Connector and electric vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a connector and an electric vehicle. The connector comprises a socket assembly, a plug assembly and a cooling device. The socket assembly is provided with a socket terminal, the plug assembly is provided with a plug terminal, the socket assembly and the plug assembly are detachably connected, and after the socket assembly and the plug assembly are connected, the socket terminal and the plug terminal are in lap joint in the thickness direction and are electrically connected; the cooling device comprises a cooling box, cooling liquid is contained in the cooling box, and the cooling box covers at least part of the position of at least one of the plug terminal and the socket terminal. The cooling device exchanges heat with at least one of the socket terminal and the plug terminal of the power supply terminal of the connector, so that in the working process of the connector, the cooling device is utilized to dissipate heat of the power supply terminal, the temperature of the power supply terminal in the working process is reduced, higher current-carrying capacity is obtained under the condition that the sectional area of the power supply terminal is small, and the service life of the connector is prolonged. The current load is ensured while the size of the power supply terminal is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of connectors, and in particular to a connector and an electric vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Connectors are used to establish electrical connections between conductors in circuits that are blocked or disconnected, allowing current to flow and enabling the circuit to perform its intended function. Therefore, connectors are widely used in the automotive, communications, consumer electronics, data processing, and industrial machinery industries.

[0003] Taking new energy vehicles as an example, with the development of technology, connectors are commonly used in wire-to-wire and wire-to-machine interconnection scenarios. As the power requirements of connectors continue to increase, the current load on the connectors also increases. This increased current leads to the connectors generating more heat, which in turn affects the current load on the connectors.

[0004] Therefore, how to provide a connector with a cooling function to improve the heat dissipation effect and reduce the temperature of the connector during operation is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a connector with a cooling function to improve the heat dissipation effect during the connector's operation and reduce the temperature during operation. Furthermore, the present invention also provides an electric vehicle having the aforementioned connector.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A connector includes: a receptacle assembly having receptacle terminals; a plug assembly having plug terminals; the receptacle assembly and the plug assembly being configured for detachable connection, wherein, in a connected state, the receptacle terminals and the plug terminals overlap and are electrically connected along a thickness direction; and a cooling device including a cooling tank configured to contain coolant, the cooling tank covering at least a portion of at least one of the plug terminals and the receptacle terminals.

[0008] Preferably, in the connector described above, the plug assembly includes a plug housing, the cooling device is installed inside the plug housing, and the cooling box covers a portion of the plug terminal.

[0009] Preferably, in the connector described above, the cooling box includes: an upper housing and a lower housing; the upper housing and the lower housing have a gap along the thickness direction, and the upper housing and the lower housing are configured to snap onto opposite sides of the plug terminal; one side of the upper housing is connected to and communicates with one side of the lower housing.

[0010] Preferably, in the connector described above, the cooling device further includes: an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe; the inlet pipe is connected to the upper housing, and the outlet pipe is connected to the lower housing; both the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe pass through the plug housing and are connected to the water supply system, and the water supply system, the inlet pipe, the cooling tank, and the outlet pipe are connected to form a coolant circulation channel.

[0011] Preferably, in the connector described above, the plug assembly further includes a cable, a first end of which is electrically connected to the plug terminal, and a second end of which extends out of the plug housing; the cable has a hollow structure, and the water inlet pipe is arranged in the hollow position of the cable.

[0012] Preferably, in the connector described above, the plug housing includes: an outer shell, an inner shell, and a tail cover; one end of the outer shell is open, and the open end of the outer shell is detachably connected to the tail cover, and the tail cover seals the opening of the outer shell by a sealing element; the inner shell is located within the space formed by the outer shell and the tail cover, and the plug terminal and the cooling box are located within the inner shell; the second end of the cable passes through the tail cover axially, the first end of the cable is inserted into the interior of the inner shell, and the cable is axially confined between the tail cover and the inner shell.

[0013] Preferably, in the connector described above, a retaining ring is provided between the tail cap and the inner housing; the retaining ring is sleeved on the outside of the cable and is axially limited to the cable, one end of the retaining ring abuts against the tail cap for limitation, the other end of the retaining ring abuts against the inner housing for limitation, and the axis of the sealing element is limited between the retaining ring and the inner housing.

[0014] Preferably, in the connector described above, the socket assembly includes a socket housing; the socket housing has a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring on the side near the socket terminal, the first sealing ring is located on the outer periphery of the second sealing ring, the socket terminal is inserted into the socket housing within the area enclosed by the second sealing ring, and a third sealing ring is provided between the socket housing and the socket terminal.

