Charging connector for electric and hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging connector (1) for electric and hybrid vehicles (2), with a housing (3), charging contacts (4) arranged in the housing (3) for contacting corresponding charging contacts (5) of a corresponding charging connector (6) and at least one heat-conducting element (7), wherein the heat-conducting element (7) is connected to at least one charging contact (4) and to the housing (3), so that the heat-conducting element (7) enables heat to be dissipated from the charging contact (4) in contact with the heat-conducting element (7) to the housing (3). This is a simple way of achieving improved heat dissipation in a charging connector (1) that is not equipped with a cooling system from a charging station.

Description

[0001] Charging connectors for electric and hybrid vehicles

[0002] The invention relates to a charging connector for electric and hybrid vehicles, comprising a housing and charging contacts arranged in the housing for contacting corresponding charging contacts of a corresponding charging connector.

[0003] Electric and hybrid vehicles have a rechargeable energy storage device, usually a high-voltage battery, which supplies energy to an electric drive motor during operation. The storage capacity of these high-voltage batteries is limited, so they must be recharged regularly at a charging station. The battery is charged using a charging cable provided between the charging station and the vehicle. The charging cable, for example, in accordance with European standard IEC 62196 Type 2, is equipped with a charging plug on one end that can be plugged into a charging socket provided on the charging station, and with a charging coupling on the other end that can be connected to a charging plug installed in the electric or hybrid vehicle. For the purposes of this article, charging sockets, charging plugs, charging couplings and charging plugs are all referred to as “charging connectors”.Charging sockets and charging couplings have contact sleeves as charging contacts, and charging plugs and charging plugs that can be installed in electric and hybrid vehicles have contact pins as charging contacts that can be inserted into the contact sleeves. As explained, for example, in EP 3 043 421 A1, a charging current flowing through the charging connector heats up due to ohmic current heat losses. However, the heating of the charging connector is limited to a limit temperature increase. For example, according to the IEC 62196-3 standard, the limit temperature increase is limited to 50 K. This in turn leads to a maximum charging current for largely standardized connector geometries that cannot generally exceed 200 A in continuous load operation.However, with intermittent charging of the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle, higher charging currents are required over limited periods of time in order to charge the battery in the desired short time. This leads to temporary heating of the charging connectors, which exceeds the limit temperature increase. The cable cross-section of the electrical connector bodies cannot be increased arbitrarily, since the connector geometries are standardized and, in addition, the smallest possible amount of conductive material, usually copper, should be used for the electrical connector bodies.

[0004] In this respect, according to EP 3 043 421 A1, the object is to be achieved by providing an electrical connection body which enables increased charging currents with limited heating and therefore has an increased short-time current carrying capacity. This object is to be achieved by an electrical connection body for a charging plug or a charging socket, wherein the electrical connection body has a first connection area for the galvanic connection to an electrical energy receiver and a second connection area for the galvanic connection to an electrical energy source, wherein the electrical connection body is designed such that it has a cooling fluid channel formed in the electrical connection body, wherein the cooling fluid channel of the electrical connection body is fluidly connected to a cooling fluid source which is arranged in a charging station.

[0005] Cooling of a charging plug connector for electric and hybrid vehicles, which cooling starts at the side of the charging station, is also well known from the prior art. DE 10 2015 119 338 A1 describes, for example, two connection points for coolant lines being arranged on a contact sleeve element of a charging plug. Coolant is guided in a circle around the contact sleeve element by means of a spiral-shaped plug-in element. The two connection points serve as inlets and outlets for the coolant, which is guided from the charging station to the charging plug. EP 3 433 902 B1 likewise describes a plug connector part with cooled contact elements. Here, too, the supply of coolant via coolant lines to the contact elements of the charging socket connected to the charging cable is provided on the charging station side.A fluid is provided as the coolant, which is directed perpendicular to the contact element into the hollowed-out contact element and flows back within the contact element. Finally, 10 2016 105 361 B4 also describes a connector part with a cooled contact element, whereby here, too, the charging station side provides for the supply of a coolant via coolant lines to the contact elements of a charging socket connected to the charging cable. Guide elements are arranged on the contact elements to ensure that the coolant, in the form of compressed air, flows around the contact elements.

[0006] However, solutions are also known from the state of the art which can also be used with a charging connector which is not cooled directly by the charging station, such as a charging connector built into the vehicle body of an electric or hybrid vehicle, such as a built-in charging connector according to the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2.

