Liquid cooling charging gun and liquid cooling charging system

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of charging gun cooling, and discloses a liquid cooling charging gun and a liquid cooling charging system. The liquid cooling charging gun comprises a terminal support, a charging terminal, a liquid cooling system, a collecting piece and a control module. The terminal support is provided with a first installation groove, the groove bottom wall of the first installation groove is provided with a receiving groove, and the receiving groove is provided with a liquid discharge groove opening. A liquid cooling cavity of the liquid cooling system is connected with at least two liquid cooling pipelines, the liquid cooling pipelines are communicated with the interior of the liquid cooling cavity, and the liquid cooling cavity is arranged in the first mounting groove and is in heat conduction contact with the charging terminal; the collecting piece is connected to the bottom of the terminal support, the collecting piece and the liquid discharging notch are oppositely arranged in the gravity direction, and the connecting position of the liquid cooling pipeline and the liquid cooling cavity and the collecting piece are oppositely arranged in the gravity direction; the control module is used for judging the liquid collecting state in the collecting piece and generating liquid leakage information when it is judged that liquid leakage exists in the collecting piece. The liquid cooling charging gun and the liquid cooling charging system provided by the invention have relatively high charging safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of charging gun cooling technology, and more particularly to a liquid-cooled charging gun and a liquid-cooled charging system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of new energy vehicles, charging equipment for new energy vehicles has also become more widespread. As an important component connecting the charging port and the charging equipment, the charging gun plays an indispensable role in the charging process of new energy vehicles.

[0003] During charging, the charging terminals of a charging gun rapidly heat up and generate a large amount of heat, requiring a cooling structure for cooling. Insufficient or inadequate cooling can lead to burnout of the charging terminals, causing safety issues. Related technologies employ liquid cooling systems to cool the charging terminals. The charging terminals are connected to a liquid-cooling chamber containing coolant, which is connected to two liquid-cooling pipes for coolant circulation. However, due to manufacturing issues or excessive liquid cooling pressure, leaks can easily occur at the connection points between the liquid-cooling pipes and the liquid-cooling chamber, as well as within the liquid-cooling chamber itself. These leaks can affect the normal operation of other components within the charging gun and, in severe cases, cause short circuits in the charging circuit, resulting in serious charging safety accidents.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a liquid-cooled charging gun that can detect leaks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One embodiment of this application provides a liquid-cooled charging gun to solve the technical problem of not being able to detect liquid leakage in related technologies.

[0006] One embodiment of this application also provides a liquid-cooled charging system with high charging safety.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in one embodiment of this application is:

[0008] Liquid-cooled charging gun, including:

[0009] Terminal bracket, wherein the terminal bracket is provided with a first mounting groove, the bottom wall of the first mounting groove is provided with a receiving groove, and the receiving groove is provided with a drain outlet;

[0010] A charging terminal, at least a portion of which is disposed in the first mounting slot;

[0011] A liquid cooling system includes a liquid cooling cavity, the liquid cooling cavity being connected to at least two liquid cooling pipes, the liquid cooling pipes communicating with the interior of the liquid cooling cavity, the liquid cooling cavity being disposed in the first mounting groove and making thermal contact with the charging terminal;

[0012] A collection component is connected to the bottom of the terminal bracket. The collection component and the drain outlet are arranged opposite each other in the direction of gravity, and the connection between the liquid cooling pipeline and the liquid cooling cavity is arranged opposite to the collection component in the direction of gravity.

[0013] The control module is used to determine the liquid collection status within the collection device and generate leakage information when it is determined that there is leakage within the collection device.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of this application, at least one end of the collecting component in the width direction is provided with a flow guide portion, the flow guide portion is provided with a flow guide groove communicating with the interior of the collecting component, and the bottom wall of the flow guide groove is inclined toward the connection between the liquid cooling cavity and the liquid cooling pipeline.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of this application, one end of the guide portion abuts against the terminal bracket in the length direction of the collector, and the other end extends away from the terminal bracket.

[0016] In one or more embodiments of this application, the width of the collecting member is greater than or equal to the width of the terminal bracket, and the collecting member and the terminal bracket are centered on each other in the width direction of the terminal bracket.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of this application, the terminal bracket includes a first support portion and a second support portion, the first support portion and the second support portion cooperate to form the bottom wall of the first mounting groove, the charging terminal is supported on the first support portion, and the liquid cooling cavity is supported on the first support portion and the second support portion;

[0018] The opening of the receiving groove is formed between the first support part and the second support part. The first support part extends toward the collecting member and forms the groove sidewall of the receiving groove, and the groove sidewall is an arc-shaped wall.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of this application, the bottom wall of the receiving trough is an inclined wall that slopes toward the collecting component.

[0020] In one or more embodiments of this application, the terminal bracket is provided with two first mounting slots, and the charging terminal is provided with two, with the two charging terminals being disposed in the two first mounting slots in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0021] The liquid cooling cavity is provided in two parts, and the two liquid cooling cavities are respectively arranged in the two first mounting slots, and the liquid cooling cavity makes thermal contact with the corresponding charging terminal.

