Connector part for a charging system for charging an electric vehicle

Abstract

A connector part (5) for a charging system for charging an electric vehicle (4) comprises a first housing part (503) forming a plug-in section (501) for plug-in connection with a mating connector part (3), a second housing part (504) connected to the first housing part (503), at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) arranged on the first housing part (501) for electrical contact with a mating contact element (31) of the mating connector part (3), a sealing element (54) having a first sealing section (540) that seals a transition between the first housing part (503) and the second housing part (504) in a moisture-tight manner, and a temperature sensor assembly (55) having a temperature sensor (550).The sealing element (54) has a second sealing section (541A, 541B) connected to the first sealing section (540), which seals a transition between the first housing part (503) and the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) in a moisture-tight manner, wherein the temperature sensor (550) is arranged on the sealing element (54) to measure any heating at the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector part for a charging system for charging an electric vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and a charging system for charging an electric vehicle.

[0002] Such a connector part comprises a first housing part, which forms a plug-in section for plugging into a mating connector part. A second housing part is connected to the first housing part. At least one plug contact is arranged on the first housing part for making electrical contact with a mating contact element of the mating connector part. A sealing element has a first sealing section, which forms a moisture-tight seal at a transition between the first housing part and the second housing part. A temperature sensor assembly has a temperature sensor for measuring heating at the at least one plug contact.

[0003] Such a connector part can be designed, in particular, as a charging socket and arranged on an electric vehicle. A mating connector part in the form of a charging plug arranged on a charging cable can be connected to such a charging socket, thus establishing an electrical connection between a charging station and the electric vehicle and electrically charging the electric vehicle.

[0004] In the field of electromobility, it is desirable to charge electric vehicles quickly and efficiently to reduce charging times and the associated downtime. To enable rapid charging of an electric vehicle during a fast charging process, high charging powers are used, combined with large charging currents, for example, with a current of 700 A or even higher.

[0005] The arrangement and dimensioning of electrical contact elements on connector components for charging electric vehicles is typically prescribed by standards. Contact geometries on such connector components cannot therefore be easily scaled to potentially achieve a greater current-carrying capacity at the contact elements. One challenge, therefore, is to enable the greatest possible power transmission with existing contact geometries.

[0006] When high charging currents are transmitted, the contact elements and other components of the connector part heat up. It is stipulated that heating of a connector part may not exceed 50 K. Therefore, when high charging currents are used, care must be taken to prevent excessive heating of the connector part.

[0007] For this reason, a connector component of the type in question is provided with temperature monitoring, for which heating at a respective plug contact is monitored by a temperature sensor module. Depending on the heating at the plug contact, countermeasures can be initiated as soon as the heating approaches or exceeds a permissible limit.

[0008] Typically, if excessive heating is detected during a charging process using an alternating current charging current, a shutdown is initiated as a countermeasure. This shuts off the charging current completely and thus terminates the charging process as soon as a permissible limit is exceeded. In contrast, when a charging process uses a direct current charging current, the charging current is usually regulated down before a permissible limit is reached, so that heating approaches the permissible limit but does not exceed it. The more accurately a temperature measurement is carried out in this context, the more precisely the charging current can be regulated, so that heating is limited to a permissible level, while still transmitting the maximum possible charging current within the permissible heating limit, thus enabling efficient charging of an electric vehicle.

[0009] When measuring the temperature at a plug contact, it is desirable that the temperature at the plug contact be recorded as accurately as possible and with a short time delay. However, it is also important to ensure that a temperature sensor assembly is reliably electrically insulated from its associated plug contact, even at the high voltages typically found in a charging system, so that a voltage surge cannot occur between the plug contact and the temperature sensor assembly.

[0010] In a temperature detection device for a connector part known from DE 10 2020 126 192 A1, a locking element is arranged on a contact element. A sensor holder is arranged on the locking element, which attaches a temperature sensor to the locking element.

[0011] In a connector part known from EP 3 402 012 A1, a temperature sensor is connected to an associated plug contact via a heat-conducting element made of silicone.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector part that enables reliable temperature measurement with reliable electrical insulation between a temperature sensor element and an associated plug contact.