[0007] For example, DE 10 2016 107 409 A1 describes a plug connector part for connecting to a mating connector part, which comprises a housing which has a plug-in section for plugging into the mating connector part and a contact element arranged on the plug-in section for making electrical contact with an associated mating contact element of the mating connector part. In addition, a heat pipe connected to the contact element and a heat sink arranged in the housing are provided, which heat sink is in thermally conductive connection with the contact element for dissipating heat from the contact element via the heat pipe. In this way, a plug connector part with a contact element is provided which can have a high current-carrying capacity, for example for use in a charging system for charging an electric vehicle.Furthermore, DE 20 2019 102 461 U1 describes a plug connector part for connecting to a mating connector part, comprising a housing, a plug-in section arranged on the housing for plugging into the mating connector part, an electrical contact element arranged on the plug-in section for transmitting a current between the plug connector part and the mating connector part, and a cooling element arranged on the contact element for cooling the contact element, wherein a fan device is provided for generating an air flow at the cooling element. However, this system and the system described in DE 10 2016 107 409 A1 are very complex.

[0008] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to achieve in a simple manner an improved heat dissipation in a charging connector which itself is not equipped with a cooling system on the part of a charging station.

[0009] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

[0010] According to the invention, a charging connector for electric and hybrid vehicles is thus provided, comprising a housing, charging contacts arranged in the housing for contacting corresponding charging contacts of a corresponding charging connector and at least one heat-conducting element, wherein the heat-conducting element is connected to at least one charging contact and to the housing, so that heat dissipation from the charging contact contacted by the heat-conducting element to the housing is possible by means of the heat-conducting element.

[0011] When reference is made here to a corresponding charging plug connector, this means, on the one hand, a charging plug connector which has the same plug face as the charging plug connector according to the invention, whereby one plug face has contact pins while the other plug face has contact sleeves, and vice versa. The set comprising the charging plug connector according to the invention and the corresponding charging plug connector can therefore be plugged together. On the other hand, the term corresponding charging plug connector is also used here when the plug faces in the aforementioned sense only partially correspond, i.e. the corresponding charging plug connector, for example.does not have all the contacts that are present in the charging plug connector according to the invention, but the existing contacts of the corresponding charging plug connector correspond to the charging plug connector according to the invention in terms of the plug face, so that the charging plug connector according to the invention and the corresponding charging plug connector can also be plugged together in this case.

[0012] One such case is a charging connector connected to a charging cable for direct current charging in accordance with the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2. Such a charging connector can be plugged into a charging plug installed in the body of an electric or hybrid vehicle and suitable for both alternating current and direct current charging. The alternating current plug face of the direct current charging connector only contains the communication contacts and the protective contact, but no contacts for the outer conductor and a center conductor for alternating current charging.

[0013] In the present case, a heat-conducting element is understood to be an element which results in the thermal conductivity between the charging contact, to which the heat-conducting element is connected, and the housing being better than without the heat-conducting element. The installation of the heat-conducting element thus improves the ability to dissipate heat generated at or in the charging contact to the housing. Furthermore, the heat-conducting element represents an additional element of the charging connector, i.e., it is separate and distinct from the housing.

[0014] It is therefore a key aspect of the invention to support the passive cooling of the charging connector and to improve the thermal coupling between at least one charging contact and the housing of the charging connector so that heat can be transferred more effectively from the charging contact to the housing.

[0015] In principle, the charging contacts can have very different shapes. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging contacts are circular in cross-section. They are preferably designed as contact sleeves or as contact pins that can be inserted into them.

[0016] As already explained above, the essential requirement for the heat-conducting element is that it results in the thermal conductivity in the charging plug connector according to the invention from a charging contact to the housing being greater than without the heat-conducting element. The installation of the heat-conducting element is therefore intended to improve the charging plug connector's ability to dissipate heat to the outside. According to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element is made of metal, preferably copper or aluminum. Furthermore, other materials and material mixtures with good thermal conductivity are of course also possible for the heat-conducting element, which lead to the improved heat dissipation from the charging plug connector according to the invention.

[0017] In principle, the heat-conducting element can connect both direct current charging contacts and alternating current charging contacts to the housing. However, the present invention is particularly useful when direct current charging contacts are connected to the housing by means of the heat-conducting element. In this case, contacts intended exclusively for charging with direct current are referred to as direct current charging contacts. In contrast, there are alternating current charging contacts. This refers to the outer conductors and the neutral conductor (center conductor), which are also intended for charging with alternating current.

