Electrical high-voltage connector and method for mounting electrical high-voltage connection unit

Abstract

To specify an electrical high-voltage connector and a method for mounting an electrical high-voltage connection unit.SOLUTION: An electrical high-voltage connector 1 includes: a terminal receptacle 20 in which one or more electrical entity terminals of a high-voltage entity 0 are arranged; and a connector interface 30 that can be provided in the terminal receptacle 20, and in which at least one or more electrical interface terminals extending in an axial direction of the high-voltage connector 1 are arranged. The high-voltage connector 1 has at least one positioning device 100, 250, 350 that is assigned to the terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30. By means of the positioning device, the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 are positioned relative to each other with respect to a wall portion of the high-voltage entity 0.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical high voltage connector, in particular an electrical high voltage attached connector, for an electrical high voltage entity, in particular a battery.The present invention further relates to a method for attaching an electrical high voltage connection to an electrical high voltage entity, in particular a battery.Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrical high voltage entity, in particular a battery, a traction battery or an inverter. [Background technology]

[0002] In the electrical field (electrical science, electrical engineering, power engineering, etc.), a large number of electrical high-voltage connectors are known. They are used to transmit voltages in the high-voltage range (high voltage: AC voltages from >24 V to >1 kV, DC voltages from >48 V to >1.5 kV), currents in the high-current range (high currents from >25 A to >1 kA) and / or powers in the high-power range (high powers from 20 kW to >350 kW). In this case, high-voltage connectors must ensure a fault-free transmission for the supply and / or distribution of electrical energy for short periods and / or permanently in cold, warm, possibly hot, dirty, wet and / or chemically aggressive environments.

[0003] A large number of such high voltage connectors are known in the automotive and non-automotive fields, since they have a wide range of applications besides ground-based electrical engineering and the like. In the automotive field, such high voltage connectors are suitable for example for the electrical connection of high voltage and / or high current wires to corresponding electrical high voltage entities, or vice versa, or for the connection of electrical high voltage and / or high current wires, or for another type of electromechanical high voltage and / or high current contact connection. - In this specification, the term "high voltage" is also intended to include the terms high voltage, high current and / or high power (see above).

[0004] The high cost of fossil fuels and efforts to reduce the environmental impact have led to the need for hybrid or electric vehicles in the automotive field, for example. One aspect of these vehicles is that they handle high charging and operating voltages and high charging and operating currents, for which the relevant components of the vehicle need to be designed accordingly. This applies in particular to high voltage and / or high voltage conductors (e.g., stranded wires, busbars, etc.) and related high voltage and / or high current terminals (e.g., connection parts, flat contacts, busbars, etc.), and also to high voltage connectors.

[0005] If the high-voltage connector is arranged on a high-voltage cable, the reference is also to a flying high-voltage plug connector or high-voltage coupling. If the high-voltage connector is arranged on an electrical high-voltage entity (see below), e.g. in its housing, the reference is also to a high-voltage accessory connector (uniquely as high-voltage accessory connector). - In the context of power engineering (generation, transformation, storage and transport of high-voltage currents in the power grid, preferably with three-phase high-voltage transmission), they refer conversely to cable accessories, due to their complex structure. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Efforts are constantly being made to improve electrical high-voltage connectors. In particular for the next generation of electric mobility, it is desirable to be able to establish an electrical high-voltage connection, for example by and / or with a high-voltage connector, for example for a vehicle's traction battery (traction battery interface), in a fast, simple and reliable manner. - The object of the present invention is to identify a high-voltage connector, for example for a vehicle having a high-voltage entity, preferably an electric traction motor, and in particular a high-voltage accessory connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved in each case by an electrical high-voltage connector, in particular an electrical high-voltage accessory connector, for an electrical high-voltage entity, in particular a battery, in particular for a vehicle having an electric traction motor, and by a method for mounting an electrical high-voltage connection to an electrical high-voltage entity, in particular a battery, and by an electrical high-voltage entity, in particular a battery, a traction battery or an inverter. - Advantageous developments, further features and / or advantages of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0008] The high voltage connector according to the invention comprises a mechanical terminal receptacle in which at least one or more electrical entity terminals of a high voltage entity are or can be arranged, in particular fixed or can be fixed, and an electromechanical connector interface which may be provided in the terminal receptacle, in which at least one or more electrical interface terminals extending in the axial direction of the high voltage connector are arranged, in particular fixed. The high voltage connector according to the invention has at least one positioning device allocated to the terminal receptacle and to the connector interface, by means of which the connector interface and the terminal receptacle are / can be mutually positioned with respect to a wall of the high voltage entity, for example substantially parallel or oblique thereto.