[0013] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

[0014] Accordingly, the sealing element has a second sealing section connected to the first sealing section, which seals a transition between the first housing part and the at least one plug contact in a moisture-tight manner. The temperature sensor is arranged on the sealing element to measure heating at the at least one plug contact.

[0015] The connector part is designed for use in a charging system for charging an electric vehicle. The connector part can, for example, be formed by a charging socket that is arranged on the electric vehicle and can be plugged into an associated mating connector part in the form of a charging plug on a charging cable coupled to a charging station.

[0016] The connector part has a housing comprising two housing parts that are attached to one another and accommodate components of the connector part within their interior, for example, connection components for connecting plug contacts to associated electrical connecting cables or control components such as circuit boards or the like. The housing parts thus form an interior space that must be sealed to prevent moisture from penetrating the exterior of the connector part into the interior of the connector part's housing during operation.

[0017] To seal a transition between the first housing part and the second housing part, a sealing element is provided which is arranged with a first sealing section between the first housing part and the second housing part in such a way that moisture cannot penetrate between the first housing part and the second housing part into the interior of the connector part.

[0018] In addition, the sealing element also serves to provide a moisture-tight seal at a transition between the first housing part and the at least one plug contact. For this purpose, the sealing element has a second sealing section which occupies an intermediate position between a section of the first housing part and the at least one plug contact, thereby sealing a transition between the plug contact and the first housing part. The at least one plug contact can thus extend through the first housing part, for example, into the region of a plug-in section formed on the first housing part, such that the at least one plug contact can be plugged into an associated mating contact element of the mating connector part in order to connect the connector part to the mating connector part.The second sealing section thus prevents moisture from penetrating into the interior of the connector part from the area of ​​the plug-in face formed by the at least one plug-in contact on the connector part.

[0019] The sealing element with the first sealing section and the second sealing section is preferably formed integrally and in one piece from a connected part. In any case, the first sealing section and the second sealing section are connected to one another, so that the first sealing section and the second sealing section are connected. This results in a sealing element that can be easily mounted between the housing parts to provide the sealing effect.

[0020] The sealing element, by means of the first sealing section and the second sealing section, performs a sealing function in order to seal off an interior of the housing formed by the first housing part and the second housing part from the outside. Furthermore, a thermally conductive connection is established between the temperature sensor assembly and the at least one plug contact via the sealing element, in that the temperature sensor of the temperature sensor assembly is arranged on the sealing element and thus absorbs heat at the at least one plug contact via the sealing element. The sealing element thus also serves to conduct heat from the at least one plug contact, against which the sealing element rests for sealing, to the temperature sensor assembly, so that heat can be absorbed and measured at the temperature sensor of the temperature sensor assembly.

[0021] In one embodiment, the sealing element is made of a flexible material, in particular a rubber material or a silicone material. The sealing element can, for example, be made of a conventional silicone material, such as a conventional sealing silicone.

[0022] Advantageously, the silicone material can have an increased temperature resistance, for example greater than 200°C, preferably greater than 500°C.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sealing element is made of an elastic plastic material, for example, a silicone material, containing a ceramic filler. The use of a ceramic filler can increase the thermal conductivity of the elastic plastic material while simultaneously providing good electrical insulation. The thermal conductivity can be, for example, greater than 1.5 W / mK, for example, greater than 2.0 W / mK, preferably greater than 3.0 W / mK, and more preferably greater than 5.0 W / mK.

[0024] As a ceramic filler, for example, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitrite or boron nitrite can be used, which is added in particle form to the silicone base material.

[0025] A silicone material in the form of a heat-conducting silicone rubber composition is described, for example, in EP 1 331 248 B1 and can be used for the sealing element.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first sealing section is arranged between a first edge section of the first housing part and a second edge section of the second housing part, thereby sealing the transition between the first housing part and the second housing part in a moisture-tight manner. The housing parts are preferably attached to one another via their edge sections in such a way that the first sealing section of the sealing element occupies an intermediate position between the first edge section and the second edge section, thus sealing a transition between the first edge section and the second edge section in a moisture-tight manner. Moisture cannot thus penetrate between the first edge section and the second edge section into the interior of a housing of the connector part enclosed by the first housing part and the second housing part.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first sealing section extends along an extension line along which the first edge section and the second edge section are joined to one another with the first sealing section interposed. The first sealing section is preferably circumferentially closed along the extension line, so that the sealing section forms a circumferentially closed ring that seals a transition between the edge sections of the housing parts along the extension line in a moisture-tight manner. The circumferentially closed, first sealing section thus follows the extension line along which the edge sections of the housing parts are joined to one another and occupies an intermediate position between the edge sections of the housing parts.By connecting the housing parts to one another, the first sealing section is preferably compressed at least to a certain degree, so that a sealing effect of the first sealing section between the edge sections of the housing parts is reliably established.