[0018] An outer conductor (also known colloquially as a phase conductor) is a conductor which is live during normal operation and can contribute to the transmission or distribution of electrical energy, but is not a neutral conductor. A neutral conductor is a conductor which is electrically connected to the neutral point and is able to contribute to the distribution of electrical energy. In the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2, the contacts which are referred to here as AC charging contacts are designated LI, L2 and L3 (outer conductor) and N (neutral conductor), and the DC charging contacts are designated DC+ and DC-. This understanding should not be contradicted by the fact that the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2 also recognises an operating mode according to which direct current charging takes place via the contacts LI, L2, L3 and N.

[0019] It has proven particularly effective if the heat-conducting element has a thermal conductivity of more than 0.3 W / (m K), preferably more than 1 W / (m K). For this purpose, the heat-conducting element can be constructed in different ways.

[0020] According to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element is formed at least partially, preferably completely, by introducing a potting compound into the housing. This potting compound can be formed, for example, from a resin with good thermal conductivity. It is particularly preferred that the potting compound be galvanically insulating, so that electrical insulation is achieved in this way between a charging contact connected by means of the heat-conducting element and the housing.

[0021] As a rule, a charging connector of the type in question has seals for external sealing. Such separate seals can be dispensed with if, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the potting compound is introduced into the housing in such a way that it seals the housing from its surroundings. The potting compound thus has a dual function: on the one hand, improving the thermal conductivity between the connected charging contact and the housing, and on the other hand, providing a sealing function, e.g., to prevent moisture from penetrating the housing.

[0022] In principle, it is possible for the potting material to only fill a portion of the free space within the charging connector. However, it is preferably provided that the heat-conducting element completely fills the otherwise free space within the housing. This generally achieves the maximum increase in heat dissipation from the connected charging contacts to the housing of the charging connector. A sealing function can also be achieved in a particularly good way. Of course, the area for plugging in the corresponding plug must remain available. In this respect, it is particularly preferred for the potting material to completely fill the otherwise free area in the connection area of ​​the charging connector, while no potting material is provided in the plug-in area of ​​the charging connector.

[0023] When reference is made here to a plug-in area of ​​the charging plug connector according to the invention, this means an area in which the charging plug connector, when plugged into the corresponding charging plug connector, overlaps with the corresponding charging plug connector in the plug-in direction and the charging contacts of the two plug connectors are in galvanically conductive contact with one another. Such a plug-in area of ​​a charging plug connector is generally also defined and geometrically limited in that the charging plug connector has a device which ensures that the two charging plug connectors, in the plugged-in state, overlap with one another over a certain maximum length, which corresponds to the fully plugged-in state of one charging plug connector into the other charging plug connector.In this case, the connection area of ​​the charging connector is the area of ​​the charging connector in which the charging contacts are galvanically connected to electrical lines leading away from the charging connector.

[0024] According to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element can also be incorporated into the housing as a separate, prefabricated component. In this context, according to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element comprises a metal, preferably copper or aluminum. It is particularly preferred that the connection of the heat-conducting element to the charging contact is galvanically insulated. In this way, the electrical insulation between the charging contact and the housing is ensured even when the heat-conducting element is provided.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat-conducting element comprises a plastic material in addition to or as an alternative to metal. Plastic generally has the advantage of being electrically insulating, thus eliminating the need for separate insulation.

[0026] In principle, it may be sufficient if the heat-conducting element thermally connects a charging contact to the housing. However, according to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element is led out of the housing. In this way, the heat from the charging contact can be dissipated not only to the housing but also directly to areas outside the housing, which further improves the heat dissipation from the charging contact. In this context, according to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element has a connection area outside the housing, with which it can be connected to the body of an electric or hybrid vehicle.This has the advantage that the heat dissipated by the charging contact can be transferred directly and effectively to the body of the electric or hybrid vehicle, so that in this way a very large surface is available through which the heat dissipated by the charging contact can be released into the environment. It is particularly preferred in this case for the connecting area to have a contact surface with which, when the connecting area is fastened to the body of an electric or hybrid vehicle, the connection area lies flat against the body. The larger the surface with which the heat-conducting element lies against the body of the electric or hybrid vehicle, the better the heat transfer to the body.