[0015] Preferably, the connector further includes a locking member; the locking member is inserted to connect the socket assembly and the plug assembly, and the conductor portion of the locking member contacts and is electrically connected to the socket terminal and the plug terminal respectively.

[0016] An electric vehicle includes a connector, said connector being any of the connectors described above.

[0017] The connector disclosed in this embodiment of the invention has a cooling device that can exchange heat with at least one of the socket terminals and plug terminals of the connector's power supply terminals. This allows the cooling device to dissipate heat from the power supply terminals during operation, reducing their temperature and enabling higher current carrying capacity with a smaller cross-sectional area. This reduces the size of the power supply terminals while maintaining current load capacity. When applied to vehicle chargers, this connector can shorten the charging time for vehicles using this connector. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connector structure disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connector socket assembly disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the connector socket assembly disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the connector structure including the plug assembly disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This is another exploded view of the structure of the connector including the plug assembly disclosed in the embodiments of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a partial structural diagram of the connector including a cooling device disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling device disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a side view of the cooling device disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the cable structure disclosed in an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0028] in:

[0029] 1-Socket assembly, 2-Plug assembly, 3-Locking element, 4-Cooling device; 11-Socket housing, 12-Socket terminal, 21-Plug housing, 22-Cable, 23-Plug terminal, 24-Seal, 25-Anti-locking ring;

[0030] 111-First assembly hole, 112-First sealing ring, 113-Second sealing ring, 114-Slot, 121-Second assembly hole, 122-Third sealing ring, 123-Clamping block;

[0031] 211-Main body, 212-Tail cap, 2111-Outer shell, 21111-Third assembly hole, 2112-Inner shell, 21121-Guide tube section, 231-Fourth assembly hole, 251-Claw, 31-Conductive rod;

[0032] 41-Cooling box, 42-Inlet pipe, 43-Outlet pipe, 44-Fastener, 411-Upper shell, 412-Lower shell, 413-Inlet, 414-Outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0034] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0035] Connectors are used to establish electrical connections between conductors in circuits that are blocked or disconnected, allowing current to flow and enabling the circuit to perform its intended function. Therefore, connectors are widely used in the automotive, communications, consumer electronics, data processing, and industrial machinery industries.

[0036] Taking new energy vehicles as an example, with the development of technology, connectors are commonly used in wire-to-wire and wire-to-machine interconnection scenarios. As the power requirements of connectors continue to increase, the current load on the connectors also increases. This increased current leads to the connectors generating more heat, which in turn affects the current load on the connectors.

[0037] For example, in order to achieve fast charging for cars, the power of connectors used for car charging is constantly increasing, which leads to an increase in the heat dissipation requirements of the connectors during use.

[0038] Based on the above objectives, this application discloses a connector with a cooling device that can exchange heat with the power terminals of the connector. This enables the connector to dissipate heat from the power terminals during operation, thereby reducing the temperature of the power terminals and achieving higher current carrying capacity even with a small cross-sectional area of ​​the power terminals.

[0039] This connector, when used in vehicle charger applications, can shorten the charging time for cars that utilize this connector.

[0040] The specific structure of the connector and the specific structure of the cooling device disclosed in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector disclosed in this application includes: a socket assembly 1, a plug assembly 2, and a locking member 3.

[0042] The socket assembly 1 includes a socket housing 11 and a socket terminal 12, and the plug assembly 2 includes a plug housing 21 and a cable 22.

[0043] The socket housing 11 and the plug housing 21 are fixedly connected by the locking member 3 to realize the electrical connection between the socket assembly 1 and the plug assembly 2.

[0044] The following combination Figure 2 and Figure 3 The specific structure of socket assembly 1 is described, and in conjunction with... Figures 4 to 8 The specific structure of plug assembly 2 will be described.

[0045] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the socket housing 11 has a first mounting hole 111, and the socket terminal 12 has a second mounting hole 121.

[0046] One end of the socket terminal 12 can be inserted into the socket housing 11, and after the socket terminal 12 is inserted into the socket housing 11, the first mounting hole 111 and the second mounting hole 121 are opposite each other. Optionally, the axis of the first mounting hole 111 coincides with the axis of the second mounting hole 121.

[0047] In this embodiment, the socket terminal 12 is a conductive component, and the socket housing 11 is an insulating component. The shape and size of the socket housing 11 can be set according to different needs, and all are within the protection range.