[0028] In one embodiment, the at least one plug contact has a shaft section extending along a longitudinal axis, around which the second sealing section extends. The shaft section can, for example, have a cylindrical shape, the cylinder axis of which extends along the longitudinal axis. The second sealing section surrounds the shaft section and occupies an intermediate position between the shaft section and the first housing part, so that a transition between the shaft section and the first housing part is sealed by the second sealing section of the sealing element.

[0029] In one embodiment, the at least one plug contact extends along the longitudinal axis through the first housing part. In particular, the at least one plug contact can extend from an interior space of a housing of the plug connector part, which interior space is enclosed by the first housing part and the second housing part, through the first housing part to the outside, for example into the region of a plug-in section formed on the first housing part, so that in order to plug-in connect the plug connector part to the associated mating plug connector part, the at least one plug contact on the outside of the first housing part can be brought into a plug-in, electrically contacting connection with an associated mating contact of the mating plug connector part. The second sealing section prevents moisture from penetrating between the plug contact and the first housing part into the interior of the housing of the plug connector part.

[0030] In one embodiment, the at least one plug contact is received in a receiving dome formed on the first housing part. The second sealing section is arranged between the shaft section and the receiving dome, viewed radially to the longitudinal axis. The receiving dome can in particular have the shape of a cylindrical sleeve that extends around the shaft section of the plug contact. The second sealing section occupies an intermediate position between the shaft section and the receiving dome, so that the second sealing section is arranged between the shaft section and the receiving dome, viewed radially to the longitudinal axis. The second sealing section thus acts as a radial seal in that the second sealing section circumferentially surrounds the shaft section of the associated plug contact and also lies in the receiving dome of the first housing part.The second sealing section is preferably compressed to a certain degree so that a transition between the receiving dome and the shaft section is reliably sealed via the second sealing section.

[0031] The connector part can, for example, have several plug contacts, for example, two plug contacts for transmitting a charging current in the form of a direct current. Each plug contact is assigned a second sealing section, which is connected to the first sealing section of the sealing element. Each plug contact can (also) be assigned a temperature sensor assembly with a temperature sensor, so that the temperature can be measured at each plug contact.

[0032] In one embodiment, the second sealing section is connected to the first sealing section via a connecting section. The first sealing section and the second sealing section are preferably formed integrally and in one piece together with the connecting section, thus creating a coherent, integral sealing element.

[0033] The connecting section can, for example, have the shape of a web which connects the first sealing section, which is located radially outside the second sealing section and is preferably closed circumferentially, to the second sealing section.

[0034] For example, the sealing element can have a plurality of connecting sections, with each second sealing section being connected to the outer, circumferential first sealing section via one or more connecting sections. For example, each plug contact can be assigned a second sealing section, which is connected to the first sealing section via one or more connecting sections.

[0035] The first sealing portion, the second sealing portion and the connecting portion may be formed from the same material or, for example, using a two-component plastic injection molding technique, from different materials.

[0036] In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is arranged in the region of the second sealing section on the sealing element in order to measure heating at the at least one plug contact. If the connector part has several plug contacts and each plug contact is assigned a second sealing section for sealing a transition between the respective plug contact and the first housing part, a temperature sensor can be arranged in the region of each second sealing section in order to record the temperature at each plug contact.

[0037] For example, the sealing element has a temperature sensing section connected to the second sealing section, on which the temperature sensor is arranged. The temperature sensing section protrudes radially from the second sealing section, for example, in that the temperature sensing section is formed from the material of the sealing element onto the second sealing section, for example in the form of a radially outwardly projecting tab on the second sealing section. The temperature sensor is arranged on the temperature sensing section and can thus measure heating at the plug contact assigned to the second sealing section via the temperature sensing section.