[0009] Here, the axial direction is arranged at an angle, in particular perpendicular to a (rear) wall in the high-voltage entity, for example of the entity housing. The wall may be flat and / or curved in the relevant mounting area for the high-voltage connector. Here, it will be appreciated that the relevant surfaces or sections of the high-voltage connector, in particular the interface housing and optionally the terminal receptacle, are correspondingly designed.

[0010] For example, a single entity terminal can be plugged, clipped and / or locked into a single receptacle of a terminal receptacle. - The high voltage connector may be in the form of, for example, an interface, a plug, a socket, a coupling, a spigot, a flying connector, etc. In this case, the high voltage connector may be designed as a high voltage accessory connector, in particular as a battery interface, a traction battery interface or an inverter interface. In this specification, the term "accessory" includes the term "built-in".

[0011] By means of the positioning device, the terminal receptacle and the connector interface can / are positioned only relative to each other. Moreover, by means of the positioning device, the high voltage connector or the terminal receptacle and the connector interface are / cannot be intentionally positioned in the axial direction. Furthermore, the position of the high voltage connector or the connector interface in the axial direction is / can be ensured by a third component, in particular a wall, of the high voltage entity. In this case, the third component can be designed as an external component with respect to the high voltage connector.

[0012] The positioning device can comprise positioning means of the terminal receptacle and positioning means of the connector interface. The mutually related positioning means can be designed such that the intentionally configurable / configured mounting tolerance of the terminal receptacle relative to the connector interface in at least one bidirectional spatial direction is / can be reduced to a line (freedom of movement in this spatial direction, (sufficient) play, two translational degrees of freedom) or is substantially eliminated (fit, in particular clearance fit, snug fit, no translational degrees of freedom in this spatial direction).

[0013] Furthermore, the relative positioning means may be designed such that an intentionally configurable / configured mounting tolerance of the terminal receptacle to the connector interface in a first bi-directional spatial direction is / can be substantially eliminated (see above) and can be reduced to a line in a second bi-directional spatial direction (see above). Furthermore, a mounting tolerance of the terminal receptacle to the connector interface in a third spatial direction (e.g. axial direction) by the high voltage connector itself is preferably not intended or is limited to only a single direction (see FIG. 4).

[0014] By means of the relative positioning means of the positioning device, the freedom of mutual movement of the terminal receptacle and the connector interface due to mounting tolerances that are intentionally configurable / configured is / can be substantially eliminated in a first spatial dimension (see above), is / can be arranged along a line in a second spatial dimension (see above) and / or is / can be non-intentionally configurable / configured in a third spatial dimension, the spatial dimensions including an angle, in particular a substantially right angle.

[0015] The high voltage connector may comprise exactly or at least one, two, three or four positioning devices for correct positioning of the terminal receptacle and the connector interface. Moreover, the at least two positioning devices are substantially identical and are theoretically interconvertible, preferably by translational and / or rotational displacement. An ideal displacement of exactly one translational and / or exactly one rotational displacement is preferred.

[0016] A single positioning device may comprise a funnel as a first positioning means and a spigot as a second positioning means. The funnel and the spigot may be / can be arranged such that the spigot can move back and forth in the funnel in a first bidirectional direction and is substantially immovable in a second bidirectional direction. In principle, it is of course possible to provide the funnel at the terminal receptacle or connector interface and vice versa, the spigot at the connector interface or terminal receptacle. Of course, in case of multiple positioning devices, both the terminal receptacle and the connector interface may have at least one spigot and at least one funnel, respectively.