[0022] Each of the first installation slots has a receiving slot on its bottom wall, and the collecting component is positioned opposite to the drain outlet of all the receiving slots and the connection point of all the liquid cooling pipes to the liquid cooling cavity.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of this application, the liquid-cooled charging gun further includes two first electrical connectors, one end of each of the two first electrical connectors being electrically connected to the two charging terminals, and the other end of each of the two first electrical connectors being disposed within the collecting component;

[0024] The control module is connected to the two charging terminals and is used to determine the liquid collection state in the collection device based on the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals.

[0025] In one or more embodiments of this application, the liquid-cooled charging gun further includes a grounding terminal and a second electrical connector. The grounding terminal is disposed on the terminal bracket, and one end of the second electrical connector is electrically connected to the grounding terminal, while the other end is disposed within the collecting component.

[0026] The control module is also connected to the grounding terminal and is used to determine the liquid collection state in the collection device based on the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal and the two charging terminals.

[0027] In one or more embodiments of this application, the charging terminal is connected to a cable, the cable has a cavity, and the liquid cooling pipeline is disposed in the cavity.

[0028] The liquid-cooled charging system includes the liquid-cooled charging gun as described above, and the liquid-cooled charging system also includes a charging pile. The control module is the control system of the charging pile.

[0029] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of this application are as follows:

[0030] In the liquid-cooled charging gun and liquid-cooled charging system, the liquid-cooled cavity of the liquid-cooling system is set in the first mounting groove. The bottom wall of the first mounting groove is provided with a receiving groove. If the liquid-cooled cavity leaks, at least a portion of the leaked liquid will flow from the first mounting groove to the receiving groove, and then from the drain outlet of the receiving groove to the collecting device, where it will be collected. When leakage occurs at the connection between the liquid-cooled cavity and the liquid-cooled pipeline, at least a portion of the leaked liquid will fall directly into the collecting device under the action of gravity, where it will be collected. The control module can determine the liquid collection status in the collecting device. When the liquid collection status in the collecting device is that liquid is present, leakage information will be generated. In this way, leakage of the liquid-cooled cavity and the connection between the liquid-cooled cavity and the liquid-cooled pipeline can be detected, realizing leakage detection of the liquid-cooled charging gun, reducing the risk of short circuit in the charging circuit caused by leakage, and thus effectively improving charging safety performance. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the embodiments of this application and these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first structure of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second structure of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal bracket provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a top view of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a first cross-sectional view of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 6 This is an assembly diagram of the charging terminal, cable, and liquid cooling system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the collection component provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a side view of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the cable and liquid cooling pipeline provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 11 This is a second cross-sectional view of the liquid-cooled charging gun provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 12 This is a connection diagram of the charging terminal, grounding terminal and control module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0044] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0045] 1. Terminal bracket; 11. First mounting slot; 12. Receiving slot; 121. Drainage outlet; 122. Slot sidewall; 13. First support part; 14. Second support part; 15. Second mounting slot; 2. Charging terminal; 21. Connecting part; 22. Plug-in part; 3. Liquid cooling system; 31. Liquid cooling cavity; 311. Inlet and outlet; 32. Liquid cooling pipeline; 4. Collector; 41. Flow guide; 411. Flow guide groove; 42. Baffle; 43. Groove; 44. Protrusion; 5. Control module; 61. First electrical connector; 62. Second electrical connector; 7. Grounding terminal; 8. Cable; 81. Cable cavity; 9. Circuit board; 91. Wiring. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To make the technical problems solved by this application, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining this application and not for limiting it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, not all of them.

[0047] It should be understood that the phrase "an embodiment" or "one embodiment" throughout the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in one embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0048] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0049] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0050] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature. In the description of this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" specifically refers to two or more.

[0051] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0052] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or it can be located in between the component.

[0053] The technical solution of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0054] This application provides a liquid-cooled charging gun that can determine the leakage status of the charging gun and improve charging safety performance.

[0055] For example, such as Figures 1 to 12 As shown, the liquid-cooled charging gun includes a terminal bracket 1, a charging terminal 2, a liquid cooling system 3, a collection component 4, and a control module 5. The terminal bracket 1 supports the charging terminal 2, the liquid cooling system 3, and the collection component 4. Figure 3As shown, the terminal bracket 1 has a first mounting groove 11 for mounting the charging terminal 2 and the liquid cooling system 3. Furthermore, the bottom wall of the first mounting groove 11 has a receiving groove 12 for collecting liquid (e.g., coolant) leaking from the liquid cooling system 3. The receiving groove 12 has a drain outlet 121, through which liquid can flow out and be collected by the collector 4. It should be noted that liquid leaking from the first mounting groove 11 can flow into the receiving groove 12 under gravity, and liquid in the receiving groove 12 can also flow into the drain outlet 121 under gravity and be collected by the collector 4.

[0056] It should be noted that the coolant in this embodiment may be a mixture of ethylene glycol and water, or other liquids with conductive properties. The specific type of coolant is not limited in this embodiment.