[0048] During the assembly of the socket assembly 1 and the plug assembly 2, the locking member 3 is inserted into the first assembly hole 111 and the second assembly hole 121. The locking member 3 is a conductor and fits against the socket terminal 12 to realize the electrical connection between the locking member 3 and the socket terminal 12.

[0049] In some alternative embodiments, the socket housing 11 has a first sealing ring 112 and a second sealing ring 113, and the socket terminal 12 has a third sealing ring 122.

[0050] Both the first sealing ring 112 and the second sealing ring 113 are arranged at the end of the socket housing 11 for insertion of the socket terminal 12. The first sealing ring 112 is located on the outer periphery of the second sealing ring 113. It can be understood that the radial dimension of the inner ring of the first sealing ring 112 is larger than the radial dimension of the outer ring of the second sealing ring 113. The socket terminal 12 is inserted into the area enclosed by the second sealing ring 113.

[0051] A double seal is achieved between the end of the socket housing 11 and the socket terminal 12 using the first sealing ring 112 and the second sealing ring 113.

[0052] A third sealing ring 122 is fitted onto the socket terminal 12. After the socket terminal 12 is inserted into the socket housing 11 and assembled in place, the socket terminal 12 and the socket housing 11 are sealed by the third sealing ring 122. Combined with the first sealing ring 112, the second sealing ring 113, and the third sealing ring 122, the socket housing 11 utilizes a triple-sealing structure to isolate the socket terminal 12 from the external environment at the end of the socket housing 11 away from where the socket terminal 12 is inserted, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the socket assembly 1.

[0053] In some alternative embodiments, the socket housing 11 has a slot 114 and the socket terminal 12 has a locking block 123.

[0054] During the process of inserting the socket terminal 12 into the socket housing 11, the locking block 123 is engaged in the locking slot 114, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the socket terminal 12 and the socket housing 11, and the socket terminal 12 and the socket housing 11 are assembled in place.

[0055] In other alternative embodiments, the socket terminal 12 may be provided with a slot, and the socket housing 11 may be provided with a block, meaning the positions of the slot 114 and the block 123 can be interchanged. Of course, the socket terminal 12 and the socket housing 11 can also be connected by threaded connection or adhesive bonding.

[0056] It should be noted that the socket terminal 12 and the socket housing 11 are connected by a snap-fit ​​method, which is simple in structure and has high assembly efficiency.

[0057] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the plug assembly 2 includes: a plug housing 21, a cable 22, a plug terminal 23, a seal 24, and a locking ring 25. The plug housing 21 includes a main body 211 and a tail cap 212; the main body 211 includes an outer shell 2111 and an inner shell 2112. The locking member 3 includes a conductive rod 31.

[0058] Figure 4 In this design, the outer casing 2111 includes, but is not limited to, a box structure with one end open, and the outer casing 2111 has an accommodating space inside. The inner casing 2112 is arranged inside the outer casing 2111, and the inner casing 2112 encapsulates the plug terminal 23 and the cooling device 4.

[0059] The tail cover 212 is detachably connected to one end of the opening of the outer shell 2111, and after the tail cover 212 is assembled and connected to the outer shell 2111, the tail cover 212 can close the opening of the outer shell 2111.

[0060] The aforementioned seal 24 and anti-reverse ring 25 are both located in the accommodating space between the inner housing 2112 and the tail cover 212. One end of the aforementioned cable 22 extends into the inner housing 2112, and the other end passes through the tail cover 212 and is exposed in the plug housing 21.

[0061] A sealing element 24 is provided between the outer casing 2111 and the tail cap 212. The sealing element 24 is sleeved on the cable 22 and is used to seal the through hole of the tail cap 212 through which the cable 22 passes, so as to ensure the sealing of the plug assembly 2 and improve the waterproof performance of the plug assembly 2.

[0062] In some optional embodiments, a retaining ring 25 is provided between the tail cap 212 and the seal 24. The retaining ring 25 is sleeved on the cable 22 and engages with the cable 22 circumferentially to limit its movement, thereby fixing the cable 22 and the retaining ring 25 relative to each other along the axial direction of the cable 22. In other optional embodiments, the retaining ring 25 and the seal 24 can be an integral structural component formed by secondary overmolding, reducing the assembly of the retaining ring 25 and the seal 24, which helps to ensure the positional accuracy of the seal 24 and improves the assembly efficiency of the plug assembly 2.

