Vehicle charging socket and vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle charging socket (16) for an at least partially electrically driven vehicle (10) has at least one direct-current charging contact (38) that extends from an exterior (22) of the vehicle towards the interior of the vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle charging socket (16) has, within a charging socket housing (24), a cavity (30) through which the at least one direct-current charging contact (38) extends. The cavity (30) is designed as a cooling channel (32) that has a first end (40) allocated to the interior (20) of the vehicle, and a second end (42) allocated to the exterior (22) of the vehicle. The vehicle charging socket (16) comprises a fan (44) that is allocated to the cooling channel (32) and is configured to draw in air from the interior (20) of the vehicle via the first end (40) of the cooling channel (32) and discharge same via the second end (42) of the cooling channel (32) in order to cool the direct-current charging contact (38). The invention also relates to a vehicle.

Description

[0001] Vehicle charging socket and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle charging socket for an at least partially electrically powered vehicle and to a vehicle with such a vehicle charging socket.

[0003] Vehicles that are at least partially electrically powered typically have an electrically driven drive motor supplied with electricity via a battery device, for example, a rechargeable traction battery. To charge the battery device, it can be connected to an external charging device, such as a charging station. For this purpose, it is known to provide a vehicle charging socket on the vehicle. This socket has charging contacts that electrically connect the vehicle to the respective charging device during the charging process.

[0004] The current flow during the charging process causes the charging contacts of the vehicle charging socket to heat up. This effect is particularly significant for DC charging contacts, through which a direct current of up to 200 A can flow. Future requirements also call for currents of up to 500 A and more for vehicle applications. If the temperature of the DC charging contacts rises too much, the current flow must be reduced to avoid exceeding a specified temperature threshold. However, this has a negative impact on the charging time of the vehicle or the battery device, so the minimum charging time is limited by the temperature of the DC charging contacts.

[0005] It is known to equip the vehicle charging socket with a means of cooling the DC charging contacts in order to counteract the heating of the DC charging contacts. For this purpose, the vehicle charging socket can have a water cooling system, an air cooling system, or a cooling system based on a phase-change material, which absorbs heat from the DC charging contacts and dissipates it towards the interior of the vehicle, usually into a luggage compartment of the vehicle. A disadvantage of known solutions, however, is that the respective cooling systems are complex and the heat dissipated into the interior of the vehicle heats up the interior of the vehicle. This results in a vehicle's air conditioning system having a higher energy consumption in order to compensate for the additional heat dissipated into the interior.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a cost-effective vehicle charging socket for an at least partially electrically powered vehicle, which enables efficient cooling of DC charging contacts.

[0007] The object is achieved by a vehicle charging socket for an at least partially electrically powered vehicle, wherein the vehicle charging socket has at least one direct current charging contact which extends from an outside of the vehicle towards the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle charging socket has a cavity within a charging socket housing through which the at least one direct current charging contact runs, wherein the cavity is designed as a cooling channel which has a first end assigned to the interior of the vehicle and a second end assigned to the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle charging socket comprises a fan assigned to the cooling channel, which fan is configured to draw in air from the interior of the vehicle via the first end of the cooling channel and to discharge it via the second end of the cooling channel in order to cool the direct current charging contact.

[0008] The invention is based on the fundamental idea of ​​cooling the at least one DC charging contact using air drawn from the vehicle's interior. In contrast to air drawn from outside the vehicle, the air in the vehicle's interior typically has a lower water content and a reduced amount of contaminants, so that the cooling channel becomes less contaminated during operation of the vehicle charging socket, and moisture is less likely to accumulate in the cooling channel. At the same time, the vehicle charging socket according to the invention is cost-effective and easy to manufacture, since the fan only needs to be installed during assembly of the vehicle charging socket.

[0009] The air sucked in by the fan flows directly around the at least one DC charging contact or a thermally conductive housing of the at least one DC charging contact, so that effective cooling is ensured by the generated air flow.

[0010] The first end of the cooling channel is fluidically connected to the interior of the vehicle in the installation position of the vehicle charging socket and the second end of the cooling channel is fluidically connected to the outside of the vehicle in the installation position of the vehicle charging socket.

[0011] Relations between components of the vehicle charging socket and the vehicle specified here and below refer to the installation position of the vehicle charging socket according to the invention in a corresponding vehicle.