[0057] It should also be noted that the liquid-cooled charging gun may further include a housing (not shown in the figure), with the terminal bracket 1, at least a portion of the charging terminals 2, at least a portion of the liquid cooling system 3, and the collection component 4 all located within the housing. The terminal bracket 1 is fixedly connected to the housing so that the terminal bracket 1 will not move relative to the housing, and the housing serves to protect the internal structure. The terminal bracket 1 and the housing can be a separate structure or an integrated structure; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0058] like Figure 1 As shown, at least a portion of the charging terminal 2 in this embodiment is disposed in the first mounting groove 11 for support by the terminal bracket 1, so that the charging terminal 2 will not move relative to the housing of the liquid-cooled charging gun, thereby improving the robustness of the charging terminal 2.

[0059] The liquid cooling system 3 in this embodiment includes a liquid cooling cavity 31 and liquid cooling pipes 32. The liquid cooling cavity 31 is connected to at least two liquid cooling pipes 32, which communicate with the interior of the liquid cooling cavity 31. For example, the liquid cooling cavity 31 has an inner cavity containing coolant. The at least two liquid cooling pipes 32 include at least one inlet pipe and at least one outlet pipe. The coolant circulates through the liquid cooling pipes 32. The liquid cooling cavity 31 is disposed in the first mounting groove 11 and makes thermal contact with the charging terminal 2, enabling the liquid cooling cavity 31 to absorb the heat generated by the charging terminal 2 and transfer the heat to the coolant in the inner cavity, allowing the coolant to carry away the heat and cool the charging terminal 2.

[0060] It should be noted that the thermally conductive contact between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the charging terminal 2 means that the heat on the charging terminal 2 can be transferred to the liquid cooling cavity 31. In some embodiments, the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the charging terminal 2 can be fixedly connected, for example, they can be connected by bolts or other fasteners. In other embodiments, the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the charging terminal 2 can also be tightly abutted without direct connection, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0061] In some optional embodiments, this embodiment provides a charging terminal 2, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the charging terminal 2 includes a connecting portion 21 and a plug-in portion 22 connected to each other. The connecting portion 21 is disposed within the first mounting groove 11 and connected to the terminal bracket 1. The plug-in portion 22 extends outside the terminal bracket 1 to facilitate plugging into a charging socket. By providing the connecting portion 21, it is convenient for the charging terminal 2 to be mounted on the terminal bracket 1, and it is also convenient for contact or connection with the liquid cooling cavity 31. In some optional embodiments, the connecting portion 21 and the plug-in portion 22 are an integral structure to reduce the internal resistance of the connection and to improve the structural strength of the charging terminal 2.

[0062] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the shape of the connecting portion 21 matches the shape of the liquid cooling cavity 31, thereby providing a larger contact area between the charging terminal 2 and the liquid cooling cavity 31. In some embodiments, both the connecting portion 21 and the liquid cooling cavity 31 are square.

[0063] It should be noted that, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the connecting part 21 is used to connect with the cable 8 of the liquid-cooled charging gun. Since the part of the cable 8 connected to the charging terminal 2 generates the most heat, that is, the connecting part 21 generates the most heat, directly making the connecting part 21 in thermal contact with the liquid-cooled cavity 31 can reduce the thermal resistance, thereby directly cooling the area with the most heat generation in the liquid-cooled charging gun, improving the cooling effect, further improving charging safety, and also increasing the charging power of the liquid-cooled charging gun to meet the high-power charging requirements.

[0064] In this embodiment, the liquid cooling cavity 31 can be a split structure, for example, it can be assembled from at least two parts. One end of the liquid cooling cavity 31 is provided with at least two inlets and outlets 311, and the at least two inlets and outlets 311 are connected to at least two liquid cooling pipes 32 in a one-to-one correspondence. In this embodiment, the inlets and outlets 311 are located on the side of the liquid cooling cavity 31 away from the plug-in part 22, so that the liquid cooling pipes 32 and the plug-in part 22 will not interfere with each other.

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the collecting component 4 is connected to the bottom of the terminal bracket 1, so that the collecting component 4 and the terminal bracket 1 are connected as a whole. Thus, the charging terminal 2, the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the collecting component 4 are all connected through the terminal bracket 1, thereby forming a whole structure, which facilitates the assembly of the liquid cooling charging gun and improves the overall integrity of the liquid cooling charging gun.

[0066] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 or Figure 8 As shown, the collecting component 4 is positioned opposite to the drain outlet 121 in the direction of gravity, meaning the collecting component 4 is directly below the drain outlet 121, allowing the leaking liquid discharged from the drain outlet 121 to be collected by the collecting component 4. Similarly, the connection between the liquid cooling pipe 32 and the liquid cooling cavity 31 is positioned opposite to the collecting component 4 in the direction of gravity, meaning the connection between the liquid cooling pipe 32 and the liquid cooling cavity 31 is directly below the collecting component 4, allowing the leaking liquid at the connection between the liquid cooling pipe 32 and the liquid cooling cavity 31 to be collected by the collecting component 4. This arrangement allows the collecting component 4 to collect not only the leaking liquid from the liquid cooling cavity 31 but also the leaking liquid from the connection between the liquid cooling pipe 32 and the liquid cooling cavity 31, increasing the range of leaking liquid that can be collected.

[0067] In this embodiment, the control module 5 is used to determine the liquid collection status inside the collection component 4, and generate leakage information when it is determined that there is leakage inside the collection component 4. Based on the leakage information, it can be confirmed that there is a leakage problem inside the liquid-cooled charging gun, and then perform corresponding operations, such as stopping the power transmission between the liquid-cooled charging gun and the vehicle's charging socket, thereby ensuring safety.

