel as in the prior art, since the drainage components are directly covered by the mounting bracket. According to another embodiment of the invention, a charging socket is provided in which the bracket further includes an inlet opening positioned corresponding to one or more cavities of the electrically insulating housing, such that one or more electrical contacts can be inserted into one or more cavities.

[0035] The advantage of this configuration is that the charging socket can still perform its functions of accommodating electrical contacts and providing electrical connection, while being assembled with the mounting bracket and protected from external environmental influences. In fact, the cavity of the electrical contacts is not covered by the bracket, and the electrical contacts can be easily inserted into it.

[0036] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid or electric vehicle is provided having a charging socket as described above, wherein the charging socket is mounted on the vehicle chassis.

[0037] The advantage of this configuration is that the charging sockets for installation in hybrid or electric vehicles are more compact and easier to operate. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals and / or symbols denote the same and / or similar and / or corresponding parts of the machine. In the drawings:

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic three-dimensional view of a charging socket according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the fixing element and the drainage element are molded into a single part.

[0040] Figure 2 A schematic three-dimensional view of a bracket for a charging socket according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0041] Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional view of a charging socket further provided with a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a charging socket further provided with a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0043] Figure 5 A schematic three-dimensional view of a charging socket according to the prior art is shown, in which the fixing element and the drainage element are molded into a single part. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The invention is described below with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings, but rather the described embodiments simply illustrate several aspects of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

[0045] Further modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this specification must be considered to include all modifications and / or variations of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

[0046] For simplicity, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 A perspective view of a charging socket 1000 (e.g., for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0048] The structure of the charging socket according to an embodiment of the present invention is briefly summarized in the following paragraphs and described in more detail in, for example, document WO 2015 / 004053 A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In particular, the present invention may also employ the internal structure of the housing 102, the contact chamber 108 provided with the contact element 112, and the drainage channels 132a-e of the charging socket 100 described in WO 2015 / 00453A1. For example, the structure of the contact chamber 108 described in WO 2015 / 00453A1 can also be used in the cavities 300, 300' of the present invention, and the structure of the drainage channels 132a-e described in WO 2015 / 00453A1 can also be used in the drainage channel 121 of the present invention.

[0049] A charging socket 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 1001, which is manufactured from an electrically insulating plastic material using injection molding technology. The housing 1001 has an assembly plate 1002, from which the actual insertion socket protrudes. The charging socket 1000 includes a plurality of cavities 300, 300' for receiving electrical contacts: specifically, in Figure 1 The diagram shows five cavities 300 for receiving AC contacts and two cavities 300' for receiving DC contacts. However, it must be understood that any number of AC and / or DC contacts can be formed in the charging inlet 1000.

[0050] Each of the cavities 300 and 300' of the charging socket 1000 has a drain opening 122 (in Figure 4 As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of the charging socket 1000, fluids (such as gas or liquid) that have entered the contact chamber can be discharged through the drain opening 122.

[0051] In the charging socket 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, each drain opening 122 leads to a corresponding drain channel 121, which is made of housing material. Each drain channel 121 is closed along all sides and is individually constructed for each cavity 300, 300'.

[0052] For illustrative and non-restrictive purposes, Figure 1 Four drainage channels 121 are shown. However, it is obvious that any number of drainage channels 121 can be formed, such as one, two, three, five or more.

[0053] Each drainage channel 121 has a substantially orthogonal cross-section and shares at least one side with adjacent drainage channels 121. In this way, in Figure 1 In one embodiment, the drainage component 120, including four drainage channels 121, has a substantially rectangular cross-section with two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides. Corresponding to one long side of the drainage component 120 (in... Figure 1 In the construction of the housing 1001, a protruding surface 111 is formed closer to the long side of the cavity 300, 300'. The protruding surface 111 protrudes outward from the housing 1001 and forms a fixing member 110 for fastening the mounting bracket 200 to the housing 1001 of the charging socket 1000. Figure 1 The protruding surface 111 shown is further supported by a support rib 112, which provides increased robustness and mechanical stability to the fixed component 110.

