Charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging socket (100) for a battery-powered vehicle, comprising at least one electrical contact element (10) in a charging socket housing (50), wherein a hydrophilic and electrically conductive fluid (20) is applied to the at least one electrical contact element (10). The at least one electrical contact element (10) has a sealing element (12) that surrounds the at least one electrical contact element (10) on its outer circumference, which defines a reservoir (22) containing the fluid (20) and which is movable along a longitudinal direction (16) of the at least one electrical contact element (10). The movement of the sealing element (10) is coupled to the movement of a charging plug (60) when the charging plug (60) is inserted into and / or unplugged from the charging socket (100).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle.

[0002] Charging sockets of an on-board charging system in a battery-powered vehicle are typically located in an externally accessible charging bay of the vehicle. To charge the vehicle's high-voltage battery, the charging socket is connected to a charging plug of a charging station, creating an electrically effective connection between the vehicle's high-voltage battery and the charging station.

[0003] Metallic contact elements in charging sockets are subject to deterioration in surface quality due to moisture, use, and dirt. This increases contact resistance, generating heat during charging current transfer. This can lead to a reduction in charging performance due to excessive temperatures and inefficient energy transfer.

[0004] Various mechanisms for protecting contact elements from corrosion and moisture are known in the state of the art.

[0005] EP 3 252 873 B1, for example, discloses a contact element for an electrical assembly, wherein the contact element comprises a substrate, an electrically conductive layer, and a cover layer. The one cover layer and the one electrically conductive layer form a contact surface, wherein the contact surface comprises alternating regions of the cover layer and the electrically conductive layer. The cover layer and the electrically conductive layer are applied directly to the substrate such that a contact side of the contact element is at least partially covered by the cover layer and the electrically conductive layer. The cover layer comprises a lubricating filler.

[0006] DE 10 2018 210 531 A1 describes a cover assembly for a charging socket of a motor vehicle with at least one charging area, comprising a pivotably mounted outer flap and a likewise pivotably mounted protective flap, wherein both the outer flap and the protective flap can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position. The outer flap has a guide for the protective flap on its inner side, wherein the guide is designed such that the protective flap slides along the guide when the outer flap is closed, so that the protective flap is moved into its closed position when the outer flap is closed.

[0007] DE 10 2020 134 045 B3 describes an arrangement comprising an applicator device with a lubricant applicator and a plug-in device with at least one electrically conductive contact element. When the applicator device is assembled with the plug-in device, the lubricating surface of the lubricant applicator of the applicator device frictionally contacts the at least one contact element.

[0008] From CN 1 13 708 173 A an underwater connector is known, comprising a reservoir with an insulating fluid, a sealing element which delimits the reservoir and is movable in a longitudinal direction, and an electrical contact element to which the insulating fluid is applied.

[0009] From DE 10 2019 203 193 A1, a connector arrangement for connecting and disconnecting electrical lines is known, comprising a power supply plug having a first connector housing with at least one first plug contact, and a power receiving socket corresponding to the power supply plug and covered by a first adjustable cover element, which power receiving socket has a second connector housing with at least one second plug contact corresponding to the first plug contact, wherein the plug contacts are each surrounded by an insulating and guiding body, wherein a second cover element is adjustably mounted directly or indirectly on the second connector housing or on the insulating and guiding body of the power receiving socket surrounding the second plug contact,which is assigned an actuating means for transferring the second cover element from a closed position covering at least the at least one second plug contact into an open position exposing at least the at least one second plug contact and back. The actuating means can be designed such that, as a result of a plugging movement of the power supply plug into the power socket, accompanied by a mechanical action of the power supply plug on the actuating means, the second cover element is transferred from the closed position to the open position, i.e., that a movement of the second cover element is coupled to a movement of the power supply plug.

[0010] DE 10 2011 100 883 A1 discloses a plug for establishing an electrical plug connection, comprising a plug housing with a contact carrier arranged in the plug housing and with contacts arranged in the contact carrier, which partially protrude from the contact carrier and extend into a contact receiving space formed by the plug housing. A protective device movable back and forth in the contact receiving space is arranged to protect the contacts and the contact receiving space against dirt. Movement of the protective device can be coupled to movement of a socket that can be plugged into the plug.