[0017] The terminal receptacle and the connector interface may be mutually designed such that a fastening means, in particular a clamping screw, of the high-voltage connector from one side of the terminal receptacle, the entity terminal and / or the high-voltage entity may be / is moved forward into the high-voltage connector in order to attach the high-voltage connector to the high-voltage entity. By means of the fastening means, preferably by bypassing the terminal receptacle (through cutout of the terminal receptacle), the entity terminal may be / is fixed, in particular directly, to the interface terminal.

[0018] The clamping screw of the high voltage connector can have an electrically insulated rotatable screw head, where the screw head may be embedded in an electrical insulator, for example made of plastic. In one embodiment, the screw head does not have an electromagnetic shield and / or seal. The clamping screw can have a screw base that does not include any electrical insulator, in particular without protection against contact.

[0019] A terminal holder for an entity terminal of a high voltage entity may have a plurality of separate receptacles arranged at a distance from one another, for example arranged in a row or in two dimensions. As a result, the longitudinal end portions of the entity terminals may be arranged substantially in a plane. A single receptacle may comprise at least one, and preferably a plurality of latching devices for locking its associated entity terminal in position. Furthermore, the single receptacle may have a through cutout, the diameter of which is preferably larger than the maximum diameter of the fastening means. This may allow, for example, direct engagement of a screw head with the associated entity terminal. The positioning means may be molded in and / or on the terminal receptacle.

[0020] The connector interface may comprise an interface housing including a dome in which at least a portion of the interface terminals are disposed. The interface housing has a circumferential seal whereby the interface housing is / can be sealed to a wall of the high voltage entity. A seal may be disposed between each interface terminal of the connector interface and the terminal chamber. The positioning means may be molded to and / or within the connector interface.

[0021] The terminal receptacle and / or the interface housing may be designed in one piece. Integral design is understood to mean a design of the associated components (terminal receptacle or interface housing) that are only one single component that can only be separated by breaking. The components are manufactured from a single original piece and / or from a single original mass (plastic melt) and therefore necessarily in one piece. The internal bond is formed (exclusively) by gluing and / or adhesion. In this case coatings etc. may be present.

[0022] In the method according to the invention, in a first step, at least one or more electrical entity terminals of the high voltage entity are arranged, in particular fixed, in the terminal receptacle, and an electromechanical connector interface, in which at least one or more electrical interface terminals extending in the axial direction of the high voltage connector are arranged, in particular fixed, is placed in the terminal receptacle. In a second step, preferably substantially immediately following the first step, a first fastening means, in particular a clamp screw, of the high voltage connector from the underside of the entity terminal adjacent to the high voltage entity is moved forward into the high voltage connector and fixed to the interface terminal. An electrical contact connection between the entity terminal and the interface terminal is established.

[0023] In a third step following the third step, a second fastening means, in particular a second clamp screw, of a second high voltage entity from the upper side of the entity terminal (still also the upper or mating face of the connector interface) can be moved forward into the high voltage connector and fixed to the interface terminal. An electrical contact connection of the interface terminal to the entity terminal of the second high voltage entity is established. The second high voltage entity can for example be formed as an electrical high voltage line (for example rigid or (conditionally) flexible) with the electrical high voltage connector comprising the second fastening means. Different designs of the second high voltage entity (see below) are of course also possible.

[0024] In this case, the third step of the installation method may be performed a long time after the second step of the installation method, and in particular may be performed at a location separate from the second step, for example the first two steps may be performed by a manufacturer of the high voltage electrical entity and only the third step may be performed by a customer of the manufacturer.

[0025] In a first step of the mounting method, at least one or more entity terminals can be plugged into the terminal receptacle and clipped and / or locked into position in the terminal receptacle. For this purpose, the terminal receptacle can have one single receptacle for each individual entity terminal. Furthermore, in the first step, at least one positioning means of the terminal receptacle can be received in at least one positioning means of the connector interface. In this case, the associated positioning means can (conditionally) center themselves relative to one another, where centering in a first direction can provide a more central result than centering in a second direction, e.g. perpendicular to the first direction. Furthermore, in a first step, the terminal receptacle and the connector interface may be automatically positioned relative to one another by the positioning means, for example relative to a wall of the entity housing of the high voltage entity.