[0068] The liquid-cooled charging gun provided in this embodiment has a liquid-cooled cavity 31 of the liquid-cooling system 3 disposed in a first mounting groove 11. The bottom wall of the first mounting groove 11 is provided with a receiving groove 12. If the liquid-cooled cavity 31 leaks, at least a portion of the leaked liquid will flow from the first mounting groove 11 to the receiving groove 12, and then flow from the drain outlet 121 of the receiving groove 12 to the collecting component 4, where it will be collected. When leakage occurs at the connection between the liquid-cooled cavity 31 and the liquid-cooled pipe 32, at least a portion of the leaked liquid will fall directly into the collecting component 4 under the action of gravity, where it will be collected. The control module 5 can determine the liquid collection state in the collecting component 4. When the liquid collection state in the collecting component 4 is that there is liquid, leakage information will be generated. In this way, the leakage of the liquid-cooled cavity 31 and the connection between the liquid-cooled cavity 31 and the liquid-cooled pipe 32 can be detected, realizing the leakage detection of the liquid-cooled charging gun, reducing the risk of short circuit in the charging circuit caused by leakage, and thus effectively improving the charging safety performance.

[0069] It should be noted that the number of charging terminals 2 can be two or more, and this embodiment does not limit this. This embodiment takes two charging terminals 2 as an example for explanation. When there are multiple charging terminals 2, there are also multiple first mounting slots 11 and multiple liquid cooling cavities 31. The charging terminals 2 are correspondingly arranged in the first mounting slots 11, and the liquid cooling cavities 31 are also correspondingly arranged in the first mounting slots 11. Furthermore, the liquid cooling cavities 31 located in the same first mounting slot 11 are in conductive contact with the charging terminals 2. That is, the charging terminals 2 and the liquid cooling cavities 31 are in one-to-one correspondence, and the liquid cooling cavities 31 are in thermally conductive contact with the connection portion 21 of the corresponding charging terminals 2, so that each charging terminal 2 has a liquid cooling cavity 31 for cooling.

[0070] It is understandable that each first mounting slot 11 has a receiving slot 12 on its bottom wall. The collecting component 4 and the drain outlets 121 of all the receiving slots 12 are arranged opposite each other in the direction of gravity. In addition, the collecting component 4 and the connection points of all the liquid cooling pipes 32 and the liquid cooling cavity 31 are arranged opposite each other. That is, the liquid cooling charging gun can be equipped with only one collecting component 4, which reduces the structural complexity and allows the collecting component 4 to collect the leakage at various locations, reducing the occurrence of leakage detection blind spots and improving the accuracy and reliability of leakage detection.

[0071] In this embodiment, there are two first mounting slots 11. The two first mounting slots 11 are located on both sides in the width direction of the terminal bracket 1 and extend to one end in the length direction of the terminal bracket 1 and the top of the terminal bracket 1.

[0072] Optionally, the control module 5 can detect the liquid collection state in the collection container 4 in various ways. This embodiment provides the following methods as examples.

[0073] In the first detection method, such as Figure 9As shown, the liquid-cooled charging gun includes two charging terminals 2 and two first electrical connectors 61, which are connected one-to-one. It should be noted that when there are three or more charging terminals 2, the two first electrical connectors 61 correspond one-to-one with two of the charging terminals 2. For example, one end of each of the two first electrical connectors 61 is electrically connected to one of the two charging terminals 2, and the other end of each first electrical connector 61 is disposed within the collecting element 4. Thus, when there is leakage in the collecting element 4, the charging terminal 2 can contact the leakage in the collecting element 4 through the corresponding first electrical connector 61. The control module 5 is electrically connected to the two charging terminals 2, and the control module 5 is used to determine the liquid collection state in the collecting element 4 based on the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals 2. If there is leakage inside the collection component 4, due to the conductivity of the leakage liquid, both first electrical connectors 61 will come into contact with the leakage liquid, causing the two first electrical connectors 61 to conduct through the leakage liquid. That is, a small current will be generated between the two charging terminals 2. At this time, the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals 2 will be abnormal (e.g., fail to meet the standard). If there is no leakage inside the collection component 4, the two first electrical connectors 61 will not conduct, and the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals 2 will be qualified. Therefore, whether there is leakage inside the liquid-cooled charging gun can be determined by whether the insulation withstand voltage is qualified.

[0074] It should be noted that the insulation withstand voltage test can be performed using a withstand voltage tester or an insulation withstand voltage tester. For details, please refer to relevant technologies; this embodiment will not elaborate further. The withstand voltage tester or insulation withstand voltage tester is electrically connected to the two charging terminals 2 and communicatively connected to the control module 5. It is used to detect the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals 2. The withstand voltage tester or insulation withstand voltage tester can generate corresponding information based on the detected parameters. For example, when the detected insulation withstand voltage parameter is lower than a preset value, it generates an insulation withstand voltage qualified information. When the detected parameter is higher than or equal to a preset value, it generates an insulation withstand voltage unqualified information. The withstand voltage tester or insulation withstand voltage tester can send the insulation withstand voltage qualified or unqualified information to the control module 5. If the control module 5 receives information indicating insulation withstand voltage qualified, it obtains a result indicating no liquid collection; if the control module 5 receives information indicating insulation withstand voltage unqualified, it obtains a result indicating liquid collection, indicating that liquid leakage has occurred inside the liquid-cooled charging gun.