[0011] An object of the invention is to provide an improved charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle.

[0012] The above-mentioned problem is solved by the features of the independent claim.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention emerge from the further claims, the description and the drawing.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, a charging socket for a battery-operated vehicle is proposed, comprising a charging socket housing, at least one electrical contact element arranged in the charging socket housing, a reservoir, a sealing element which delimits the reservoir and surrounds an outer periphery of the at least one contact element, and a hydrophilic and electrically conductive fluid which is contained in the reservoir and is applied to the at least one electrical contact element, wherein the sealing element is movable along a longitudinal direction of the at least one electrical contact element, and wherein a movement of the sealing element is coupled to a movement of a charging plug when the charging plug is inserted into the charging socket and / or removed from the charging socket.

[0015] The proposed charging socket has a special mechanism for protecting the at least one electrical contact element from moisture and dirt.

[0016] Advantageously, the at least one electrical contact element is protected from moisture and dirt by the sealing element when the charging plug is removed. The movement of the sealing element along the at least one electrical contact element exposes the electrical contact element to the fluid and cleans the electrical contact element.

[0017] The fluid protects at least one electrical contact element from the environment. Surface damage can be smoothed out using the fluid, such as contact grease. Complicated handling of protective caps is eliminated. Reduction in charging performance due to excessive temperatures and inefficient energy transfer does not occur.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the sealing element can be arranged at one end of the at least one electrical contact element when the charging plug is not plugged in, wherein the end faces a plug face of the charging socket housing. The plug face represents the side of the charging socket facing a charging plug. If the sealing element is arranged at the plug-face end of the electrical contact element, it can be ensured that the at least one electrical contact element is protected along its length by the sealing element and the reservoir containing the fluid when the charging plug is not plugged in, and that the exposed surface of the contact element is substantially covered with the fluid.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the sealing element can be automatically returned to the end of the at least one electrical contact element facing the plug face of the charging socket housing when the charging plug is removed. This ensures that the at least one electrical contact element is automatically protected again by the sealing element and the reservoir containing the fluid when the charging plug is removed, and that the exposed surface of the contact element is again substantially covered with the fluid.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the reservoir can have an elastic sleeve with a first end and a second end, wherein the sleeve surrounds the at least one electrical contact element on its outer circumference at least in part, and wherein the sealing element is connected to the first end of the elastic sleeve. In particular, the second end of the elastic sleeve can be arranged on a base of the charging socket housing. In particular, the elastic sleeve can be designed as a rubber bellows.

[0021] The at least one electrical contact element is protected by the elastic sheath, for example, a rubber bellows, whose interior is filled with the hydrophilic and conductive fluid and sealed against the at least one electrical contact element by means of the sealing element. When the charging plug is inserted, the elastic sheath is pushed into the charging socket and the at least one electrical contact element is released after being cleaned by the sealing element. When the charging plug is removed, the elastic sheath ensures that the fluid is redistributed around the at least one electrical contact element.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the fluid can be arranged between the elastic sleeve and the at least one electrical contact element. The elastic sleeve, as a reservoir for the fluid, can be filled with the fluid. This allows the fluid to be effectively distributed over the surface of the at least one electrical contact element when the charging plug is removed.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, it can have a longitudinally movable charging socket cover, which is connected to the first end of the elastic sleeve and extends radially away from the at least one contact element, wherein the charging socket cover closes an interior of the charging socket housing. In this way, the interior of the charging socket outside the reservoir around the at least one electrical contact element can also be protected from moisture and dirt when the charging plug is removed.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, it can have a spring element, wherein the sealing element is positioned against the spring element in a plug-in direction of the charging plug. This ensures that the sealing element is automatically returned to its original position at the end of the at least one electrical contact element facing the plug face when the charging plug is removed.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the spring element can be supported between a base of the charging socket housing and the sealing element. Thus, when the charging plug is removed, the sealing element is automatically guided from the base toward the connector face.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the spring element can be arranged surrounding the elastic sheath or integrated into the elastic sheath. If the spring element surrounds the elastic sheath, the spring element can be conveniently mounted in this way. If the spring element is integrated into the elastic sheath, the spring element is protected from contamination and its function is particularly well ensured. Alternatively, the elastic sheath can be designed as a resilient bellows, thus assuming the return function of the spring element itself.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the sealing element can be designed as an O-ring. Such an O-ring represents a readily available sealing element that reliably fulfills its intended purpose of sealing and cleaning the at least one electrical contact element.