[0026] In a second step of the mounting method, the first fastening means may first be advanced from the base side through the terminal receptacle and / or the entity terminal to the interface terminal of the connector interface. Shortly thereafter, the resulting high voltage connector is mounted, for example, to a wall of, for example, the entity housing, by fixing the first fastening means to the interface terminal. The entity terminal is in electrical contact with the interface terminal.

[0027] In the mounting method, the first fastening means and the second fastening means can be advanced into the connector interface substantially from both sides and fixed there, in particular to the interface terminals, in which case at least the terminal receptacle, the connector interface and the first fastening means can be designed as a high voltage connector according to the invention (see above).

[0028] The electrical entity high-voltage connection according to the invention of a high-voltage entity comprises a high-voltage connector according to the invention and at least one or more electrical entity terminals of the high-voltage entity, the entity terminals being permanently connected at their longitudinal end portions to interface terminals of the high-voltage connector, for which purpose fastening means extend through mounting through-cutouts of the longitudinal end portions of the entity terminals, whereby the entity high-voltage connection may be a component of the electrical high-voltage connection according to the invention.

[0029] For tolerance compensation, the mounting through cutouts of the longitudinal end portions can be formed as slotted holes, the longitudinal extension of each slotted hole being substantially parallel to a (second) bidirectional spatial direction in which the terminal receptacle and the connector interface can be moved relative to each other back and forth, in particular the plug-in part being / can be arranged in its funnel-shaped part so as to be (largely) movable back and forth.

[0030] An electrical high-voltage entity according to the invention comprises a power-electric device and an electrical high-voltage connector for the power-electric device, where the high-voltage connector is designed as a high-voltage connector according to the invention and / or is attached to the high-voltage entity by means of a mounting method according to the invention. Such a high-voltage entity may for example be in the form of an electrical component, an electrical module, an electrical unit, an electrical device, an electrical apparatus, an electrical installation etc. (see above).

[0031] Vehicles with electric traction motors - in particular motor vehicles (road vehicles, work vehicles, etc.), but also rail vehicles, marine vehicles and / or aircraft - are understood as meaning motor vehicles which, in addition to the electric traction motor, may be equipped with further non-electric drives, such as, for example, an internal combustion engine. This means that vehicles with electric traction motors can be understood as meaning, for example, electric vehicles (only electric drive), hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, etc.

[0032] The invention is described in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached schematic drawings, which are not to scale. Parts, elements, components, units, elements and / or figures having the same, unique or similar form and / or function are designated by the same reference signs in the description of the drawings (see below), in the description of the reference signs, in the claims and in the respective figures of the drawings. Possible alternatives not described in the description of the invention (see above), not shown in the drawings and / or not exhaustive, static and / or kinematic inversions, combinations etc. of the exemplary embodiments of the invention or its components, figures, units, components, elements or parts thereof may further be found in the description of the reference signs and / or in the description of the drawings.

[0033] In the case of the present invention, features (parts, elements, components, units, elements, functions, variables, etc.) may take a positive form, i.e. be present, or a negative form, i.e. be absent. In this specification (description (see above, description of the invention, see below, description of the figures), explanation of the reference signs, claims, drawings), a latent feature is not explicitly described as a feature, if its absence or non-existence according to the invention is immaterial. That is to say, an invention that is actually made and not constructed according to the prior art stands with the omission of said feature.

[0034] Features of this specification may be used not only in the manner and / or manner specified, but also in other manners and / or manners (separately, in combination, permutation, addition, alone, omitted, etc.). In particular, in the description, in the explanation of the reference signs, in the claims and / or in the drawings, features in the claims and / or description may be substituted, added or omitted based on the reference signs and the features assigned thereto, or vice versa. Furthermore, as a result, features in the claims may be interpreted and / or specified in more detail.

