Charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging socket (100) for a battery-powered 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 encompasses an outer circumference of the at least one electrical contact element (10), and a hydrophobic and electrically conductive fluid (20) which is contained in the reservoir (22) and 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 the charging plug (60) is inserted into the charging socket (100) and / or when the charging plug (60) is unplugged from the charging socket (100).

Description

The invention relates to a charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle.Charging sockets of an on-board charging device of a battery-powered vehicle are typically arranged in an externally accessible charging cradle of the vehicle. For charging the high-voltage battery of the vehicle, the charging socket is connected to a charging plug of a charging column, as a result of which an electrically effective connection can be established between the high-voltage battery of the vehicle and the charging column.Metallic contact elements in charging sockets are subject to a reduction in their surface quality due to moisture, use and dirt. This causes the contact resistance to rise, as a result of which heat is generated during the transfer of charging current. This can lead to a reduction in the charging power due to excessively high temperatures and inefficiencies in energy transfer.Various mechanisms for protecting contact elements from corrosion and moisture are known in the art.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 covering 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 covering layer and the electrically conductive layer are applied directly to the substrate in such a way that a contact side of the contact element is at least partially covered by the covering layer and the electrically conductive layer. The covering layer comprises a lubricating filler.DE 10 2018 210 531 A1 describes a cover assembly for a charging socket of a motor vehicle having at least one charging region, 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 in each case an opening position and a closing 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, such that the protective flap is moved into its closed position when the outer flap is closed.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. In this case, the lubricating surface of the lubricant applicator of the applicator device in the state of the applicator device joined to the plug-in device abuts the at least one contact element in a rubbing manner.CN 1 13 708 173 A discloses an underwater plug connector 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.From DE 10 2019 203 193 A1 a plug connector arrangement for connecting and disconnecting electrical lines is known, having a power supply plug which has a first plug connector housing with at least one first plug contact, and having a power receiving socket which corresponds to the power supply plug and is covered by means of a first adjustable cover element and which has a second plug 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 guide body, wherein a second cover element is adjustably mounted directly or indirectly on the second plug connector housing or on the insulating and guide body of the power receiving socket surrounding the second plug contact, to which cover element 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 releasing at least the at least one second plug contact and back is assigned. The actuating means can be designed such that, as a result of a plug-in movement of the power supply plug into the power receiving socket, accompanying a mechanical action of the power supply plug on the actuating means, the second cover element is transferred from the closed position into the open position, i.e. a movement of the second cover element is coupled to a movement of the power supply plug.From DE 10 2011 100 883 A1, a plug for producing an electrical plug connection is known, 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 protrude into a contact receiving space formed by the plug housing, wherein a protection device movable back and forth in the contact receiving space is arranged for protecting the contacts and the contact receiving space against dirt. A movement of the protective device can be coupled to a movement of a socket that can be plugged with the plug.From the post-published DE 10 2024 000 440 B3 a charging socket for a battery-operated vehicle is known, having at least one electrical contact element in a charging socket housing, wherein a hydrophilic and electrically conductive fluid is applied to the at least one electrical contact element. The at least one electrical contact element has a sealing element which surrounds the at least one electrical contact element on its outer circumference and which delimits a reservoir containing the fluid and which can be moved along a longitudinal direction of the at least one electrical contact element. In this case, a movement of the sealing element is coupled to a movement of a charging plug when the charging plug is inserted and / or removed from the charging socket.From US 3 503 034 A an electrical connector is known comprising a body of elastomeric, electrically non-conductive material, means defining within the body a chamber containing electrically conductive liquid, and means defining a pair of spaced apertures each having a cross-sectional area leading through the body to the chamber, and a pair of electrically conductive contacts sized for insertion into the chamber through the respective apertures, the portion of the contacts projecting into the chamber when the contacts are fully inserted through the apertures having a volume greater than the volume of the chamber which is not filled by the liquid when the contacts are retracted, so that when the contacts are fully inserted the chamber is overfilled and their walls bulge.From post-published DE 10 2023 117 202 A1, a charging plug connector for electric and hybrid vehicles is known, having a housing, charging contacts arranged in the housing, which can be contacted through an opening of the housing with corresponding charging contacts of a corresponding charging plug connector, a movable galvanically insulating cover, which closes the opening in a closed position and releases the opening in an open position for contacting the charging contacts with the corresponding charging contacts, and a spring connected to the cover, wherein the cover and the spring are designed and arranged such that the cover is displaced by the corresponding charging plug connector in the plug-in direction when the charging plug connector is plugged together with the corresponding charging plug connector, whereby the spring is compressed and the cover is transferred from the closed position into the open position, so that the charging contacts are released and thus contactable with the corresponding charging contacts of the corresponding charging plug connector.An electrical plug connector is known from JP H06-250 103 A, wherein a hydrophobic and electrically conductive fluid is applied to a section of the plug connector by means of the socket when a plug is inserted into a socket of the plug connector.It is an object of the invention to provide an improved charging socket for a battery powered vehicle.The aforementioned object is achieved with the features of the independent claim.Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention are evident from the further claims, the description and the drawing.According to one aspect of the invention, a charging socket for a battery-operated vehicle is proposed, having a charging socket housing, at least one electrical contact element which is arranged in the charging socket housing, a reservoir, a sealing element which delimits the reservoir and surrounds an outer circumference of the at least one contact element, and a hydrophobic 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 when the charging plug is removed from the charging socket.The proposed charging socket has a special mechanism for protecting the at least one electrical contact element from moisture and dirt.Advantageously, the at least one electrical contact element is protected from moisture and dirt by means of the sealing element when the charging plug is removed. The movement of the sealing element along the at least one electrical contact element results in the electrical contact element being acted upon with the fluid and the electrical contact element being cleaned.The at least one electrical contact element is safely protected from the environment by the fluid. Surface damage can be leveled by the fluid, for example contact grease. Complicated handling of protective caps is dispensed with. A reduction in the charging power due to excessively high temperatures and inefficiencies in energy transfer does not occur.According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the sealing element can be arranged at an 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 mating face-side end of the electrical contact element, it can be ensured that the at least one electrical contact element is protected with the fluid in its length by the sealing element and the reservoir when the charging plug is not plugged, and that the exposed surface of the contact element is covered with the fluid to a substantial extent.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. It is thus ensured that the at least one electrical contact element is automatically protected again with the fluid by the sealing element and the reservoir when the charging plug is removed, and that the exposed surface of the contact element is again covered to a substantial extent with the fluid.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 regions, 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 at a base of the charging socket housing. In particular, the elastic sleeve can be designed as a rubber bellows.The at least one electrical contact element is protected by the elastic sleeve, for example a rubber bellows, the interior of which is filled with the hydrophobic and conductive fluid and seals against the at least one electrical contact element by means of the sealing element. When the charging plug is plugged on, the elastic sleeve is pushed into the charging socket and the at least one electrical contact element is released in a cleaned manner by the sealing element. If the charging plug is removed, the elastic sheath ensures that the fluid is distributed again around the at least one electrical contact element.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 sheath as a reservoir of the fluid can be filled with the fluid. Thus, upon removal of the charging plug, the fluid can be distributed again favorably on the surface of the at least one electrical contact element.According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the latter can have a charging socket cover which is movable in the longitudinal direction and 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 space 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.According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the latter can have a spring element, wherein the sealing element is against the spring element in a plug-in direction of the charging plug. This can ensure that the sealing element is automatically returned to its initial position at the end of the at least one electrical contact element facing the plug face when the charging plug is removed.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 in the direction of the plug face.According to an advantageous embodiment of the charging socket, the spring element can be arranged surrounding the elastic sleeve or integrated into the elastic sleeve. If the spring element surrounds the elastic sleeve, the spring element can be mounted in a favorable manner in this way. If the spring element is integrated into the elastic sleeve, the spring element is protected from soiling and its function is ensured in a particularly favorable manner.Alternatively, the elastic sleeve can be designed as a resilient bellows and thus assume the restoring function of the spring element itself.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 favorably available sealing element which securely fulfils its intended purpose for sealing and cleaning the at least one electrical contact element.Further advantages are evident from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The drawings, specification and claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will expediently also consider the features individually and summarize them to form meaningful further combinations.The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a charging socket for a battery-powered vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 2 shows the charging socket according to FIG. 1 with the charging plug plugged in.In the figures, identical or similar components are denoted by identical reference numerals. The figures merely show examples and should not be understood as limiting.FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a charging socket 100 for a battery-operated vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.The charging socket 100, for example an on-board charging device of the battery-operated vehicle, is typically arranged in a charging recess of the vehicle, which is not illustrated and is accessible from the outside.The charging socket 100 has two electrical contact elements 10 in a charging socket housing 50.A hydrophobic and electrically conductive fluid 20 is applied to the electrical contact elements 10. The electrical contact elements 10 have on their outer circumference sealing elements 12 which surround the electrical contact elements 10 and which each delimit a reservoir 22 containing the fluid 20 and which can be moved along a longitudinal direction 16 of the electrical contact elements 10. In this case, a movement of the sealing elements 10 is coupled to a movement of a charging plug 60 when the charging plug 60 is inserted and / or removed (illustrated in FIG. 2 ) from the charging socket 100. The sealing element 12 can be designed, for example, as an O-ring, as shown.