[0012] In order to be able to suck in the air from the interior of the vehicle particularly reliably, the fan can be arranged in the area of ​​the first end of the cooling duct.

[0013] For example, the charging socket housing can include a sealing surface that borders the interior of the vehicle and defines the cavity, with the fan forming part of the sealing surface. In other words, in this variant, the vehicle charging socket, when installed, borders directly on the interior of the vehicle, for example, the luggage compartment.

[0014] Preferably, the first end of the cooling duct is arranged geodetically above the second end of the cooling duct. In this way, the airflow generated by the fan runs from top to bottom. This allows the second end of the cooling duct, i.e., the end associated with the exterior of the vehicle, to have a downward-facing outlet opening through which the airflow is discharged over the exterior of the vehicle. Thus, there is no need to provide an upward-facing outlet opening through which dirt and / or moisture, for example, from rainwater, can penetrate the cooling duct.

[0015] In one variant, the cooling channel runs perpendicular to the at least one DC charging contact in the area of ​​the at least one DC charging contact. This results in a particularly compact design of the vehicle charging socket. Furthermore, at least part of the cooling channel can be a water drain of the vehicle charging socket housing or run parallel to a water drain of the vehicle charging socket housing. In other words, a water drain already provided for moisture protection can also be used as a cooling channel, thus further minimizing the space required for the vehicle charging socket.

[0016] In order to be able to regulate the temperature of the at least one DC charging contact even better, the speed of the fan can be adjustable depending on the current temperature of the at least one DC charging contact.

[0017] In particular, the vehicle charging socket comprises a control unit which is designed to regulate the speed of the fan.

[0018] Alternatively, the fan of the vehicle charging socket can be connected to a control unit of the vehicle, which is designed to regulate the speed of the fan.

[0019] For example, the speed of the fan can be increased when the current temperature of the at least one DC charging contact increases and decreased when the current temperature of the at least one DC charging contact is constant or decreases.

[0020] A temperature threshold for the at least one DC charging contact can be stored in the control unit, based on which the speed of the fan can be regulated. In other words, the fan can be controlled in such a way that the at least one DC charging contact does not heat up to a temperature above the temperature threshold.

[0021] For example, the temperature threshold is 90 °C.

[0022] The vehicle charging socket may have a sensor unit configured to determine the current temperature of at least one DC charging contact and transmit it to the control unit.

[0023] The fan can also be controlled so that it can be turned off completely. This is particularly advantageous if the vehicle charging socket has at least one AC charging contact in addition to the at least one DC charging contact, thus enabling AC charging. In AC charging mode, lower currents flow through the at least one AC charging contact than in DC charging mode via the at least one DC charging contact. In this case, it is desirable that as many consumers as possible in the vehicle can be switched off in order to keep the loss of electrical power during the charging process as low as possible.

[0024] The fan can have a maximum power consumption of 5 W or less, in particular 2 W or less, for example 1.5 W. This makes the fan's energy consumption negligible. Furthermore, such fans are available worldwide at low cost and require little space.

[0025] It was recognized that an appropriately dimensioned fan is sufficient to achieve the desired cooling effect of the at least one DC charging contact, since the temperature difference between the air in the interior and the temperature threshold, i.e. the maximum expected temperature of the at least one DC charging contact, is sufficiently high to reliably cool the at least one DC charging contact with an air flow that can be generated by such a fan.

[0026] For example, the temperature difference is in the range of 50 to 70 °C for an indoor temperature in the range of 20 to 40 °C and a temperature threshold of 90 °C.

[0027] Furthermore, the fan can have an operating voltage of 12 V, allowing it to be powered via the vehicle's electrical system. This eliminates the need for converters to operate the fan, further reducing the cost and / or space requirements of the vehicle charging socket.

[0028] The object is further achieved according to the invention by a vehicle with a vehicle charging socket as described above.

[0029] The advantages and properties of the vehicle charging socket according to the invention apply analogously to the vehicle according to the invention and vice versa, and reference is made to the above explanations. The vehicle is, in particular, an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

[0030] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which is not intended to be limiting, and from the drawings, in which:

[0031] - Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle according to the invention, and

[0032] - Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional view through a vehicle charging socket according to the invention, as used in the vehicle according to Fig. 1.

[0033] Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 10 according to the invention. The vehicle 10 is an at least partially electrically operated vehicle, for example a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.