[0035] The described features may be interpreted as optional features (in view of the (initially largely unknown) prior art), i.e. each feature may be considered as an optional, optional or preferred feature, i.e. a non-essential feature. Features may therefore be separated from the exemplary embodiments, possibly including their outer edges, and then said features may be transformed into a generalized inventive concept. The absence of a feature (a potential feature) in an exemplary embodiment indicates that the feature is optional with respect to the present invention (for the person skilled in the art), if necessary. In addition, in the case of a term for a type of feature, a general term for that feature may also be implicitly understood (possibly further hierarchical classification into subdivisions, etc.), so that a generalization of that feature is possible, for example in view of equivalent effects and / or equivalence.

[0036] The purely exemplary and schematic figures of the drawings are as follows: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic two-dimensional longitudinal side view (in the plane Ar-Lr) of a first embodiment of an electrical high-voltage connector according to the invention; FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a front perspective view (essentially of the plane Ar-Qr) that shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of an electrical high-voltage connector according to the invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side perspective view (essentially of the plane Ar-Lr) showing a second embodiment of a high voltage connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a front cut corner perspective view showing a second embodiment of a high voltage connector. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional longitudinal side view taken at the center (of the plane Ar-Lr) of a second embodiment of a high-voltage connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of two exemplary embodiments (first embodiment: Figs. 1 and 2, second embodiment: Figs. 3 to 5) of an electrical high-voltage connector 1, in particular a high-voltage accessory connector 1 (high-voltage accessory connector 1), for an electrical high-voltage entity 0, preferably a vehicle having an electric traction motor. The invention is naturally also applicable to other electrical connectors, in particular to high-voltage connectors 0. In this case, the high-voltage connector 0 may be, for example, in the form of an interface, a plug, a socket, a coupling, a receptacle, a flying connector, etc.

[0039] The invention will further be described and illustrated in more detail using preferred exemplary embodiments, which are of a more fundamental nature, but are not limited by the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Other variants may be derived from them and / or from the above (description of the invention) without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. The invention may also be used in the electrical field in general, i.e. in the non-automotive field, in the case of electrical or high-voltage entities (see above). Exceptions are made for ground-based power engineering and the like.

[0040] Only the physical parts of the subject matter of the invention that are necessary for the understanding of the invention are shown in the drawings. Terms such as connector and mating connector, terminal and mating terminal, etc. should be interpreted synonymously, i.e. may be interchangeable. The description of the invention based on the drawings (see also above) is given below with particular reference to the (bidirectional) transverse direction Qr (also referred to as the (first) spatial dimension / direction Qr), the (bidirectional) longitudinal direction Lr (also referred to as the (second) spatial dimension / direction Lr) and the (bidirectional) axial or vertical direction Ar (also referred to as the (third) spatial dimension / direction Ar) of the high-voltage connector 1.

[0041] 1 and 2 and 3 to 5 each show an embodiment of a high voltage connector 1, where the actual high voltage connector 1 comprises a single, preferably a single, exclusively mechanical terminal receptacle 20, a preferably single, electromechanical connector interface 30 and at least one or more fastening means 12, in particular a (high voltage connection) clamp screw 12. The terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30 can be attached by the fastening means 12 to a high voltage ending 10 as the high voltage connector 1.

[0042] In this case, the connector interface 30 comprises electrical interface terminals 310 in an interface housing 300, where the first embodiment has two interface terminals 310 and two fastening means 12 for the connector interface 30 and the second embodiment has four interface terminals 310 and four fastening means 12 for the connector interface 30. Each interface terminal 310 is arranged in a terminal chamber 314 of the connector interface 30, in particular in a fixed position, and can be designed as a sleeve 310 which is preferably sealed and which can be electrically contacted, in particular at its two longitudinal ends and / or longitudinal end portions.

[0043] The interface housing 300 may have a dome 312, in which the interface terminals 310 are at least partially arranged. The domes 312 form part of the mating face 2 of the high voltage connector 1 and are accessible at their free longitudinal end portions to an electrical high voltage mating connector (not shown). The electrical high voltage mating connector can electrically contact the interface terminals 310 arranged in the dome 312 by means of its electrical mating terminals. For this purpose, the mating terminals may be screwed into the interface terminals 310. Naturally any other mechanical connection is also applicable, such as a plug connection.