[0038] In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is embedded in the material of the sealing element. For example, the temperature sensor can be overmolded in the material of the sealing element during production of the sealing element. In another embodiment, the temperature sensor can be inserted into a preformed cavity on the sealing element after production of the sealing element, for example, by injection molding. In the normal operating state, the temperature sensor is embedded in the sealing element in such a way that heat can be conducted to the temperature sensor via the sealing element and absorbed by the temperature sensor.

[0039] One or more sensor lines can extend through the material of the sealing element to the temperature sensor.

[0040] In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is arranged on a circuit board that rests against the sealing element. The temperature sensor can, for example, be designed as a so-called SMD component, arranged on the circuit board, and connected to the circuit board via a solder joint (SMD: Surface Mounted Device).

[0041] The electrical connection of the temperature sensor can be made via the circuit board, for example to connect the temperature sensor to a control element, such as a microcontroller.

[0042] The circuit board can, for example, abut the sealing element in the axial direction, for example, the associated second sealing section or the temperature sensing section. In another embodiment, the circuit board can abut the sealing element in the radial direction, for example, the associated second sealing section or the temperature sensing section.

[0043] In one embodiment, the plug contact has a contact section for establishing an electrically contacting plug connection with an associated mating contact element of a mating connector part. The contact section can, for example, have the shape of a contact pin or the shape of a contact socket. The mating contact element is correspondingly shaped in a complementary manner and has the shape of a contact socket or a contact pin. When the connector part is connected to the mating connector part, the plug contact is connected to the associated mating contact element via the contact section, thus establishing an electrical connection.

[0044] The connector part has one or more plug contacts that, when plugged into an associated mating connector part, engage with a respective mating contact element of the mating connector part, thus establishing electrical contact between the connector part and the mating connector part. The plug contacts can, for example, each be designed to transmit a charging current in the form of a direct current.

[0045] A charging system for charging an electric vehicle comprises a connector part of the type described above. Such a charging system also comprises a mating connector part that can be plugged into the connector part. The connector part can be arranged, for example, as a charging socket on the electric vehicle. The mating connector part, in contrast, can be a charging plug, for example, which is arranged on a charging cable and can be connected to the connector part in the form of a charging socket. The charging plug can be connected, for example, to a charging station via the charging cable, so that when the connector part and the mating connector part are connected, charging currents can be transmitted from the charging station to the electric vehicle.

[0046] A connector part of the type described here can be used in particular for transmitting charging currents in the form of direct currents. However, such a connector part can also be used for transmitting charging currents in the form of alternating currents.

[0047] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a view of a charging station with a charging cable arranged thereon for connecting to an electric vehicle; Fig. 2 a view of a connector part in the form of a charging plug; Fig. 3 a view of an embodiment of a connector part in the form of a charging socket on an electric vehicle; Fig. 4 another view of the connector part; Fig. 5 a view of an embodiment of a housing part of a connector part; Fig. 6 a sectional view along the line BB according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a sectional view along the line AA according to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a sectional view along the line CC according to Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a sectional view of an embodiment of a housing part with a plug contact arranged thereon; and Fig. 10 a sectional view of another embodiment of a housing part with a plug contact arranged thereon.

[0048] Fig. Figure 1 shows a charging system comprising a charging station 1, which serves to charge an electrically powered vehicle 4, also referred to as an electric vehicle. The charging station 1 is designed to provide a charging current in the form of an alternating current or a direct current and has a cable 2, which is connected at one end 201 to the charging station 1 and at another end 200 to a mating connector part 3 in the form of a charging plug.

[0049] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, in one exemplary embodiment, the mating connector part 3 has plug-in sections 300, 301 on a housing 30, with which the mating connector part 3 can be plugged into an associated connector part 5 in the form of a charging socket on the vehicle 4. In this way, the charging station 1 can be electrically connected to the vehicle 4 in order to transmit charging currents from the charging station 1 to the vehicle 4.