[0075] It is understandable that the control module 5 may also integrate an insulation withstand voltage detection module. That is, instead of setting up an additional withstand voltage tester or insulation withstand voltage tester, the insulation withstand voltage of the charging terminal 2 is directly obtained through the control module 5, and the corresponding conclusion is drawn. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0076] Furthermore, based on this testing method, please continue to refer to... Figure 9The liquid-cooled charging gun also includes a grounding terminal 7 and a second electrical connector 62. The grounding terminal 7 is located on the terminal bracket 1, and one end of the second electrical connector 62 is electrically connected to the grounding terminal 7, while the other end is located inside the collecting component 4. The control module 5 is also connected to the grounding terminal 7 and is used to determine the liquid collection state within the collecting component 4 based on the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal 7 and the two charging terminals 2. By providing the second electrical connector 62, when there is leakage in the collecting component 4, the second electrical connector 62 can conduct through the leakage to the two first electrical connectors 61, thereby causing an abnormality (e.g., failure) in the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal 7 and the charging terminals 2. Thus, the control module 5 can also determine the liquid collection state within the collecting component 4 based on the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal 7 and any one of the charging terminals 2, further improving the accuracy of leakage detection. Furthermore, by providing multiple circuits extending into the leakage area, if one circuit is accidentally disconnected, the leakage can still be detected based on the insulation withstand voltage performance of the other two circuits, reducing the risk of detection errors.

[0077] In some alternative embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the terminal bracket 1 is provided with a second mounting groove 15, and the grounding terminal 7 is disposed in the second mounting groove 15. In this embodiment, the second mounting groove 15 is disposed towards the collecting member 4, so that the grounding terminal 7 is closer to the collecting member 4. Therefore, the length of the second electrical connector 62 can be shorter, reducing the structural complexity of the liquid-cooled charging gun.

[0078] In some other alternative embodiments, one of the charging terminals 2 may be connected to a first electrical connector 61, while the grounding terminal 7 may be connected to a second electrical connector. The control module 5 can determine the leakage status inside the collecting component 4 based on the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal 7 and the charging terminal 2. This reduces the complexity of the internal structure of the liquid-cooled charging gun and facilitates its assembly.

[0079] It should be noted that the material of the collecting component 4 in this embodiment is an insulating material, so that there is no electrical connection between the first electrical connectors 61 or between the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 through the collecting component 4.

[0080] For example, both the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 can be wires. For instance, the wires can be 0.75 square millimeters thick, which will not increase the weight of the liquid-cooled charging gun too much, nor will it take up too much space.

[0081] In at least one possible embodiment, the collecting component 4 may also include a circuit board 9, on which a line 91 is provided. The line 91 is located on the surface of the circuit board 9 opposite to the bottom wall of the collecting component 4. When the collecting component 4 collects leaking liquid, the leaking liquid is located on the circuit board 9 and can contact the line 91. The first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 both have a corresponding line 91. The end of the first electrical connector 61 opposite to the charging terminal 2 is electrically connected to the corresponding line 91, and the end of the second electrical connector 62 opposite to the grounding terminal 7 is electrically connected to the corresponding line 91. By setting the circuit board 9, both ends of the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 are fixed, thereby reducing the risk of the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 moving out of the collecting device 4, improving the stability of the positions of the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62, and thus improving the accuracy of the leakage detection. In addition, by setting the line 91, the contact area with the leakage can be increased, thereby effectively increasing the conductive area and improving the response speed during detection. When the leakage covers part of one line 91 and part of another line 91, the leakage can be detected, avoiding the risk of short circuit due to excessive leakage and ensuring the safety of charging.

[0082] In at least one embodiment, the circuit board 9 is laid flat on the bottom wall of the collector 4, so that there is no gap between the circuit board 9 and the bottom wall. This ensures that the leaked liquid is located above the circuit board 9 and does not move into the gap between the circuit board 9 and the bottom wall of the collector 4. This also allows a small amount of leaked liquid to submerge the circuit 91, thereby improving the accuracy of leak detection.

[0083] In other embodiments, the line 91 may also be located on the side of the circuit board 9 facing the bottom wall of the collector 4, and the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 may pass through the circuit board 9 and be electrically connected to the corresponding line 91.

[0084] In some alternative embodiments, at least one end of the circuit board 9 abuts against the collecting member 4, so that the gap between the end of the circuit board 9 and the collecting member 4 can be small, which also facilitates the positioning of the circuit board 9, improves the robustness of the circuit board 9, reduces the risk of breakage caused by the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 being pulled due to the movement of the circuit board 9 relative to the collecting member 4, and improves the robustness of the electrical connection between the first electrical connector 61 and the corresponding line 91.

