Device for cleaning an electrical contact pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for cleaning at least one electrical contact pin (12), in particular an electrical contact pin (12) of a charging socket (10) of an electrically operable vehicle, at least comprising at least one annular arrangement (20) with radially inwardly directed cleaning elements (22), which are designed to free a contact surface (18) of the at least one electrical contact pin (12) of deposits when the annular arrangement (20) moves concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin (12) along a longitudinal axis (16) of the electrical contact pin (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cleaning at least one electrical contact pin, in particular an electrical contact pin of a charging socket of an electrically operated vehicle.

[0002] Contamination of the contacts (contact pins) in the charging socket of an electric or hybrid vehicle leads to increased contact resistance at the connector between the charging plug and the charging socket. This increased contact resistance impairs charging efficiency and the maximum transferable current or charging power. Furthermore, the localized resistance can cause temperature increases in the connector. In the worst case, this can lead to damage to the charging equipment (plug or socket).

[0003] US 2012 / 0266914 A1 discloses a cleaning device for a socket of a charging plug used with an electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging plug mates with a charging coupler of the electric vehicle during charging. The cleaning device comprises a housing mechanically configured similarly to the charging coupler and allowing the housing to mechanically move to mate with the charging port; and a cleaning contact coupled to the housing and complementary to the socket for engaging the socket and removing contact surface contaminants from the socket whenever the housing is mechanically connected to the charging plug.

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for cleaning at least one electrical contact pin, in particular an electrical contact pin of a charging socket of an electrically operated vehicle.

[0005] The above-mentioned problem is solved by the features of the independent claim.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention emerge from the further claims, the description and the drawing.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for cleaning at least one electrical contact pin, in particular an electrical contact pin of a charging socket of an electrically operated vehicle, is proposed, at least comprising at least one annular arrangement with radially inwardly directed cleaning elements, which are designed to free a contact surface of the at least one electrical contact pin from deposits when the annular arrangement moves concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin along a longitudinal axis of the electrical contact pin.

[0008] Typically, contact resistances at the beginning of the charging process are estimated using a suitable current profile and by measuring the temperatures of the contact pins on the charging socket, since resistance cannot be measured directly. This process takes time, which can be shortened by consistently cleaned contacts, allowing the charging process to start more quickly. Furthermore, a clean connector can provide higher charging power. This allows the vehicle's traction battery to be charged more quickly.

[0009] Increased contact resistance between the charging plug and charging socket, which is caused by dust and environmental / weather-related pollution, can be avoided with the proposed device for cleaning electrical contacts of a charging socket for electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0010] By cleaning the contact pins in the charging socket, the contact resistance of the connection between the charging plug and the charging socket can be reduced. Each time the charging plug is plugged in, the vehicle-side contacts are cleaned of dust and dirt residues that can accumulate in the charging socket and thus on the contact pins due to weather conditions.

[0011] With the cleaned contacts, higher currents and thus more energy can be transferred in a shorter time for the battery charging process. The contact resistance test at the beginning of the charging process can also be shortened, as the cleaned connector has a lower contact resistance.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one annular arrangement in the charging socket can be arranged concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin.

[0013] The design of the cleaning elements that come into direct contact with the electrical contact pins of the charging socket can vary. The principle underlying these designs is the use of ring brushes that wipe off dirt axially along the contact pin, thus cleaning the contact surface on the electrical contact pin of the charging socket. With the cleaned contact surface, the contact resistance between the socket pin and the plug sleeve is reduced.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one annular arrangement can have a return spring supported on a base of the charging socket. The return spring returns the annular arrangement to its original position at the inlet of the charging socket after the charging plug is removed, thereby additionally protecting the contact pin from possible contamination.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the return spring can be designed as a spiral spring arranged concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin. In this way, a circumferentially uniform return force can be exerted on the annular arrangement.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one annular arrangement can have a sealing lip directed toward an open side of the charging socket. The sealing lip can additionally protect the contact pin from the ingress of water and moisture.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the sealing lip can be designed in a ring-shaped manner around the electrical contact pin. This allows the contact pin to be reliably protected from the ingress of water and moisture.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one annular arrangement can be arranged in a cover of the charging socket. In this embodiment of the device, the cleaning elements arranged in the cover or protective cap, for example, brushes, move along the contact pins on the charging socket when the cover is attached and removed, thereby cleaning the contact surface of the contact pins.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the cover can be designed to complement the charging socket and have a housing that is designed to encompass at least one electrical contact pin of the charging socket. The at least one annular arrangement within the housing can be arranged to encompass the at least one electrical contact pin when the cover is properly attached to the charging socket. The cleaning elements arranged in the cover, for example, brushes, move along the contact pins on the charging socket when the cover is attached and removed, thereby cleaning the contact surface of the contact pins.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the at least one annular arrangement can be arranged adjacent to the base of the charging socket in a designated position of the cover on the charging socket. This ensures that the entire contact surface of the contact pin is cleaned along its axial extent.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the cleaning elements can be at least partially brushes. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning elements can be at least partially cleaning sponges. The cleaning elements can thus advantageously be designed as ring brushes and / or ring-shaped cleaning sponges. This enables reliable cleaning of the contact surfaces of the contact pins.

[0022] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into further meaningful combinations.

[0023] Showing: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device for cleaning an electrical contact pin in a charging socket of an electrically operated vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention in a sectional view; Fig. 2 a plan view of the device according to Fig. 1 in the charging socket; Fig. 3 a plan view of a plug face of an AC / DC charging socket with a device for cleaning the electrical contact pins; Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a device for cleaning electrical contact pins in a cover of a charging socket according to a further embodiment of the invention in a sectional view; and Fig. 5 a schematic diagram of a device for cleaning an electrical contact pin in a charging socket according to a further embodiment of the invention in a sectional view.