[0044] The interface housing 300 preferably further comprises a housing base 302, from which a dome 312 projects on one side. By means of the housing base 302 the high voltage connector 1 can be mounted to a wall 14, for example the wall 14 of the housing of the high voltage entity 0. In this case the interface housing 300, in particular its housing base 302, is sealed against the wall 14, for which purpose the housing base 302 preferably has a seal 320 which is arranged against the wall 14 (see figures 4 and 5).

[0045] The dome 312 of the interface housing 300 may also extend through the housing base 302 to the opposite side thereof (second embodiment). These sections of the dome 312 protrude into the high voltage connector 1 or through the wall 14 in the installed state of the high voltage connector 1. On this side (the underside), the dome 312 is open and the interface terminals 310 located therein can make electrical contact with the entity terminals 10.

[0046] In the case of such an electrical contact connection, the respective free longitudinal ends of the interface terminals 310 rest on the free longitudinal portions of the entity terminals 10. The mutually associating faces of the interface terminals 310 and the entity terminals 10 extend respectively in the longitudinal direction Lr and in the transverse direction Qr (electrical contact faces). In this case, the free ends of the interface terminals 310 are slightly further below the free ends of the associated domes 312 in the direction of the high voltage entity 1, so that the domes 312 do not interrupt or block the electrical contact.

[0047] At least one or more interface terminals 310 can be electrically contacted to the same number of entity terminals 10, so that this number of entity terminals 10 can be arranged in the terminal receptacle 20 and / or can be configured to attach the high-voltage connector 1 in the installed state of the high-voltage connector 1. Such entity terminals 10 are preferably designed as busbars 10 or connecting parts 10, but of course, they may be designed in other ways. In this case, the entity terminals 10 are angled (substantially at right angles) in a plurality of directions (optionally) in their longitudinal free end regions, but other configurations are of course applicable.

[0048] A single entity terminal 10, apart from its thickness direction (axial direction Ar), in this case extends in the transverse direction Qr and the longitudinal direction Lr at its longitudinal free end portion and has a substantially U-shaped or rectangular outer diameter contour. Of course, different outer diameter contours are also applicable. Each of these longitudinal free end portions can be brought into the individual receptacles 210 of the terminal receptacle 20 formed complementarily thereto, and in particular, can be inserted, clipped, and / or locked in place. That is, the terminal receptacle 20 preferably has one individual receptacle 210 for each entity terminal 10.

[0049] In this case, the longitudinal end portion of a single entity terminal 10 can be inserted into its individual receptacle 210 in the transverse direction Qr under the transverse latch device 212 and locked in place in the individual receptacle 210 in the axial direction Ar. Alternatively, the longitudinal end portion of a single entity terminal 10 can be inserted into its individual receptacle 210 in the axial direction Ar by elastic compression of the latch device 212 and locked in place in the individual receptacle 210 in the axial direction Ar. The base or base wall portion of the individual receptacle 210 prevents other axial Ar movement of the single entity terminal 10.

[0050] In particular, the associated individual receptacle 210 prevents movement of its entity terminal 10 in both the longitudinal direction Lr and at least one lateral direction Qr. The remaining possibility of movement in the lateral direction Qr remaining for a complete locking of the entity terminal 10 in position within the respective individual receptacle 210 may be implemented, for example, by locking the surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of the entity terminal 10 to the floor of the individual receptacle 210.

[0051] In this case, the terminal receptacle 20 has individual receptacles 210 spaced apart from one another and arranged in a straight line. Of course, a two-dimensional arrangement of the individual receptacles 210 is also possible (i.e., an arrangement of the individual receptacles 210 in two, preferably perpendicular, lines). In addition, the individual receptacles 210 do not have to be spaced apart from one another, although this may be useful for locking the entity terminal 10 in a fixed position within the individual receptacle 210.