[0085] Optionally, in this embodiment, the circuit board 9 can be confined within the collecting member 4. In some optional embodiments, such as Figure 9As shown, the inner wall of the collecting component 4 is provided with a stop 42. The stop 42 is located on the side of the circuit board 9 away from the bottom wall of the collecting component 4 and is positioned opposite to the circuit board 9 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 9. By providing the stop 42, the circuit board 9 can be prevented from sliding out of the collecting component 4, and there is no need to provide bolts or other connecting parts, making the structure for limiting the circuit board 9 simpler. Optionally, multiple stops 42 can be provided, and the multiple stops 42 are spaced apart along the circumference of the collecting component 4 to improve the effect of limiting the circuit board 9.

[0086] In some optional embodiments, the side of the stop 42 away from the circuit board 9 is set as an inclined surface, and the side of the stop 42 facing the circuit board 9 is set as a flat surface. In this way, the inclined surface can guide the circuit board 9, making it easier for the circuit board 9 to be placed into the collecting member 4. The flat surface has a large contact area with the circuit board 9, thereby improving the limiting effect.

[0087] In some alternative embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, the multiple lines 91 on the circuit board 9 can be arranged in parallel to each other, which facilitates the processing and manufacturing of the lines 91 and makes the structure of the circuit board 9 simpler.

[0088] In other alternative embodiments, the multiple lines 91 on the circuit board 9 may not be parallel to each other, but their extensions may intersect. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0089] In at least one implementation, please continue to see Figure 9 At least one end of the line 91 on the circuit board 9 extends to the edge of the circuit board 9. Thus, the line 91 can be relatively long, resulting in a larger area and a larger contact area with the leaking liquid. In this embodiment, both ends of each line 91 extend to the edge of the circuit board 9.

[0090] In some alternative embodiments, both the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 are leads. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the bottom wall of the collector 4, facing the circuit board 9, has a groove 43 corresponding to the connection between the circuit 91 and the guide wire. The bottom wall of the collector 4, facing away from the circuit board 9, has a protrusion 44 corresponding to the groove 43. By providing the groove 43, the guide wire is easily avoided, allowing it to pass through the circuit board 9. This results in a larger connection area between the guide wire and the circuit 91, improving connection strength and reducing the risk of breakage. Furthermore, if the guide wire and the circuit 91 are connected by soldering, the groove 43 also facilitates the placement of solder. The groove 43 can be formed by stamping, simultaneously forming the protrusion 44.

[0091] In the second detection method, it is roughly the same as the first detection method, except that the leakage is determined by detecting the voltage between the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62. If leakage occurs, the collection unit 4 will collect the leaked coolant. The voltage detection point is located between the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62. Since the leaking liquid has a certain conductivity, the leaking liquid in the collection unit 4 is approximately a resistor with a large resistance value. This further changes the state of the first electrical connector 61 from an open circuit state or between the first electrical connector 61 and the second electrical connector 62 to a state of approximately short-circuiting a resistor, and causes the voltage at the detection point to change. Therefore, the control module 5 can determine the leakage state in the liquid-cooled charging gun by detecting the voltage at the detection point.

[0092] In the third detection method, a liquid level detector can be installed inside the collection component 4. The liquid level detector is connected to the control module 5 and sends the liquid level detection result to the control module 5. When the liquid level detection result is not 0, it indicates that there is leakage inside the collection component 4, and the controller can generate leakage information. When the liquid level detection result is 0, it indicates that there is no leakage inside the collection component 4.

[0093] All three detection methods described above can accurately detect whether there is leakage inside the collector 4, thereby determining whether leakage has occurred inside the liquid-cooled charging gun and ensuring charging safety. It should be noted that the detection methods are not limited to the three methods described above. Other detection methods can be obtained by appropriate modifications based on the detection principle provided in this embodiment, and this embodiment does not limit such modifications.

[0094] In this embodiment, the collecting component 4 has a length direction and a width direction. In this embodiment, the length direction of the collecting component 4 is the same as the length direction of the charging terminal 2, and the length direction of the charging terminal 2 is the insertion direction of the charging terminal 2. The width direction of the collecting component 4 is perpendicular to the length direction.

[0095] In some alternative embodiments, the collecting member 4 has a groove on the side facing the terminal bracket 1 for collecting leaked liquid. The bottom wall of the groove of the collecting member 4 is flat, so that the leaked liquid can fill the bottom of the groove of the collecting member 4, avoiding the problem that the two electrical connectors cannot be submerged due to tilting.

[0096] Optionally, the collecting component 4 can be snapped and fixed to the bottom of the terminal bracket 1, or it can be connected to the bottom of the terminal bracket 1 by means of bolts or other components, or it can be indirectly fixed to the bottom of the terminal bracket 1. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0097] In at least one embodiment, such as Figure 2As shown, at least one end of the collecting component 4 in the width direction is provided with a guide portion 41. The guide portion 41 is provided with a guide groove 411 that connects to the inside of the collecting component 4. The bottom wall of the guide groove 411 is inclined towards the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32. By providing the guide portion 41, the range and area of ​​leakage collection by the collecting component 4 can be further increased, so that more leakage can be collected in the collecting component 4, thereby helping to improve the accuracy of leakage detection. The design of the guide channel 411 enables the collection of leaked liquid. For example, when the coolant has a certain pressure, it will spray out from the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32 when it leaks. Only a portion of the sprayed coolant will directly enter the collection component 4, while the rest will spray outwards. Through the shielding of the guide section 41, the coolant sprayed into the guide section 41 can be collected in the guide channel 411 and then flow into the groove of the collection component 4. Thus, in the early stage of leakage, the collection component 4 can collect more leaked liquid, thereby generating leakage information as soon as possible to cut off the power and ensure charging safety.