[0028] 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 also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0029] Showing: Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 the charging socket Fig. 1 with charging plug inserted.

[0030] In the figures, identical or similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals. The figures show only examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a charging socket 100 for a battery-powered vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0032] The charging socket 100, for example of an on-board charging device of the battery-operated vehicle, is typically arranged in a charging recess of the vehicle, not shown, which is accessible from the outside.

[0033] The charging socket 100 has two electrical contact elements 10 in a charging socket housing 50.

[0034] A hydrophilic and electrically conductive fluid 20 is applied to the electrical contact elements 10. The electrical contact elements 10 have sealing elements 12 on their outer circumference, which surround the electrical contact elements 10 and each define a reservoir 22 containing the fluid 20 and which are movable along a longitudinal direction 16 of the electrical contact elements 10. A movement of the sealing elements 10 is adapted to a movement of a charging plug 60 when plugging and / or unplugging the charging plug 60 (in Fig. 2) is coupled to the charging socket 100. The sealing element 12 can, for example, be designed as an O-ring, as shown.

[0035] When the charging plug 60 is not plugged in, the sealing element 12 is arranged at an end 14 of the at least one contact element 10, which faces a plug-in face 54 of the charging socket housing 50, so that the reservoir 22 containing the fluid 20 covers substantially the entire exposed surface in the interior 56 of the charging socket 100. When a charging plug 60 is plugged in, the sealing element 12 is guided along the longitudinal direction 16 of the electrical contact elements 10 in the plug-in direction 62 toward the bottom 52 of the charging socket housing 50, thereby cleaning the surface of the electrical contact element 10.

[0036] When the charging plug 60 is removed, the sealing element 12 can advantageously be automatically returned to the end 14 of the at least one contact element 10 facing the plug face 54 of the charging socket housing 50. For this purpose, the sealing element 12 can be supported against a spring element 30, for example a spiral spring, in a plugging direction 62 of the charging plug 60. For this purpose, the spring element 30 is advantageously supported between the base 52 of the charging socket housing 50 and the sealing element 12 and presses the sealing element 12 toward the end 14 of the electrical contact element 10.

[0037] The reservoir 22 has an elastic sleeve 24, for example, a rubber bellows, with a first end 26 and a second end 28. The elastic sleeve 24 surrounds the electrical contact element 10 at least partially on its outer circumference. The sealing element 12 is connected to the first end 26 of the elastic sleeve 24. The elastic sleeve 24 can advantageously terminate at its second end 28 with the base 52 of the charging socket housing 50.

[0038] The fluid 20 is arranged between the elastic sheath 24 and the at least one contact element 10, so that the elastic sheath 24 is filled with the fluid 20.

[0039] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the spring element 30, for example a coil spring, can surround the elastic sleeve 24 in order to exert a uniform force on the sealing element 12. In an alternative embodiment, the spring element 30 can also be integrated into the elastic sleeve.

[0040] Furthermore, a charging socket cover 18 which is movable in the longitudinal direction 16 is connected to the first end 26 of the elastic sleeve 24 and to the sealing element 12 and extends radially away from the at least one contact element 10 to the inner wall 58 of the charging socket housing 50. The charging socket cover 18 closes the interior 56 of the charging socket housing 50 and protects it from moisture and dirt when the charging plug 60 is removed.

[0041] In Fig. 2 shows the charging socket 100 with the charging plug 60 inserted.

[0042] The charging plug 60 is schematically illustrated with two contact sockets 64 embedded in a plug housing 66. The parts of the plug housing 66 are typically combined in a housing body, which is not illustrated, nor is any contact between the contact sockets 64 and cables.