[0063] One end of the anti-reverse ring 25 abuts against the tail cap 212, and the other end of the anti-reverse ring 25 abuts against the inner housing 2112, thereby limiting the anti-reverse ring 25 along the axial direction. The seal 24 is limited to the inner housing 2112 and the anti-reverse ring 25 along the axial direction.

[0064] It should be noted that the anti-reverse ring 25 in this embodiment is axially limited to the cable 22, and the anti-reverse ring 25 is axially limited between the inner shell 2112 and the tail cover 212. Therefore, the anti-reverse ring 25 can prevent the cable 22 from moving along the axial direction and ensure the stability of the position of the cable 22.

[0065] In an optional embodiment, the inner housing 2112 is provided with a guide tube section 21121 for the cable 22 to pass through on the side facing the tail cover 212. The guide tube section 21121 can abut against the anti-reverse ring 25. Optionally, the guide tube section 21121 has a flange that is radially folded outward near the edge of the tail cover 212. The flange abuts against the seal 24.

[0066] By setting a flange, the contact area between the guide pipe 21121 and the anti-reverse ring 25 can be increased.

[0067] In some embodiments, a claw 251 is provided on the side of the anti-reverse ring 25 away from the guide tube section 21121. The claw 251 engages with the cable 22 to limit the axial direction of the anti-reverse ring 25 and the cable 22. In other alternative embodiments, the cable 22 and the anti-reverse ring 25 can also use protrusions and grooves to achieve axial limiting engagement.

[0068] Figure 5 In the middle, the main body 211 has a third mounting hole 21111, and the plug terminal 23 has a fourth mounting hole 231.

[0069] It should be noted that the outer shell 2111 and the inner shell 2112 have through holes arranged opposite to each other, and the through holes of the outer shell 2111 and the inner shell 2112 form the third mounting hole 21111. After the plug terminal 23 is assembled into the plug shell 21, the third mounting hole 21111 is opposite to the fourth mounting hole 231. Optionally, the axis of the third mounting hole 21111 coincides with the axis of the fourth mounting hole 231.

[0070] In this embodiment, the plug terminal 23 is a conductive component, and the plug housing 21 is an insulating component. The shape and size of the plug housing 21 can be set according to different needs, and all are within the protection range.

[0071] The locking component 3 includes a conductive rod 31, which is a conductive structure.

[0072] During the assembly of the socket assembly 1 and the plug assembly 2, the plug assembly 2 and the socket assembly 1 partially overlap, so that the first assembly hole 111, the second assembly hole 121, the third assembly hole 21111 and the fourth assembly hole 231 are opposite each other. The conductive rod 31 of the locking member 3 is inserted into the first assembly hole 111, the second assembly hole 121, the third assembly hole 21111 and the fourth assembly hole 231, and the conductive rod 31 is in contact with the plug terminal 23, realizing the electrical connection between the locking member 3 and the plug terminal 23. The conductive rod 31 is also in contact with the socket terminal 12, realizing the electrical connection between the locking member 3 and the socket terminal 12, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 through the locking member 3.

[0073] Since the socket housing 11 and the plug housing 21 overlap along the thickness direction and are connected by the locking member 3, the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 overlap along the thickness direction. The conductive rod 31 passes through the overlap position of the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 along the thickness direction, thereby realizing the electrical connection between the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23.

[0074] In this embodiment of the application, the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 are formed as the power terminals of the connector, and the electrical connection between the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 can realize the transmission of electrical energy.

[0075] The above discloses a specific method for electrically connecting the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23. In other optional embodiments, the socket terminal 12 and the plug terminal 23 can also be directly plugged in.

[0076] It should be noted that: the two ends of the conductive rod 31 of the locking member 3 disclosed in this application embodiment are respectively provided with insulating members to avoid electrical interference between the locking member 3 and other structures. The specific structure of the locking member 3 can be set according to different needs, and all are within the protection scope.

[0077] Combination Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the cooling device 4 includes: a cooling box 41, a water inlet pipe 42, a fastener 44, and a water outlet pipe 43.

[0078] The cooling box 41 covers part of the plug terminal 23. The water inlet pipe 42 is fixedly connected to the inlet 413 of the cooling box 41 by fasteners 44, and the outlet 414 of the cooling box 41 is fixedly connected to the outlet pipe 43. Both the water inlet pipe 42 and the outlet pipe 43 pass through the tail cover 212 and are exposed outside the plug housing 21.