[0054] Therefore, the charging socket 1000 includes a dual-function element 100 formed on its lower surface and including a retaining member 110 and a draining member 120 sharing a common protruding surface 111 that protrudes downwards from the charging socket 1000. Thus, the dual-function element 100 is partially formed within the housing 1001 of the charging socket 1000 (because the drain channel 121 connects to the contact chamber within the housing 1001) and partially protrudes from the housing 1001 (because the protruding surface 111 protrudes downwards from the charging socket 1000).

[0055] In this disclosure, it must be understood that the preferred orientation is defined by gravity, and the terms "upper," "lower," "upward," "downward," etc., are defined accordingly. Indeed, fluid flows within the drainage channel 121 and is discharged from the drainage component 120 due to gravity. The charging socket 1000 is preferably arranged in a hybrid or electric vehicle such that it is oriented at an angle toward the rear; therefore, fluid flows within the drainage channel 121, which is preferably angled toward the rear of the vehicle. Consequently, the drainage component 120 is preferably located on the lower surface of the charging socket 1000 to allow fluid to drain from the charging socket 1000.

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, a fastening opening 1003 is further provided in the assembly plate 1002, through which the charging socket 1000 can be connected to the vehicle chassis by rivets or screws.

[0057] Figure 2 A perspective view of a bracket 200 to be mounted on a charging socket 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. The mounting bracket 200 includes a receiving portion 240 that conforms to the shape of a housing 1001 of the charging socket 1000. The receiving portion 240 is configured to receive the electrically insulating housing 1001 and to protect the housing from direct exposure to external elements such as moisture, water, or dust. The mounting bracket 200 also includes a main inlet opening 230 for receiving electrical contacts to be inserted into cavities 300, 300' of the electrically insulating housing 1001.

[0058] One of the outer surfaces of the bracket 200 includes a fixing opening 220 having a mating portion 221 to engage with a fixing member 110 of the charging bracket 1000 in order to hold the bracket 200 and the housing 1001 in the correct relative position.

[0059] The outer surface of the bracket 200, including the fixing opening 220, also includes a protective portion 210 corresponding to the drainage component 120 to prevent external objects (such as dust or water) from entering the drainage channel 121.

[0060] The bracket 200 may also include a fastening portion 250 for receiving rivets or screws to attach the bracket 200 to the vehicle chassis.

[0061] The electrical insulating housing 1001 is inserted into the receiving portion 240 of the mounting bracket 200, such that the inlet opening 230 is aligned with the cavities 300, 300', and the fixing opening 220 is placed correspondingly with the fixing part 110 of the charging socket 1000. Figure 3 A perspective view schematically illustrating a charging socket 1000 further comprising a mounting bracket 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0062] The bracket 200 can be assembled to the housing 1001 for various purposes; for example, the housing 1001 can be secured to a vehicle chassis via the bracket 200, and the bracket 200 can hold its LEDs positioned within the housing 1001 as etiquette lights. Furthermore, the bracket 200 can be used to protect the housing 1001 from external elements, as such... Figure 3As can be seen, when the bracket 200 is mounted to the charging socket 1000, the protective portion 210 covers the drain component 120 of the charging socket 1000. The bracket advantageously protects the housing 1001 from external elements while still allowing water flow through the drain channel 121, because the drain channel 121 is not blocked by the bracket 200 mounted on the housing 1001 (see [link]). Figure 3 and Figure 4 ).

[0063] Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of the charging socket 1000 according to the present invention schematically shows the mechanical assembly of the bracket 200 and the electrically insulating housing 1001.

[0064] After the electrically insulating housing 1001 is inserted into the receiving portion 240 of the mounting bracket 200, the protruding surface 111 of the fixing member 110 is inserted into the fixing opening 220 and fitted onto the fixing portion 221 of the bracket 200. The fixing portion 221 supports and holds the protruding surface 111 so as to keep the housing 1001 and the bracket 200 in the correct relative position.

[0065] exist Figure 5 The diagram schematically shows a perspective view of a charging socket 2000 according to the prior art for comparison. The charging socket 2000 according to the prior art includes a fixing element 2100 for securing it to a mounting bracket 200 and a drainage element 2200, which are molded into two distinct parts. Therefore, the molding process is more difficult and requires a larger amount of plastic, thus increasing production time and cost. Furthermore, a protective cap 2210 is necessary to cover the drainage element 2200 and prevent external elements from entering the drainage channel.