[0050] In a Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a connector part 5 in the form of a charging socket to be arranged on an electric vehicle 4 has plug-in sections 500, 501 formed on a housing 50 which can be connected along the plug-in direction E to the plug-in sections 300, 301 of the mating connector part 3 in the form of the charging plug in order to thereby establish a mechanical plug-in connection between the charging plug 3 and the charging socket 5.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, contact elements 52 for transmitting an alternating current and also control contacts are arranged on an upper plug-in section 500 of the connector part 5. In contrast, plug-in contacts 51A, 51B for transmitting a charging current in the form of a direct current are arranged on a lower plug-in section 501.

[0052] The plug contacts 51A, 51B can be designed, for example, as pin contacts and, when the plug-in connector part 5 in the form of the charging socket is plugged into the mating connector part 3 in the form of the charging plug, come into electrical engagement with associated mating contact elements 31 on the plug-in section 301, so that an electrical connection is established between the plug-in connector part 5 and the mating connector part 3.

[0053] The plug contacts 51A, 51B are each connected to a load line 53A, 53B, which is inserted into the housing 50 and laid within the electric vehicle 4 to carry the charging current.

[0054] To enable rapid charging of the electric vehicle 4, e.g., during a so-called rapid charging process, the transmitted charging currents have a high current intensity, e.g., greater than 500 A, possibly even in the order of 700 A or more. Such high charging currents result in thermal losses at the cable 2 and also at the charging plug 3 and charging socket 5, which lead to heating of the cable 2, the charging plug 3, and the charging socket 5.

[0055] The permissible heating of components of the charging system is limited by standards, for example to a maximum value of 50 K. This means that measures must be taken to prevent excessive heating during charging, especially when high currents, for example in the order of 700 A or more, are used.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 50 is composed of two housing parts 503, 504, which are attached to one another and together enclose an interior space within which the plug contacts 51A, 51B, 52 are connected to the associated electrical lines and within which functional components of the connector part 5, for example, control components on circuit boards, are accommodated. This interior space is sealed to prevent moisture from penetrating the connector part 5 and potentially impairing the electrical insulation between electrical components of the connector part 5.

[0057] Fig. 5 to 8 show an embodiment of a housing part 503, which, together with another housing part 504 to be attached thereto, forms the housing 50 of the connector part 5. The housing parts 503, 504 are associated with one another by edge portions 508, 509 and are attached to one another in such a way that the housing parts 503, 504 are joined together in a moisture-tight manner and thus together enclose an interior space of the housing 50.

[0058] The edge section 509 of the housing part 504 is shown schematically in Fig. 7 and extends circumferentially on the housing part 504 such that the edge section 509 can be attached to the circumferential edge section 508 formed on the housing part 503.

[0059] In order to seal a transition between the edge sections 508, 509 in a moisture-tight manner, a sealing element 54 is provided which has a first sealing section 540 which extends along a circumferentially closed extension line and follows the edge section 508, as can be seen from Fig. 6 and Fig. 8. The sealing section 540 thus forms a circumferentially closed sealing contour, which, in the assembled state of the connector part 5, comes to lie between the edge sections 508, 509 of the housing parts 503, 504, so that a transition between the edge sections 508, 509 is sealed in a moisture-tight manner by the sealing section 540.

[0060] In the assembled state, the housing parts 503, 504 are fastened to one another, for example, via screw connections or snap-in connections. By connecting the housing parts 503, 504 to one another, the edge portion 509 of the housing part 504 rests against the sealing portion 540 of the sealing element 54, so that the sealing portion 540 occupies an intermediate position between the edge portions 508, 509 and is compressed to a certain degree to seal the transition between the edge portions 508, 509 in a moisture-tight manner.

[0061] The sealing element 54 is preferably made of a flexible plastic material, such as silicone. The sealing element 54 is thus flexible and compressible to create a sealing effect.

[0062] The plug-in section 501 is formed on the housing part 503, in the region of which the plug-in contacts 51A, 51B are arranged. For this purpose, the plug-in contacts 51A, 51B extend through the housing part 503, so that the plug-in contacts 51A, 51B each lie with a contact section 510 in the plug-in section 501 and point with an end 512 into the interior of the housing 50, as can be seen in particular from the sectional view according to Fig. 7. The respective plug contact 51A, 51B, 52 is connected to an associated line inside the housing 50 via the end 512.

[0063] In addition, the plug contacts 52 also extend through the housing part 503 in the area of ​​the plug section 500.