[0034] The vehicle 10 has a rechargeable battery device 12 which is connected to an electrically operated drive device 14 with which the vehicle 10 can be driven.

[0035] The vehicle 10 further comprises a vehicle charging socket 16 according to the invention, which is arranged in the area of ​​a luggage compartment 18 of the vehicle 10. It is understood that the vehicle charging socket 16 can also be arranged at a different location on the vehicle 10 than that shown in Fig. 1.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a perspective sectional view through the vehicle charging socket 16 according to the invention, wherein the sectional plane runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 10, so that an interior 20 of the vehicle 10 in Fig. 2 borders on the left of the vehicle charging socket 16 shown and an outer side 22 of the vehicle 10 in Fig. 2 borders on the right of the vehicle charging socket 16 shown.

[0037] The vehicle charging socket 16 has a charging socket housing 24 which adjoins the interior 20 of the vehicle 10 with a sealing surface 26 and terminates with an outer surface 28 towards the outside 22 of the vehicle 10.

[0038] Within the charging socket housing 24, a cavity 30 is provided, which is designed as a cooling channel 32, as will be described in more detail later. The vehicle charging socket 16 further has a charging port 34, which includes a plurality of AC charging contacts 36 and two DC charging contacts 38. Due to the sectional view shown in Fig. 2, only a portion of the AC charging contacts 36 and DC charging contacts 38 are visible.

[0039] In the embodiment shown, the charging port 34 is designed according to the CCS (Combined Charging System) standard. However, other arrangements of AC charging contacts 36 and DC charging contacts 38 can also be provided according to the invention, as long as at least one DC charging contact 38 is present.

[0040] The respective AC charging contacts 36 and DC charging contacts 38 extend parallel to the sectional plane shown in Fig. 2, i.e. from the outside 22 of the vehicle 10 towards the interior 20 of the vehicle 10.

[0041] In the interior 20, the AC charging contacts 36 and DC charging contacts 38 merge into electrical lines 39 which are connected to the battery device 12 (see Fig. 1).

[0042] The cooling channel 32 extends from a first end 40, which is associated with the interior 20, to a second end 42, which is associated with the exterior 22.

[0043] A fan 44 is associated with the first end 40, which creates a fluidic connection between the air atmosphere in the interior 20 of the vehicle, namely the air atmosphere in the luggage compartment 18, and the cooling channel 32.

[0044] In other words, in the embodiment shown, the fan 44 forms an inlet 46 of the cooling channel 32.

[0045] The fan 44 has a maximum power consumption of 5 W or less, in particular 2 W or less, for example 1.5 W, and has an operating voltage of 12 V, so that the fan 44 can be operated with low energy consumption and via the electrical system of the vehicle 10.

[0046] The second end 42 is formed by a downwardly extending shaft 48, which thus serves as an outlet 50 of the cooling channel 32. The shaft 48 also represents a water drain 52 of the charging socket housing 24. This means that if water separates within the cavity 30, it can be discharged to the outside via the shaft 48.

[0047] The functioning of the vehicle charging socket 16 according to the invention is explained in more detail below.

[0048] The vehicle charging socket 16 enables various modes for charging the battery device 12 due to the available electrical contacts.

[0049] On the one hand, the vehicle charging socket 16 can be used in alternating current charging mode, also referred to as AC charging mode, via the alternating current charging contacts 36. In alternating current charging mode, comparatively low currents of, for example, up to 80 A are used to charge the battery device 12.

[0050] On the other hand, the vehicle charging socket 16 can be used in direct current charging mode, also referred to as DC charging mode, via the direct current charging contacts 38. In alternating current charging mode, comparatively high currents of up to 500 A, for example 200 A, are used to charge the battery device 12.

[0051] The current flow during the charging process causes the AC charging contacts 36 and the DC charging contacts 38 to heat up. The temperatures of the AC charging contacts 36 and the DC charging contacts 38 must be kept below a predetermined temperature threshold to ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle charging socket 16. This means that, in DC charging mode, the actual usable current intensity over a complete charging process of the battery device 12, and thus the total duration of the charging process, is limited primarily by the temperature of the DC charging contacts 38.

[0052] In particular, the current temperature, i.e., the temperature at a specific time during the charging process, must be kept below a predetermined temperature threshold, for example, at a maximum temperature of 90°C. If this temperature threshold were exceeded, the current intensity would have to be reduced. To counteract this effect, according to the invention, the fan 44 draws in air from the interior of the vehicle 10, which typically has a temperature in the range of 20 to 40°C.