[0098] It should be noted that the bottom wall of the guide channel 411 faces the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32, so that the collecting component 4 and the guide part 41 cooperate to form a semi-enclosed structure at the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32, so as to collect the leakage. Since the collecting component 4 is located below the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32, the inclination of the bottom wall of the guide channel 411 towards the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipe 32 can also facilitate the leakage in the guide channel 411 to flow into the collecting component 4 under the action of gravity.

[0099] Optionally, such as Figure 7 As shown, there are two guide sections 41, which are located on both sides of the collection member 4 in the width direction and are both connected to the collection member 4.

[0100] In at least one embodiment, one end of the guide portion 41 in the longitudinal direction of the collecting member 4 abuts against the terminal bracket 1, so that the leakage flowing down from the terminal bracket 1 can be collected by the guide groove 411 of the guide portion 41. The other end of the guide portion 41 in the longitudinal direction of the collecting member 4 extends away from the terminal bracket 1 and beyond the terminal bracket 1, so that the guide portion 41 can be directly opposite the connection between the liquid cooling cavity 31 and the liquid cooling pipeline 32 without being blocked by the terminal bracket 1.

[0101] In some alternative embodiments, one end of the flow guide 41 abuts against one end of the terminal bracket 1, and the other end extends in a direction away from that end of the terminal bracket 1.

[0102] In some embodiments, the width of the collecting member 4 may be greater than the width of the terminal bracket 1, and the collecting member 4 and the terminal bracket 1 are centered in the width direction of the terminal bracket 1. This configuration allows the collecting member 4 to have a larger holding area, thereby enabling it to hold more leaked liquid in a shorter time, thus improving the response speed of leak detection and further reducing the risk of short circuits. It should be noted that when the collecting member 4 includes the guide portion 41, the width of the collecting member 4 is the same as the width including the guide portion 41.

[0103] In other embodiments, the width of the collecting member 4 can also be equal to the width of the terminal bracket 1, and the collecting member 4 and the terminal bracket 1 are centered in the width direction of the terminal bracket 1. With this configuration, the collecting member 4 does not increase the overall width of the liquid-cooled charging gun, which is beneficial for miniaturization of the liquid-cooled charging gun.

[0104] In some alternative embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the terminal bracket 1 includes a first support portion 13 and a second support portion 14. The first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14 cooperate to form the bottom wall of the first mounting groove 11. The charging terminal 2 is supported on the first support portion 13, and the liquid cooling cavity 31 is supported on the first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14. That is, a part of the liquid cooling cavity 31 is supported on the first support portion 13, and the other part is supported on the second support portion 14.

[0105] In this embodiment, the first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14 are spaced apart along the width direction of the terminal bracket 1, and the gap between the first support portion 13 and the second support portion 14 forms the opening of the receiving groove 12, through which liquid leaking from the first mounting groove 11 can flow into the receiving groove 12.

[0106] In some embodiments, please continue to see Figure 3 The first support portion 13 extends toward the collecting member 4 and forms the sidewall 122 of the receiving groove 12, wherein the sidewall 122 is an arc-shaped wall. By providing the arc-shaped sidewall 122, the leaked liquid flows along the sidewall 122, facilitating its guidance into the receiving groove 12 and further facilitating its collection. Furthermore, the leaked liquid ejected from the liquid-cooled cavity 31 can contact the sidewall 122. Because the sidewall 122 is arc-shaped, it facilitates changing the reflection angle of the leaked liquid, thereby allowing more liquid to be reflected into the receiving groove 12 for better collection. Additionally, as... Figure 8 As shown, by setting the sidewall 122 of the tank, the shape of the receiving tank 12 is similar to that of a trumpet, so that the leaked liquid can be better collected at the bottom of the receiving tank 12.

[0107] In some optional embodiments, the liquid cooling cavity 31 may be composed of two connected parts, namely a first liquid cooling part and a second liquid cooling part, with the first liquid cooling part and the second liquid cooling part forming the inner cavity of the liquid cooling cavity 31. The connecting part 21 of the first liquid cooling part and the second liquid cooling part faces the tank sidewall 122, so that the coolant exposed at the connection between the first liquid cooling part and the second liquid cooling part can flow directly to the tank sidewall 122 and then be guided by the tank sidewall 122 into the receiving tank 12.

[0108] In at least one implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, the bottom wall of the receiving tank 12 is an inclined wall that slopes towards the collecting device 4. This design facilitates the flow of leaked liquid in the receiving tank 12 along the bottom wall of the receiving tank 12 to the drain outlet 121, and then from the drain outlet 121 to the collecting device 4 for collection, preventing the leaked liquid from accumulating in the receiving tank 12, so that the leak can be detected as soon as possible.