[0027] In principle, the surface of the heat-conducting element can have different shapes. In particular, a smooth surface of the heat-conducting element can be provided. However, according to a preferred development of the invention, the surface of the heat-conducting element is structured. Different geometric structures are possible. In particular, it can be provided, for example, that the surface is corrugated. On the other hand, according to a preferred development of the invention, the heat-conducting element is provided with cooling fins. Such cooling fins can be arranged inside and / or outside the housing. With such cooling fins, the heat transfer from the heat-conducting element to its surroundings is further improved, since an enlarged surface is provided via which the heat can be dissipated.According to a preferred development of the invention, cooling of the heat-conducting element can also be achieved by connecting a heat sink to the heat-conducting element or by having a heat sink have a cooling effect on the heat-conducting element. Such a heat sink is preferably made of a metal and / or a plastic. In this context, it is particularly preferred for the heat sink to have a connection device for a heat dissipation device. Such a connection device for a heat dissipation device can, for example, be a connection for a cooling line with which the heat sink is cooled by means of a cooling fluid. However, according to a preferred development of the invention, it is also possible for the heat sink to have an active cooling element, for example a Peltier element and / or a fan.

[0028] A preferred development of the invention also provides that the housing and / or the heat-conducting element has a fastening element with which a cooling element can be fastened in the housing. Such a cooling element can be a previously described heat sink and thus active or passive. This allows for individual adaptation of the charging connector to its area of ​​application, namely by integrating a cooling element into the housing using the fastening element that is particularly advantageous for the respective area of ​​application.

[0029] According to a preferred development of the invention, not only is the heat-conducting element made of a material that exhibits particularly good heat conduction. Rather, according to the preferred development of the invention described here, the housing is made of a material whose thermal conductivity is above 0.3 W / (m K), preferably above 1 W / (m K). In this way, heat dissipation from the charging contact connected by means of the heat-conducting element is further improved.

[0030] The invention also relates to the use of a charging connector according to one of the preceding claims on the vehicle body of an electric or hybrid vehicle. It is particularly preferred that the charging connector is a built-in charging connector, in particular according to the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2.

[0031] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings using preferred embodiments.

[0032] The drawings show

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

[0034] Fig. 2 in a perspective view a corresponding charging connector,

[0035] Fig. 3a shows the outwardly facing area of ​​the charging connector from Fig. 1 in a state installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle in a perspective view,

[0036] Fig. 3b shows the inwardly facing region of the charging connector from Fig. 1 in a state installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle in a perspective view,

[0037] Fig . 4 the charging connector from Fig . 1 in a

[0038] Side view with a section line AA,

[0039] Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts are each separately thermally connected to the housing by means of a respective heat conducting element,

[0040] Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts and the AC contacts are thermally connected to the housing by means of a heat-conducting element introduced into the charging connector as a potting compound, Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which one DC charging contact and two AC contacts are thermally connected to the housing separately by means of a respective heat-conducting element,

[0041] Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts are thermally connected to the housing by means of a heat-conducting element, wherein the heat-conducting element is equipped with a heat sink provided with cooling fins,

[0042] Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts are thermally connected to the housing by means of a heat-conducting element, wherein the heat-conducting element is equipped with a heat sink which is provided with cooling fins and is connected to a coolant line,

[0043] Fig. 10 is a sectional view along the section line A-A through a charging connector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts are thermally connected to the housing by means of a heat-conducting element, wherein the heat-conducting element is cooled by means of an active cooling element in the form of a fan, and

[0044] Fig. 11 schematically shows an electric or hybrid vehicle with a charging connector built into the body according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the heat-conducting element is led out of the charging connector in a thermally conductive manner onto the body.

[0045] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a charging plug connector 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. This charging plug connector 1 is in the present case a charging plug for installation in the body 9 of an electric or hybrid vehicle 2, as shown schematically, for example, in Fig. 11. The charging plug connector 1 has a housing 3 made of plastic and, arranged therein, direct current charging contacts 4 for direct current charging and alternating current charging contacts 19 for alternating current charging. Depending on whether alternating current or direct current charging is to take place, the charging plug connector 1 is connected to a corresponding charging plug connector 6, which is accordingly an alternating current charging coupling connected to a charging cable or a direct current charging coupling. For this purpose, the charging plug connector 1 is provided with a plug-in area 17 in which it overlaps with the corresponding charging plug connector 6 when plugged in.This plug-in area 17 is followed by a connection area 18 of the charging connector 1, in which the direct current charging contacts 4 and the alternating current contacts 19 are connected to electrical lines (not shown in detail here) which lead from the charging connector 1 to a battery (also not shown here) of the electric or hybrid vehicle 2.

[0046] A charging connector 6 in the form of a direct current charging coupling corresponding to the charging connector from Fig. 1 is shown in a perspective view in Fig. 2. The corresponding charging connector 6 has two direct current charging contacts 5 as well as a protective contact 15 and two communication contacts 16. The charging connectors 1, 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are, in terms of their basic geometry, a built-in charging plug and a direct current charging coupling in accordance with the European standard IEC 62196 Type 2.