[0053] The air drawn in by the fan 44 flows from the first end 40 of the cooling channel 32 toward the second end 42 of the cooling channel 32, passing through the DC charging contacts 38, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. In this way, heat can be transferred from the DC charging contacts 38 to the air flowing through the cooling channel 32, so that the air at the outlet 50 has a higher temperature than at the inlet 46, and the DC charging contacts 38 are cooled.

[0054] In the area of ​​the DC charging contacts 38, the cooling channel 32 runs perpendicular to the direction of extension of the DC charging contacts 38, resulting in a compact design of the vehicle charging socket 16, while at the same time ensuring high cooling efficiency.

[0055] As can be seen in Fig. 2, the DC charging contact 38 is surrounded by a housing 54, which serves to protect the DC charging contacts 38 from moisture and contamination. Accordingly, heat is transferred from the DC charging contacts 38 to the passing air via the housing 54.

[0056] In addition, the illustration in Fig. 2 illustrates that the air flow within the cooling channel 32 runs from top to bottom, since the vehicle charging socket 16 is installed in the vehicle in such a way that the first end 40 lies geodetically above the second end 42 of the cooling channel 32.

[0057] The fan 44 is also designed so that the speed of the fan 44, and thus the flow rate and / or the flow volume of air per unit of time, can be regulated depending on the current temperature of the DC charging contacts 38.

[0058] For this purpose, the vehicle charging socket 16 has a control unit 56, indicated only schematically, which can access information on the current temperature of the DC charging contacts 38 and is configured to transmit control signals to the fan 44. It is understood that the control unit 56 could also be arranged at a location other than that shown in Fig. 2. It is also possible for another control unit of the vehicle 10 to control the fan 44, for example, a battery control unit 58 of the battery device 12 (see Fig. 1).

[0059] For example, the speed of the fan 44 is increased when the current temperature of the DC charging contacts 38 approaches the temperature threshold and the speed of the fan 44 is decreased when the current temperature drops again.

[0060] The control of the fan 44 is based in particular on the one of the DC charging contacts 38 which has the higher instantaneous temperature in order to ensure that none of the DC charging contacts 38 exceeds the temperature threshold.

[0061] If the vehicle charging socket 16 is operated in AC charging mode, the fan 44 is switched off completely, in particular, to minimize the number of consumers in the vehicle 10. This is possible because the AC charging contacts 36 typically do not reach the temperature threshold due to the lower current intensity in AC charging mode.

[0062] The vehicle charging socket 16 according to the invention is characterized by a particularly compact design, a simple structure and reliable cooling of the DC charging contacts 38.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Vehicle charging socket (16) for an at least partially electrically powered vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle charging socket (16) has at least one direct current charging contact (38) extending from an outer side (22) of the vehicle (10) towards the interior of the vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle charging socket (16) has a cavity (30) within a charging socket housing (24) through which the at least one direct current charging contact (38) extends, wherein the cavity (30) is designed as a cooling channel (32) having a first end (40) associated with the interior (20) of the vehicle (10) and a second end (42) associated with the outer side (22) of the vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle charging socket (16) comprises a fan (44) associated with the cooling channel (32), which is configured toto cool the DC charging contact (38), air is sucked in from the interior (20) of the vehicle (10) via the first end (40) of the cooling channel (32) and discharged via the second end (42) of the cooling channel (32).

2. Vehicle charging socket according to claim 1, wherein the fan (44) is arranged in the region of the first end (40) of the cooling channel (32).

3. Vehicle charging socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first end (40) of the cooling channel (32) is arranged geodetically above the second end (42) of the cooling channel (32).

4. Vehicle charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling channel (32) in the region of the at least one direct current charging contact (38) runs perpendicular to the at least one direct current charging contact (38).

5. Vehicle charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the cooling channel (32) is a water drain (52) of the charging socket housing (24) or runs parallel to a water drain (52) of the charging socket housing (24).

6. Vehicle charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the speed of the fan (44) is adjustable depending on the current temperature of the at least one direct current charging contact (38).

7. Vehicle charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (44) has a maximum power consumption of 5 W or less.

8. Vehicle charging socket according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (44) has an operating voltage of 12 V.

9. Vehicle (10) with a vehicle charging socket (16) according to one of the preceding claims.

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