[0052] The floor of a given individual receptacle 210 has a through cutout 220 for at least partial penetration of the respective fastening means 12. Preferably, the through cutout 220 is dimensioned such that the fastening means 12 can be pushed completely through it. This means that the head of the fastening means 12, for example designed as a screw 12, can be attached directly to the entity terminal 10 (underside of the entity terminal 10) without having to be clamped to the floor of the individual receptacle 210.

[0053] When the high voltage connector 1 is attached to the high voltage entity 0, the connector electrically connects the entity terminals 10 of the power-electrical device 3 of the high voltage entity 0 to the interface terminals 310 of the high voltage connector 1 (entity high voltage connection). This allows the high voltage entity 0 to make electrical contact with a high voltage mating connector via its high voltage connector 1. To attach the high voltage connector 1, for example, the wall 14 of the housing of the high voltage entity 0 is received between the terminal receptacle 20 (on which the entity terminals 10 are provided) and the connector interface 30.

[0054] During installation of the high voltage connector 1, the connector interface 30 can be placed in the terminal receptacle 20 with the longitudinal end portion of the entity terminal 10 disposed therein, and / or vice versa. To position the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 relative to each other, the high voltage connector 1 has a positioning device 100; 250, 350. The positioning device is allocated to the terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30 or is implemented by the terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30. That is, the positioning device 100; 250, 350 of the high voltage connector 1 positions the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 relative to each other as the high voltage connector 1.

[0055] Apart from the angle of inclination relative to the mounting plane, in this case defined by the transverse direction Qr and the longitudinal direction Lr, the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 can be positioned relative to each other or in the mounting state of the high voltage connector 1 by the positioning devices 100; 250, 350. In this case, the wall 14 of the high voltage entity 0 is located between the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20.

[0056] The positioning devices 100; 250, 350 mutually position the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 in the transverse direction Qr and the longitudinal direction Lr with respect to the wall 14 which is / can be housed therebetween. In the mounted state, the wall 14 positions the high voltage connector 1 or the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 in the axial direction Ar.

[0057] The positioning device 100; 250, 350 comprises in each case at least a single positioning means 250 of the terminal receptacle 20 and a single positioning means 350 of the connector interface 30. Preferably, the terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30 each have more than a single positioning means 250, 350, in particular exactly or at least two, three or four positioning means 250, 350.

[0058] The positioning device 100, or the two positioning means 250, 350 which interact or can interact, can be designed such that the mutual mounting tolerances of the connector interface 30 to the terminal receptacle 20 can be reduced to a line in the transverse direction Qr and preferably substantially absent (apart from clearances) in the longitudinal direction Lr. For this purpose, the entity terminal 10 has a corresponding design, in particular a mounting through cutout 11 of corresponding design (see below). This can of course be arranged vice versa or may relate to other directions which do not necessarily have to be at right angles to each other.

[0059] That is, the connector interface 30 and the terminal receptacle 20 can move relative to each other along a line in the longitudinal direction Lr and along a line in the transverse direction Qr, apart from the necessary clearances, and are preferably substantially immovable relative to each other in the high voltage connector 1. For this purpose, the positioning devices 100; 250, 350 or interacting / interactable positioning means 250, 350 are designed accordingly, i.e. they allow a conditional mobility in the longitudinal direction Lr and preferably a conditional immobility in the transverse direction Qr.

[0060] For this purpose, one positioning means 250 can be designed as a funnel 250 and the other positioning means 350 as a plug 350. The plug 350 is received in the funnel 250 during and after installation. According to the above, the funnel 250 limits the possible movements of the plug 350 within the funnel 250. Such a funnel 350 can be open or closed at one end of its funnel neck. In this case, the funnel 250 is placed in the terminal receptacle 20 and the plug 350 is placed in the connector interface 30. Naturally, this can also be done vice versa or in a combined form.

[0061] Furthermore, different configurations of the positioning device 100 or the interacting / interactable positioning means 250, 350 are of course possible. For example, the funnel 250 can be formed not as a complete funnel 250 but as an open funnel which together achieve one or more funnel functions as intended here. Furthermore, the cone-shaped part of the funnel can be omitted, which can simply be implemented by a funnel neck, i.e. by a (through) cutout which can have an insertion aid, for example designed as a bevel.