[0024] In the figures, identical or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals. The figures are merely examples and are not to be construed as limiting.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device 100 for cleaning an electrical contact pin 12 in a charging socket 10 of an electrically operated vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention in a sectional view.

[0026] The device 100 comprises an annular arrangement 20 with radially inwardly directed cleaning elements 22. The cleaning elements 22 free the contact surface 18 of the electrical contact pin 12 from deposits such as dirt particles when the annular arrangement 20 moves concentrically around the electrical contact pin 12 along the longitudinal axis 16 of the electrical contact pin 12.

[0027] The annular arrangement 20 in the charging socket 10 is arranged concentrically around the electrical contact pin 12 and has a return spring 24, which is supported on the bottom 14 of the charging socket 10. The return spring 24 is designed as a spiral spring, which is arranged concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin 12.

[0028] The cleaning elements 22 can, as in Fig. 1, brushes, for example ring brushes, and / or ring-shaped cleaning sponges.

[0029] During the plugging process or when the plug connection between the charging plug and the charging socket 10 is released, the spring-loaded brushes act as cleaning elements 22 of the annular arrangement 20 and are moved axially along the contact pin 12 and clean the contact surface of the contact pin 12. In the passive state of the charging socket 10, when it is not in use, the annular brushes 22 additionally protect against the penetration of dirt from outside.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device 100 according to Fig. 1 in the charging socket 10.

[0031] Inside the charging socket 10, the contact pin 12 with the brushes arranged in a ring around the contact pin 12 as cleaning elements 22 can be seen.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a plug face of an AC / DC charging socket 10 with a device 20 for cleaning the electrical contact pins 12. A so-called Type 2 charging socket 10 is shown.

[0033] All current-carrying conductors, including protective conductor and neutral conductor, of the charging socket 10 are equipped with the ring brushes as cleaning elements 22 of the ring-shaped arrangements 20 of the device 100.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a device 100 for cleaning electrical contact pins 12 in a cover 30 of a charging socket 10 according to another embodiment of the invention, shown in a sectional view. The annular arrangements 20 of the device 100 are integrated into the cover 30 or protective cap of the charging socket 10.

[0035] By way of example, the charging socket 10 has two contact pins 12, which can be covered by sliding the cover 30 over them.

[0036] The cover 30 is designed to complement the charging socket 10 and has a housing 32 that is designed to encompass the electrical contact pins 12 of the charging socket 10. The annular arrangements 20 are arranged within the housing 32 so as to encompass the electrical contact pins 12 when the cover 30 is properly attached to the charging socket 10.

[0037] The annular arrangements 20 are arranged such that, in a proper position of the cover 30 on the charging socket 10, when the cover 30 is fully pushed onto the charging socket 10, they are adjacent to the bottom 14 of the charging socket 10. In this way, the entire contact surface 18 of the contact pins 12 can be cleaned of dirt when the cover 30 is pushed on.

[0038] When the cover 30 is plugged on and removed, the brushes, as cleaning elements 22 of the annular arrangements 20 of the device 100, move along the contact pins 12 on the charging socket 10 and clean the contact surface 18 of the contact pins 12.

[0039] Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a device 100 for cleaning an electrical contact pin 12 in a charging socket 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention in a sectional view.

[0040] The device 100 is essentially as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment.

[0041] The difference is that the annular arrangement 20 has a sealing lip 26 directed toward an open side 19 of the charging socket. The sealing lip 26 is designed to surround the electrical contact pin 12 in a ring-shaped manner.

[0042] In addition to the cleaning elements 22, a rubber sealing lip 26 can also be installed above the annular arrangement 20 so that the contact pins 12 in the charging socket 10 can be protected from the ingress of water and / or moisture. List of reference symbols 10 Charging socket 12 electrical contact pins 14 Floor 16 Longitudinal axis 18 Contact surface 19 open page 20 ring-shaped arrangement 22 Cleaning element 24 Return spring 26 Sealing lip 30 Cover 32 housings 100 device QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2012 / 0266914 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device (100) for cleaning at least one electrical contact pin (12), in particular an electrical contact pin (12) of a charging socket (10) of an electrically operable vehicle, at least comprising at least one annular arrangement (20) with radially inwardly directed cleaning elements (22), which are designed to free a contact surface (18) of the at least one electrical contact pin (12) of deposits when the annular arrangement (20) moves concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin (12) along a longitudinal axis (16) of the electrical contact pin (12). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) in the charging socket (10) is arranged concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin (12). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) comprises a return spring (24) which is supported on a bottom (14) of the charging socket (10). [4] Device according to claim 3, wherein the return spring (24) is designed as a spiral spring which is arranged concentrically around the at least one electrical contact pin (12). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) has a sealing lip (26) directed towards an open side (19) of the charging socket. [6] Device according to claim 5, wherein the sealing lip (26) is formed in a ring-shaped manner surrounding the electrical contact pin (12). [7] Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) is arranged in a cover (30) of the charging socket (10). [8] Device according to claim 7, wherein the cover (30) is designed to be complementary to the charging socket (10) and has a housing (32) which is designed to encompass at least one electrical contact pin (12) of the charging socket (10), wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) within the housing (32) is arranged to encompass the at least one electrical contact pin (12) when the cover (30) is plugged onto the charging socket (10) as intended. [9] Device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one annular arrangement (20) is arranged in a designated position of the cover (30) on the charging socket (10) adjacent to the bottom (14) of the charging socket (10). [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning elements (20) are at least partially brushes and / or wherein the cleaning elements (20) are at least partially cleaning sponges.

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