[0109] It should be noted that the bottom wall of the receiving tank 12 is inclined towards the collecting component 4. This can be understood as the distance between the end of the bottom wall of the receiving tank 12 closest to the drain outlet 121 and the collecting component 4 being smaller than the distance between the other end and the collecting component 4, so that the leakage can be discharged more smoothly from the drain outlet 121.

[0110] Optionally, such as Figure 10 As shown, the charging terminal 2 is connected to a cable 8, the cable 8 has a wire cavity 81, and the liquid cooling pipe 32 is disposed in the wire cavity 81 to cool the cable 8 and prevent the cable 8 from overheating. Furthermore, the cable 8 and the liquid cooling pipe 32 are integrated into one wire, making the structure of the liquid-cooled charging gun simpler.

[0111] This embodiment also provides a liquid-cooled charging system, including the aforementioned liquid-cooled charging gun. The liquid-cooled charging system provided in this embodiment can detect liquid leakage.

[0112] In some embodiments, the liquid-cooled charging system further includes a charging pile, and the control module 5 is the control system for the charging pile. The control system of the charging pile has an insulation withstand voltage testing function. The insulation withstand voltage test of the liquid-cooled charging gun is a critical safety test, primarily used to evaluate the reliability of the insulation material between the internal live parts and the exposed non-live parts of the liquid-cooled charging gun.

[0113] It should be noted that the liquid cooling system also includes heat exchange equipment installed in the charging pile, and the liquid cooling pipeline is connected to the heat exchange equipment.

[0114] Obviously, the above embodiments of this application are merely examples for clear illustration and are not intended to limit the implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled charging gun, characterized in that, include: Terminal bracket, wherein the terminal bracket is provided with a first mounting groove, the bottom wall of the first mounting groove is provided with a receiving groove, and the receiving groove is provided with a drain outlet; A charging terminal, at least a portion of which is disposed in the first mounting slot; A liquid cooling system includes a liquid cooling cavity, the liquid cooling cavity being connected to at least two liquid cooling pipes, the liquid cooling pipes communicating with the interior of the liquid cooling cavity, the liquid cooling cavity being disposed in the first mounting groove and making thermal contact with the charging terminal; A collection component is connected to the bottom of the terminal bracket. The collection component and the drain outlet are arranged opposite each other in the direction of gravity, and the connection between the liquid cooling pipeline and the liquid cooling cavity is arranged opposite to the collection component in the direction of gravity. The control module is used to determine the liquid collection status within the collection device and generate leakage information when it is determined that there is leakage within the collection device.

2. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one end of the collecting component in the width direction is provided with a flow guide portion, the flow guide portion is provided with a flow guide groove communicating with the interior of the collecting component, and the bottom wall of the flow guide groove is inclined toward the connection between the liquid cooling cavity and the liquid cooling pipeline.

3. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 2, characterized in that, One end of the flow guide portion abuts against the terminal bracket in the length direction of the collector, and the other end extends away from the terminal bracket.

4. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the collecting element is greater than or equal to the width of the terminal bracket, and the collecting element and the terminal bracket are centered on each other in the width direction of the terminal bracket.

5. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal bracket includes a first support portion and a second support portion, which cooperate to form the bottom wall of the first mounting groove. The charging terminal is supported on the first support portion, and the liquid cooling cavity is supported on the first support portion and the second support portion. The opening of the receiving groove is formed between the first support part and the second support part. The first support part extends toward the collecting member and forms the groove sidewall of the receiving groove, and the groove sidewall is an arc-shaped wall.

6. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the receiving trough is an inclined wall that slopes toward the collecting component.

7. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal bracket is provided with two first mounting slots, and there are two charging terminals, with each of the two charging terminals corresponding to one of the two first mounting slots. The liquid cooling cavity is provided in two parts, and the two liquid cooling cavities are respectively arranged in the two first mounting slots, and the liquid cooling cavity makes thermal contact with the corresponding charging terminal. Each of the first installation slots has a receiving slot on its bottom wall, and the collecting component is positioned opposite to the drain outlet of all the receiving slots and the connection point of all the liquid cooling pipes to the liquid cooling cavity.

8. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 7, characterized in that, The liquid-cooled charging gun also includes two first electrical connectors, one end of which is electrically connected to the two charging terminals respectively, and the other end of each of the two first electrical connectors is disposed inside the collecting component. The control module is connected to the two charging terminals and is used to determine the liquid collection state in the collection device based on the insulation withstand voltage between the two charging terminals.

9. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 8, characterized in that, The liquid-cooled charging gun also includes a grounding terminal and a second electrical connector. The grounding terminal is disposed on the terminal bracket, and one end of the second electrical connector is electrically connected to the grounding terminal, while the other end is disposed inside the collecting component. The control module is also connected to the grounding terminal and is used to determine the liquid collection state in the collection device based on the insulation withstand voltage between the grounding terminal and the two charging terminals.

10. The liquid-cooled charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging terminal is connected to a cable, the cable has a cavity, and the liquid cooling pipeline is disposed in the cavity.

11. A liquid-cooled charging system, characterized in that, The system includes a liquid-cooled charging gun as described in any one of claims 1-10, and the liquid-cooled charging system further includes a charging pile, wherein the control module is the control system of the charging pile.

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