[0079] It should be noted that the cooling tank 41, inlet pipe 42, and outlet pipe 43 are connected to form a coolant circulation channel. Through coolant circulation, heat exchange occurs between the coolant and the plug terminals 23 enclosed by the cooling tank 41, thereby reducing the temperature of the plug terminals 23. This allows for higher current carrying capacity with a smaller power terminal cross-sectional area, reducing the power terminal size while maintaining current load capacity. When this connector is used in vehicle charger applications, it can shorten the charging time for vehicles using this connector.

[0080] Figure 7 The cooling box 41 includes an upper shell 411 and a lower shell 412, wherein one of the upper shell 411 and the lower shell 412 is connected to the water inlet pipe 42 and the other is connected to the water outlet pipe 43.

[0081] The upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 have a gap along the thickness direction, and one end of the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 are connected, so that a snap-fit ​​groove is formed between the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412. The snap-fit ​​groove between the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 is used to snap-fit ​​the plug terminal 23.

[0082] The upper housing 411 has a first cavity, and the lower housing 412 has a second cavity, and the first cavity and the second cavity are connected through the connection between the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412.

[0083] Optionally, the plug terminal 23 has a rectangular plate-like structure, and the upper and lower surfaces of the plug terminal 23 along the thickness direction are the two surfaces with the largest area. The upper housing 411 is parallel to the upper surface of the plug terminal 23, and the lower housing 412 is parallel to the lower surface of the plug terminal 23. When the cooling box 41 is snapped into the plug terminal 23, the upper housing 411 is in contact with the upper surface of the plug terminal 23, and the lower housing 412 is in contact with the lower surface of the plug terminal 23.

[0084] It should be noted that the upper and lower surfaces of the cooling box 41 and the plug terminal 23 disclosed in this application embodiment are in contact, which is beneficial to increase the heat exchange area between the cooling box 41 and the plug terminal 23 and further improve the heat dissipation effect of the plug terminal 23.

[0085] In addition, the cooling box 41 is snapped into the plug terminal 23, which enables the cooling box 41 to support the plug terminal 23. This reduces the use of support components for the plug terminal 23, allows for the versatility of the cooling box 41's functions, and helps reduce costs.

[0086] In other alternative embodiments, the cooling box 41 may be an annular structure and sleeved on the outside of the plug terminal 23. The extension dimension of the cooling box 41 along the extension direction of the plug terminal 23 may be set according to different needs, and all are within the protection range.

[0087] It should be noted that the plug terminal 23 can also be a cylindrical structure, while the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 are both arc-shaped surfaces, and the arc of the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 after connection is 1 / 2 to 3 / 4 of the arc of the plug terminal 23. Of course, the upper housing 411 and the lower housing 412 can also be connected into a ring structure.

[0088] The above embodiments only show a cooling device provided at the plug terminal 23. In other alternative embodiments, the connector may also provide a cooling device 4 at the socket terminal 12. The structure of the cooling device 4 can be found in the above-described structure.

[0089] In order to arrange the inlet pipe 42 and the outlet pipe 43, a cooling device 4 can be installed at the plug terminal 23 of the connector.

[0090] like Figure 9 As shown, the cable 22 has a hollow structure, and the water inlet pipe 42 is inserted into the hollow part of the cable 22 and passes through the plug housing 21 along with the cable 22.

[0091] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the water inlet pipe 42 is inserted into the middle position of the cable 22, which reduces the need for improvements to the plug housing 21 of the plug assembly 2, and the existing plug housing 21 can be used. In addition, it can reduce the support and limiting structures of the water inlet pipe 42 during the arrangement of the water inlet pipe 42, which is conducive to simplifying the structure, reducing costs, and ensuring the miniaturization requirements of the connector.

[0092] Figure 9 In the middle, the cable 22 has a support base 221, which is used to support the plug terminal 23.

[0093] Using the support base 221 and the cooling box 41 to support the plug terminal 23 helps to ensure the stability of the position of the plug terminal 23.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first end of the cable 22 is electrically connected to the plug terminal 23, and the second end of the cable 22 is, but is not limited to, electrically connected to the charging and discharging components of the battery pack or power distribution unit (PDU).

[0095] The second end of the cable 22, into which the water inlet pipe 42 is inserted, has a forked structure, meaning that the water inlet pipe 42 passes through the side wall of the second end of the cable 22, so as to facilitate the connection of the second end of the cable 22 and the connection of the water inlet pipe 42 to the water supply system.