[0047] Fig. 3a now shows the outward-facing region of the charging plug connector 1 from Fig. 1 in a state in which it is installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle 2 by means of an adapter plate 20, in a perspective view, while Fig. 3b shows the inward-facing region of this charging plug connector 1 in a state in which it is installed in the electric or hybrid vehicle 2. Here, two direct current charging contacts 4, four alternating current charging contacts 19, a protective contact 23 and two communication contacts 24 are provided. It can be seen that the direct current charging contacts 4 and the alternating current charging contacts 19 lead from the plug-in region 17 into the connection region 18, where a connection of the direct current charging contacts 4 and the alternating current charging contacts 19 to the electrical lines is provided. The section line AA, which is shown in Fig. 3b, now leads through the connection region 18 of the electrical charging plug connector 1. 4 is shown, which represents the charging connector from Fig.1 is shown in a side view.

[0048] The following described Figs. 5 to 10 show various preferred embodiments of the invention, in which the direct current charging contacts 4 and partly also the alternating current charging contacts 19 are thermally connected to the housing 3 of the charging connector by means of a heat conducting element 7.

[0049] Specifically, Fig. 5 shows a sectional view along section line AA through a charging plug connector 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts 19 are each separately thermally connected to the housing 3 of the charging plug connector 1 by means of a respective heat-conducting element 7. The heat-conducting element 7 should preferably have a thermal conductivity that is in any case above 0.3 W / (m K), very particularly preferably above 1 W / (m K). Specifically, heat-conducting elements 7 made of aluminum are provided here, which are each connected to the DC charging contacts 19 by means of electrical insulation (not shown in detail). With these heat conducting elements 7 , the heat generated in or at the DC charging contacts 4 during DC charging is effectively dissipated to the housing 3 of the charging connector 1 , which enables charging with higher currents.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along section line AA through a further charging plug connector 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the direct current charging contacts 4 and the alternating current contacts 19 are jointly thermally connected to the housing 3 of the charging plug connector 1 by means of a heat-conducting element 7 which is here introduced into the charging plug connector as a potting compound. This potting compound is made from a resin with good thermal conductivity, the thermal conductivity of which is above 1 W / (m K). The potting compound is also galvanically insulating, so that in this way electrical insulation is achieved between the individual direct current charging contacts 4 connected by means of the potting compound, the alternating current charging contacts 19 and the housing 3.

[0051] In addition, the potting compound in this case also acts as a seal to seal the charging connector 1 from the outside. Separate seals are therefore not necessary, since in this case the potting compound is introduced into the housing 3 in such a way that it seals the housing from its surroundings. The potting compound therefore has a dual function, according to which the thermal conductivity between the connected DC charging contacts 4 and the connected AC charging contacts 19 and the housing 3 is improved, and in addition the sealing function in question is achieved, e.g., against the penetration of moisture into the housing 3.

[0052] In this case, the potting compound completely fills the entire otherwise free space within the housing, which corresponds to the connection area 18 of the charging connector 1. This significantly increases the heat dissipation from the connected DC charging contacts 4 and the connected AC charging contacts 19 to the housing 3 of the charging connector 1.

[0053] Fig. 7 now shows a sectional view along the section line AA through a charging connector 1 according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which a direct current charging contact 4 with two alternating current contacts 19 are separately thermally connected to the housing 3 by means of a respective heat-conducting element 7. Here, too, electrical insulation (not shown in detail) is provided between the heat-conducting elements 7 and the respective direct current charging contact 4 and the respective alternating current contacts 19.

[0054] Fig. 8 shows a sectional view along section line AA through a charging plug connector 1 according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the direct current charging contacts 19 are jointly thermally connected to the housing 3 by means of a heat-conducting element 7, the heat-conducting element 7 being equipped with a heat sink 11 which is provided with cooling fins 10. The heat sink 11 is made of aluminum in the present case and lies against the heat-conducting element 7 over a large area. The heat sink 11 serves to cool the heat-conducting element 7 and thus also the direct current charging contacts 4. This cooling is supported in the present case in that the cooling element 11 is provided with cooling fins 10, via which heat can be effectively dissipated.Furthermore, the heat-conducting element 7 has a fastening element 14 in the form of two holders, with which an additional cooling element (not shown here) can be arranged in the housing 3. Such an additional cooling element can further increase the cooling capacity in the housing 3.