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 end faces a plug face 54 of the charging socket housing 50, such that the reservoir 22 with the fluid 20 covers substantially the entire surface exposed in the interior 56 of the charging socket 100. When a charging plug 60 is plugged on, the sealing element 12 is guided in the plug-in direction 62 in the direction of the base 52 of the charging socket housing 50 along the longitudinal direction 16 of the electrical contact elements 10 and thereby cleanses the surface of the electrical contact element 10.The sealing element 12 can expediently be returned automatically, when the charging plug 60 is removed, 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 in a plug-in direction 62 of the charging plug 60 against a spring element 30, for example a helical spring. 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 in the direction of the end 14 of the electrical contact element 10.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 sheath 24 surrounds the electrical contact element 10 on its outer circumference at least in regions. The sealing member 12 is connected to the first end 26 of the resilient sleeve 24. The elastic sleeve 24 can advantageously terminate at its second end 28 with the base 52 of the charging socket housing 50.The fluid 20 is arranged between the elastic sleeve 24 and the at least one contact element 10, so that the elastic sleeve 24 is filled with the fluid 20.As can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring element 30, for example a helical spring, can surround the elastic sleeve 24 in order to exert an entirely uniform force on the sealing element 12. In an alternative embodiment, the spring element 30 can also be integrated into the elastic sleeve.Furthermore, a receptacle cover 18 that can move 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 as far as the inner wall 58 of the receptacle housing 50.FIG. 2 shows the charging socket 100 with the charging plug 60 plugged in.The charging plug 60 is schematically shown with two contact sockets 64 which are embedded in a plug housing 66. The parts of the plug housing 66 are usually joined together in a housing body, which is not shown, as is the contacting of the contact sockets 64 with cables.The charging plug 60 is plugged onto the charging socket 100 in the plug-in direction 62. The plug housing 66 and the contact sockets 64 push the socket cover 18 with the sealing element 12 arranged thereon in the direction of the base 52 of the socket housing 50 The sealing element 12 is thereby pushed along the surface of the electrical contact element 10 and cleanses the surface in this way. The elastic sheath 24 of the reservoir 22 with the fluid therein, which is connected to the sealing element 12 and the receptacle cover 18, deforms and is compressed in the lower interior 56.If the charging plug 60 is removed again, the sealing element 12 with the charging socket cover 18 is simultaneously guided again by the spring element 30 to the exposed end 14 of the electrical contact element 10. The elastic sheath 24 is carried along with the sealing element 12. The fluid 20 located in the elastic sheath 24 re-wets the surface of the electrical contact element 10. As a result, the surface is cleaned and wetted with the fluid, so that good electrical contact can be ensured during the next plugging-in of the charging plug 60.The interior 56 along the electrical contact element 10 and the electrical contact element 10 itself are again protected from moisture and dirt by the receptacle cover 18 after the removal of the charging plug.List of reference characters10 Contact element 12 Sealing element 14 End 16 Longitudinal direction 18 Receptacle cover 20 Fluid 22 Reservoir 24 Elastic sleeve 26 First end 28 Second end 30 Spring element 50 Receptacle housing 52 Base 54 Plug face 56 Interior space 58 Inner wall 60 Charge plug 62 Plug direction 64 Contact socket 66 Plug housing 100 Receptacle

Claims

Charging socket (100) for a battery-powered vehicle, having a charging socket housing (50), at least one electrical contact element (10) which is arranged in the charging socket housing (50), a reservoir (22), a sealing element (12) which delimits the reservoir (22) and surrounds an outer periphery of the at least one electrical contact element (10), and a hydrophobic 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 the charging plug (60) is inserted into the charging socket (100) and / or the charging plug (60) is removed from the charging socket (100).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, wherein the end (14) faces a plug face (54) of the charging socket housing (50).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.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) at least in regions on its outer circumference, 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).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).Charging socket according to claim 4 or 5, comprising a charging socket cover (18) 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).Charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, having a spring element (30), wherein the sealing element (12) is supported against the spring element (30) in a plug-in direction (62) of the charging plug (60).The 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).Charging socket according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein claim 7 relates to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the spring element (30) is arranged surrounding the elastic sleeve (24) or integrated into the elastic sleeve (24).Charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (12) is designed as an O-ring.

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