[0066] While the invention has been described with respect to preferred physical embodiments constructed according to the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations and improvements may be made to the invention in accordance with the foregoing teachings and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

[0067] For example, even though a charging socket for electric or hybrid vehicles has been described, the solution according to the invention can obviously also be used for connectors of other plug types, where sufficient air and creepage current resistance and water removal must be ensured even in humid or salty environments.

[0068] Furthermore, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described invention, areas considered familiar to those skilled in the art have not been described herein. Therefore, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific illustrative embodiments, but only to the scope of the appended claims.

[0069] List of reference numerals

[0070] 100: Dual-function element

[0071] 110: Fixed components

[0072] 111: Protruding Surface

[0073] 112: Supporting rib

[0074] 120: Drainage components

[0075] 121: Drainage channel

[0076] 122: Drainage opening

[0077] 200: Bracket

[0078] 210: Protected section

[0079] 220: Fixed opening

[0080] 221: Assembly Section

[0081] 230: Entrance opening

[0082] 240: Receiver section

[0083] 250: Fastening part

[0084] 300, 300': Cavity

[0085] 1000: Charging socket

[0086] 1001: Casing

[0087] 1002: Assembly board

[0088] 1003: Fastening the opening

[0089] 1110: Opening

[0090] 2000: Charging socket according to the prior art

[0091] 2100: Fixing element according to the prior art

[0092] 2200: Drainage element according to the prior art

[0093] 2210: Protective cap according to existing technology.

Claims

1. A charging socket (1000), comprising: Electrically insulating housing (1001); One or more cavities (300, 300') for inserting one or more electrical contacts, said one or more cavities (300, 300') being housed in the housing (1001); Its features are: The charging socket (1000) also includes a dual-function element (100) that partially protrudes from the outer surface of the electrical insulating housing (1001). The dual-function element (100) includes a fixing component (110) and a drainage component (120). The fixing component (110) protrudes from the electrical insulating housing (1001) and is configured to fix the electrical insulating housing (1001) to the mounting bracket (200). The drainage component (120) includes at least one drainage channel (121) formed within the housing (1001) for draining fluid from the charging socket (1000). The charging socket (1000) also includes a bracket (200) mounted on the electrical insulating housing (1001). The bracket (200) further includes a fixing opening (220), into which the fixing component (110) is inserted to secure the bracket (200) to the electrical insulating housing (1001). The bracket (200) further includes a flat protective portion (210) and is configured such that when the bracket (200) is mounted on the electrically insulating housing (1001), the flat protective portion (210) covers the drainage component (120) to prevent external objects from entering the housing (1001).

2. The charging socket (1000) according to claim 1, wherein, The charging socket (1000) is for hybrid or electric vehicles.

3. The charging socket (1000) according to claim 1, wherein, The fixing component (110) includes a protruding surface (111) configured to be mounted on a mating assembly portion (221) of the mounting bracket (200).

4. The charging socket (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The fixing component (110) includes a protruding surface (111) configured to be inserted into a corresponding fixing opening (220) of the mounting bracket (200).

5. The charging socket (1000) according to claim 3, wherein, The at least one drainage channel (121) includes at least two drainage channels (121) that are adjacent to each other and form a drainage component (120) having a rectangular cross-section with two long sides and two short sides, and the protruding surface (111) of the fixing component (110) protrudes outward beyond one of the two long sides of the drainage component (120).

6. The charging socket (1000) according to claim 5, wherein, The protruding surface (111) protrudes outward beyond the long side of the drainage component (120) closer to the one or more cavities (300, 300').

7. The charging socket (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The bracket (200) includes an assembly portion (221) on which the fixing component (110) is assembled to secure the bracket (200) to the electrically insulating housing (1001).

8. The charging socket (1000) according to claim 1, wherein, The bracket (200) further includes an inlet opening (230) positioned corresponding to one or more cavities (300, 300') of the electrically insulating housing (1001) such that one or more electrical contacts can be inserted into the one or more cavities (300, 300').

9. A vehicle, said vehicle being a hybrid or electric vehicle, and provided with a charging socket (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The charging socket (1000) is installed on the chassis of the vehicle.

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