[0043] The charging plug 60 is plugged into the charging socket 100 in the plugging direction 62. The plug housing 66 and the contact sockets 64 push the charging socket cover 18 with the sealing element 12 arranged thereon toward the bottom 52 of the charging socket housing 50. The sealing element 12 is pushed along the surface of the electrical contact element 10, thus cleaning the surface. The elastic sleeve 24 of the reservoir 22, connected to the sealing element 12 and the charging socket cover 18, with the fluid contained therein, deforms and is compressed in the lower interior space 56.

[0044] If the charging plug 60 is removed again, the sealing element 12 with the charging socket cover 18 is simultaneously guided back to the exposed end 14 of the electrical contact element 10 by the spring element 30. The elastic sleeve 24 is carried along with the sealing element 12. The fluid 20 contained in the elastic sleeve 24 re-wettes the surface of the electrical contact element 10. This cleans the surface and wets it with the fluid, ensuring good electrical contact the next time the charging plug 60 is inserted.

[0045] The interior space 56 along the electrical contact element 10 as well as the electrical contact element 10 itself are protected from moisture and dirt by the charging socket cover 18 after the charging plug has been removed. List of reference symbols 10 Contact element 12 Sealing element 14 End 16 Longitudinal direction 18 Charging socket cover 20 Fluid 22 Reservoir 24 elastic cover 26 first end 28 second end 30 spring element 50 charging socket housings 52 Floor 54 plug-in face 56 Interior 58 inner wall 60 charging plugs 62 Plug-in direction 64 contact socket 66 connector housings 100 charging socket

Claims

[1] Charging socket (100) for a battery-operated vehicle, comprising a charging socket housing (50), at least one electrical contact element (10) arranged in the charging socket housing (50), a reservoir (22), a sealing element (12) which delimits the reservoir (22) and surrounds an outer circumference of the at least one electrical contact element (10), and a hydrophilic and electrically conductive fluid (20) which is contained in the reservoir (22) and is applied to the at least one electrical contact element (10), wherein the sealing element (12) is movable along a longitudinal direction (16) of the at least one electrical contact element (10), and wherein a movement of the sealing element (10) is coupled to a movement of a charging plug (60) when inserting the charging plug (60) into the charging socket (100) and / or removing the charging plug (60) from the charging socket (100). [2] Charging socket according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (12) is arranged at an end (14) of the at least one electrical contact element (10) when the charging plug (60) is not plugged in, the end (14) facing a plug face (54) of the charging socket housing (50). [3] Charging socket according to claim 2, wherein the sealing element (12) can be automatically returned to the end (14) of the at least one electrical contact element (10) facing the plug face (54) of the charging socket housing (50) when the charging plug (60) is removed. [4] Charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (22) has an elastic sleeve (24) with a first end (26) and a second end (28), in particular wherein the elastic sleeve (24) is designed as a rubber bellows, wherein the sleeve (24) surrounds the at least one electrical contact element (10) on its outer circumference at least in regions, and wherein the sealing element (12) is connected to the first end (26) of the elastic sleeve (24), in particular wherein the elastic sleeve (24) is arranged with its second end (28) on a base (52) of the charging socket housing (50). [5] Charging socket according to claim 4, wherein the fluid (20) is arranged between the elastic sheath (24) and the at least one electrical contact element (10). [6] Charging socket according to claim 4 or 5, with a charging socket cover (18) which is movable in the longitudinal direction (16), which is connected to the first end (26) of the elastic sleeve (24) and extends radially away from the at least one electrical contact element (10), wherein the charging socket cover (18) closes an interior space (56) of the charging socket housing (50). [7] Charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, with a spring element (30), wherein the sealing element (12) is supported against the spring element (30) in a plugging direction (62) of the charging plug (60). [8] Charging socket according to claim 7, wherein the spring element (30) is supported between a bottom (52) of the charging socket housing (50) and the sealing element (12). [9] Charging socket according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein claim 7 refers to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the spring element (30) is arranged surrounding the elastic sheath (24) or integrated into the elastic sheath (24). [10] Charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (12) is designed as an O-ring.

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