[0064] In order to seal a transition between the respective plug contact 51A, 51B, 52 and the housing part 503 in a moisture-tight manner, the sealing element 54 has second sealing sections 541A, 541B, 544, which each extend circumferentially around a shaft section 511 of the associated plug contact 51A, 51B, 52, as can be seen from Fig. 7. Each sealing section 541A, 541B, 544 is received in an associated receiving dome 505A, 505B, 507, so that the sealing section 541A, 541B, 544 is arranged radially between the associated plug contact 51A, 51B, 52, which extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis L, and the receiving dome 505A, 505B, 507 and thus acts as a radial seal between the housing part 503 and the shaft section 511 of the respectively associated plug contact 51A, 51B, 52.

[0065] In the area of ​​the shaft section 511, the plug contact 51A, 51B, 52 is cylindrically shaped, with the cylinder axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis L of the respective plug contact 51A, 51B, 52. Accordingly, the associated receiving dome 505A, 505B, 507 on the housing part 53 is also cylindrically shaped. The sealing section 541A, 541B, 544 circumferentially surrounds the cylindrical shaft section 511 and occupies an intermediate position between the shaft section 511 and the associated receiving dome 505A, 505B, 507, so that a transition between the respective plug contact 51A, 51B, 52 and the housing part 503 is sealed in a moisture-tight manner.

[0066] The second sealing sections 541A, 541B, 544 are part of the sealing element 54. The second sealing sections 541A, 541B, 544 are connected to the outer, circumferential first sealing section 540 via connecting sections 542A, 542B, 545 in the form of webs, so that an integral, coherent sealing element 54 is obtained, which can be arranged in a uniform manner for mounting the connector part 5 between the housing parts 503, 504 in order to mount the housing parts 503, 504 to one another.

[0067] In order to carry out temperature monitoring on the plug contacts 51A, 51B, which are designed to transmit a charging current in the form of a direct current, a temperature tapping section 543A, 543B is formed on the second sealing sections 541A, 541B assigned to the plug contacts 51A, 51B, as can be seen from Fig. 6 in conjunction with Fig. 7. The temperature sensing section 543A, 543B projects radially outward from the respective sealing section 541A, 541B and covers a housing section 506A, 506B formed on the housing part 503.

[0068] At the temperature tapping section 543A, 543B, in different embodiments, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, which has a temperature sensor 550 which is in operative connection with the material of the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B such that heat can be introduced from the associated plug contact 51A, 51B via the sealing section 541A, 541B and the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B into the temperature sensor 550 and can be absorbed there for the purpose of temperature measurement.

[0069] In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, the temperature sensor 550 is arranged on a circuit board 552. The circuit board 552 serves as a support element for the temperature sensor 550, which is embedded in the material of the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit board 552 rests in the axial direction (with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the associated plug contact 51A, 51B) against the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B, which protrudes radially from the associated sealing section 541A, 541B.

[0070] In the embodiment according to Fig.10, the temperature sensor 550 is embedded in the material of the associated temperature sensing section 543A, 543B and is completely surrounded by the material of the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B. The temperature sensor 550 can, for example, be overmolded in the material of the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B and is thus already embedded in the material of the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B during the manufacture of the sealing element 54. In another embodiment, the sealing element 54 can be manufactured with a cavity formed in the respective temperature sensing section 543A, 543B in order to insert the respective temperature sensor 550 into the associated cavity within the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B after the sealing element 54 has been manufactured.

[0071] For electrical connection, the temperature sensor 550 is connected to one or more sensor lines 551.

[0072] In order to conduct heat from the associated plug contact 51A, 51B to the respective temperature sensor assembly 55, the sealing element 54 as a whole or at least in the region of the respective second sealing section 541A, 541B and the temperature sensing section 543A, 543B is formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, in particular a silicone material, into which, for example, a ceramic filler such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride or boron nitride can be embedded to improve the thermal conductivity.

[0073] The sealing element 54 seals, on the one hand, a transition between the housing parts 503, 504 and also between the plug contacts 51A, 51B, 52 and the associated housing part 503, so that an interior of the housing 50 is sealed moisture-tight and no moisture can penetrate into the housing 50 from the outside. Furthermore, a temperature sensor assembly 55 is coupled to a respective associated plug contact 51A, 51B via the sealing element 54, so that heat is conducted via the sealing element 54 for the purpose of temperature measurement at the plug contacts 51A, 51B.