[0096] Optionally, the water supply system can be a car's water tank, with the aforementioned inlet pipe 42 and outlet pipe 43 both connected to the water tank. It should be noted that when the cooling device 4 is applied to the socket terminal 12, the water supply system can be an external structure. For example, if the socket assembly 1 is a charging pile, the water supply system is the water tank equipped with the charging pile.

[0097] In some embodiments, the connector described above includes, but is not limited to, a single-core connector. A single-core connector has a structure with a set of power terminals.

[0098] In addition, this application also discloses an electric vehicle including a connector. Optionally, the connector is the connector disclosed in the above embodiments. Therefore, the electric vehicle with the connector also has all the above-mentioned technical effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0099] It should be noted that the connectors in this application embodiment include, but are not limited to, chargers or dischargers for electric vehicles. When applied to an electric vehicle charger, this connector can shorten the charging time of the vehicle using the connector. When applied to an electric vehicle discharger, this connector enables rapid discharge and reduces the size of the discharger.

[0100] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0101] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that, include: A socket assembly (1) having socket terminals (12); A plug assembly (2) having a plug terminal (23); a socket assembly (1) and the plug assembly (2) are configured to be detachably connected, and in the connected state of the socket assembly (1) and the plug assembly (2), the socket terminal (12) and the plug terminal (23) overlap and are electrically connected along the thickness direction; A cooling device (4) comprising a cooling tank (41) configured to contain coolant, the cooling tank (41) covering at least a portion of at least one of the plug terminal (23) and the socket terminal (12).

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plug assembly (2) includes a plug housing (21), the cooling device (4) is installed inside the plug housing (21), and the cooling box (41) covers a portion of the plug terminal (23).

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cooling box (41) includes: an upper shell (411) and a lower shell (412); The upper housing (411) and the lower housing (412) have a gap between them along the thickness direction, and the upper housing (411) and the lower housing (412) are configured to snap onto the opposite sides of the plug terminal (23); One side of the upper housing (411) is connected to and communicates with one side of the lower housing (412).

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cooling device (4) further includes: an inlet pipe (42) and an outlet pipe (43); The inlet pipe (42) is connected to the upper housing (411), and the outlet pipe (43) is connected to the lower housing (412). The inlet pipe (42) and the outlet pipe (43) both pass through the plug housing (21) and are connected to the water supply system. The water supply system, the inlet pipe (42), the cooling tank (41), and the outlet pipe (43) are connected to form a coolant circulation channel.

5. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The plug assembly (2) also includes a cable (22), the first end of which is electrically connected to the plug terminal (23), and the second end of which extends out of the plug housing (21); The cable (22) has a hollow structure, and the water inlet pipe (42) is arranged in the hollow position of the cable (22).

6. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plug housing (21) includes: an outer shell (2111), an inner shell (2112), and a tail cap (212); One end of the outer shell (2111) is open, and one end of the opening of the outer shell (2111) is detachably connected to the tail cap (212), and the tail cap (212) seals the opening of the outer shell (2111) by a sealing element (24). The inner housing (2112) is located in the space formed by the outer housing (2111) and the tail cap (212), and the plug terminal (23) and the cooling box (41) are located in the inner housing (2112); The second end of the cable (22) passes through the tail cover (212) axially, and the first end of the cable (22) is inserted into the inner housing (2112). The cable (22) is axially positioned between the tail cover (212) and the inner housing (2112).

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, An anti-reverse ring (25) is provided between the tail cap (212) and the inner shell (2112); The anti-reverse ring (25) is sleeved on the outside of the cable (22) and is axially limited to the cable (22). One end of the anti-reverse ring (25) abuts against the tail cap (212) and the other end of the anti-reverse ring (25) abuts against the inner shell (2112). The axis of the seal (24) is limited between the anti-reverse ring (25) and the inner shell (2112).

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The socket assembly (1) includes a socket housing (11); The socket housing (11) has a first sealing ring (112) and a second sealing ring (113) on the side near the socket terminal (12). The first sealing ring (112) is located on the outer periphery of the second sealing ring (113). The socket terminal (12) is inserted into the socket housing (11) within the area enclosed by the second sealing ring (113). A third sealing ring (122) is provided between the socket housing (11) and the socket terminal (12).

9. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Also includes: Locking component (3); The locking member (3) is inserted into the socket assembly (1) and the plug assembly (2), and the conductor portion of the locking member (3) contacts and is electrically connected to the socket terminal (12) and the plug terminal (23) respectively.

10. An electric vehicle, comprising a connector, said connector being the connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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