[0055] An increase in the cooling performance in the housing 3 of the charging connector is also achieved by the next preferred embodiment. In this case, Fig. 9 shows a sectional view through a charging connector 1 along the section line AA according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts 4 are jointly thermally connected to the housing 3 by means of a heat-conducting element 7, wherein the heat-conducting element 7 is equipped with a heat sink 11 which is also provided with cooling fins 10 and is further connected to a coolant line 21 by means of connection devices 12. The cooling performance is further increased by means of a coolant pumped through the coolant line 21. Fig.Finally, Fig. 10 shows a sectional view along section line AA through a charging connector 1 according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the DC charging contacts 4 are thermally connected to the housing 3 by means of a heat-conducting element 7, wherein the heat-conducting element 7 is cooled directly by means of an active cooling element 13 in the form of a fan, which is illustrated here by arrows pointing downwards from the active cooling element 13. In principle, it would also be possible to provide the heat-conducting element 7 with a heat sink, as can be seen, for example, in Fig. 8, and then to cool this heat sink by means of the fan.

[0056] Fig. 11 is finally a schematic representation of an electric or hybrid vehicle 2 with a charging connector 1 installed in the body 9 of the electric or hybrid vehicle 2 according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the heat-conducting element 7 is led out of the charging connector 1 in a thermally conductive manner onto the body 9 by means of a heat line 22. Here, the heat line 22 is led outside the housing 3 to a connecting region 8 which is connected to the body 9 of the electric or hybrid vehicle 2 in such a way that the connecting region 8 lies flat against the body 9. This enables efficient heat transfer from the heat-conducting element 7 to the body 9, which leads to a further increase in the heat transfer away from the DC charging contacts 4.The fastening of the connecting region 12 to the body 9 can, moreover, be carried out on the inside of the body 9, so that there is no visual change to the external appearance of the body 9 of the electric or hybrid vehicle 2.

[0057] Reference symbol list

[0058] 1 charging connector

[0059] 2 Electric and hybrid vehicles

[0060] 3 housings

[0061] 4 DC charging contacts

[0062] 5 corresponding charging contacts

[0063] 6 corresponding charging connectors

[0064] 7 Heat conducting element

[0065] 8 Connection area

[0066] 9 Body

[0067] 10 cooling fins

[0068] 11 heat sink

[0069] 12 Connection device

[0070] 13 active cooling element

[0071] 14 Fastening element

[0072] 15 Protective contact

[0073] 16 communication contacts

[0074] 17 Plug-in area

[0075] 18 Connection area

[0076] 19 AC charging contacts

[0077] 20 adapter plate

[0078] 21 Coolant line

[0079] 22 Heat conduction

[0080] 23 Protective contact

[0081] 24 communication contacts

Claims

Patent claims 1. Charging connector (1) for electric and hybrid vehicles (2), with a housing (3), charging contacts (4) arranged in the housing (3) for contacting corresponding charging contacts (5) of a corresponding charging connector (6) and at least one heat-conducting element (7), wherein the heat-conducting element (7) is connected to at least one charging contact (4) and to the housing (3), so that by means of the heat-conducting element (7) heat can be dissipated from the charging contact (4) contacted by the heat-conducting element (7) to the housing (3).

2. Charging connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting element (7) has a thermal conductivity which is above 0.3 W / (m K), preferably above 1 W / (m K).

3. Charging connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat-conducting element (7) is formed at least partially by introducing a potting compound into the housing (3).

4. Charging connector (1) according to claim 3, wherein the potting compound is introduced into the housing (3) in such a way that it acts to seal the housing (3) from its surroundings.

5. Charging connector (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the heat-conducting element (7) completely fills the otherwise free space within the housing (3).

6. Charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-conducting element (7) is led out of the housing (3) and has a connecting region (8) outside the housing (3) with which it can be connected to the body (9) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (82).

7. Charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the heat-conducting element (7) is structured at least in sections.

8. Charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a heat sink (11) for cooling the heat conducting element (7).

9. Charging connector (1) according to claim 8, wherein the heat sink (11) has a connection device (12) for a heat dissipation device.

10. Charging connector (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the heat sink (11) has an active cooling element (13).

11. Charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3) and / or the heat-conducting element (7) has a fastening element (14) with which a cooling element can be fastened in the housing (3).

12. Charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3) is made of a material whose thermal conductivity is above 0.3 W / (m K), preferably above 1 W / (m K).

13. Use of a charging connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims on the body (9) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (2).

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