[0074] The sealing element 54 is made of an electrically insulating material and thus also provides electrical insulation between the respective temperature sensor assembly 55 and the associated plug contact 51A, 51B.

[0075] The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

[0076] A contact assembly of the type described can, for example, be part of a connector part in the form of a charging socket on an electric vehicle. However, such a contact assembly can also be part of a connector part in the form of a charging plug on a charging cable. List of reference symbols 1 charging station 2 charging cables 200, 201 end 3 charging plugs 30 housings 300, 301 plug-in section 31 Counter contact element 4 vehicle 5 Charging socket 50 housings 500, 501 plug-in section (receiving socket) 502 Rear cover 503, 504 housing part 505A, 505B mounting dome 506A, 506B housing section 507 Reception Dome 508, 509 marginal section 51A, 51B plug contact 510 Contact section 511 shaft section 512 End 52 contact elements 53A, 53B load line 54 Sealing element 540 Sealing section 541A, 541B sealing section 542A, 542B connecting section 543A, 543B Temperature sensing section 544 Sealing section 545 connecting section 55 Temperature sensor assembly 550 temperature sensor 551 sensor cable 552 board E Insertion direction L Longitudinal axis 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] DE 10 2020 126 192 A1

[0010] EP 3 402 012 A1

[0011] EP 1 331 248 B1

[0025]

Claims

[1] Connector part (5) for a charging system for charging an electric vehicle (4), with a first housing part (503) which forms a plug-in section (501) for plugging into a mating connector part (3), a second housing part (504) connected to the first housing part (503), at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) arranged on the first housing part (501) for electrical contact with a mating contact element (31) of the mating connector part (3), a sealing element (54) having a first sealing portion (540) which seals a transition between the first housing part (503) and the second housing part (504) in a moisture-tight manner, and a temperature sensor assembly (55) comprising a temperature sensor (550), characterized byin that the sealing element (54) has a second sealing section (541A, 541B) connected to the first sealing section (540), which second sealing section seals a transition between the first housing part (503) and the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) in a moisture-tight manner, wherein the temperature sensor (550) is arranged on the sealing element (54) in order to measure heating at the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B). [2] Connector part (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the sealing element (54) is made of a soft elastic material, in particular a rubber material or a silicone material. [3] Connector part (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the sealing element (54) is made of an elastic plastic material containing a ceramic filler. [4] Connector part (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the first sealing section (540) is arranged between a first edge section (508) of the first housing part (503) and a second edge section (509) of the second housing part (504) and thereby seals the transition between the first housing part (503) and the second housing part (504) in a moisture-tight manner. [5] Connector part (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the first sealing section (540) is circumferentially closed along an extension line along which the first edge section (508) and the second edge section (509) are attached to one another with the first sealing section (540) interposed. [6] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) has a shaft portion (511) extending along a longitudinal axis (L), around which the second sealing portion (541A, 541B) extends. [7] Connector part (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) extends along the longitudinal axis (L) through the first housing part (503). [8] Connector part (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by in that the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B) is received in a receiving dome (505A, 505B) formed on the first housing part (503), wherein the second sealing section (541A, 541B), viewed radially to the longitudinal axis (L), is arranged between the shaft section (511) and the receiving dome (505A, 505B). [9] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second sealing section (541A, 541B) is connected to the first sealing section (540) via a connecting section (542A, 542B). [10] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the temperature sensor (550) is arranged in the region of the second sealing section (541A, 541B) on the sealing element (54) in order to measure heating at the at least one plug contact (51A, 51B). [11] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sealing element (54) has a temperature sensing section (543A, 543B) connected to the second sealing section (541A, 541B), on which the temperature sensor (550) is arranged. [12] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the temperature sensor (550) is embedded in the material of the sealing element (54). [13] Connector part (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the temperature sensor (550) is arranged on a circuit board (552) which bears against the sealing element (54). [14] Charging system for charging an electric vehicle (4), with a connector part (5) according to one of the preceding claims. [15] Charging system according to claim 14, characterized by that the connector part (5) is a charging socket arranged on the electric vehicle (4).

Images