[0062] In this case, both funnel 250 and plug 350 have primarily rectangular cross sections, where the rectangular, optionally square, cross section of plug 350 is received in the rectangular cross section of funnel 250. In this case, the rectangular cross section of plug 350 can be received in the rectangular cross section of funnel 250 such that it can move back and forth in the longitudinal direction Lr. In contrast, in a direction approximately perpendicular thereto (transverse direction Qr), the rectangular cross section of plug 350 is received substantially immovably in the rectangular cross section of funnel 250, apart from any necessary play.

[0063] Similar to the rectangular cross-section of the funnel neck, the cone of funnel 250 also preferably comprises a rectangular cross-section, the size of which increases (upwards) starting from the actual terminal receptacle 20 in the direction of the connector interface 30. Different shapes of the cone of funnel 250 are of course possible. In general, the cross-sectional shape of the cone of funnel 250 is similar to the cross-sectional shape of the funnel neck of funnel 250.

[0064] Other cross sections of the funnel 250 and plug 350 are of course applicable, provided they meet the mutual movement requirements of the terminal receptacle 20 and the connector interface 30. Such cross sections are, for example, circular, elliptical, oval, polygonal or compound cross sections. Again, the function of the cone of the funnel 250 can be realized by a bevel of the funnel neck.

[0065] Terminal receptacle 20 and connector interface 30 and / or respective funnel 250 and respective plug 350 are preferably designed such that plug 350 cannot be fully inserted into funnel 250. This means that the free end of plug 350 does not contact the base of funnel 250, if present, during or after installation of high voltage connector 1 to high voltage entity 0. To this end, each plug 350 may have a rib 352 (FIG. 4) or the like that prevents plug 250 from moving too far into funnel 350.

[0066] Preferably, the mounting through cutouts 11 of the entity terminals 10 are formed as slotted holes 11. The longitudinal extension of each slotted hole 11 extends in the longitudinal direction Lr and the diameter of the slotted hole 11 extends in the transverse direction Qr. Here, the extension of the slotted hole 11 in the longitudinal direction Lr is preferably slightly shorter, approximately the same length or slightly longer than the extension of the cutout of the funnel neck of the funnel 250 in the longitudinal direction Lr. The diameter of the slotted hole 11 is preferably selected in a conventional manner relative to the fastening means 12 (clearance).

[0067] 1 and 2, it is easy to see how the positioning means 250, 350 realize a conditional mutual movement of the terminal receptacle 20 with respect to the connector interface 30. In the longitudinal direction Lr (dashed double-headed arrow in FIG. 1), the (potential) internal free guide portion of the positioning means 250 is longer than the (manifest) material positioning means 350. In the transverse direction Qr (dashed double-headed arrow with an X-ed out in FIG. 2), the (potential) internal free guide portion of the positioning means 250 is approximately the same width as the (manifest) material positioning means 350. Thus, the positioning means 250 can move back and forth within the positioning means 350 substantially only in the longitudinal direction Lr. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 0 (Electrical) High Voltage Entity 1 (Electrical) High Voltage Connector 2 Mating Surface 3. Power - Electrical Devices 10 (Electrical) Entity Terminal 11 Mounting cut-outs, especially slotted holes 12 Fastening means 14 Wall 20 (Mechanical) Terminal Receptacle 30 (electromechanical) connector interface 100 Positioning Device 210 Individual Receptacles 212 Latch Device 220 Through cutout 250 (first) positioning means, e.g., plug / funnel 300 Interface Housing 302 Housing Base 310 (Electrical) Interface Terminal 312 Dome 314 Terminal chamber 320 Seal 350 (second) positioning means, e.g. funnel / insertion 352 Ridge AR Axial (bidirectional), Vertical (bidirectional), (3rd) spatial dimension / direction LR Longitudinal (bidirectional), (second) spatial dimension / direction Qr lateral (bidirectional), (first) spatial dimension / direction

Claims

1. An electrical high voltage connector (1), in particular an electrical high voltage accessory connector (1), for an electrical high voltage entity (0), in particular a battery (0), preferably for a vehicle including an electric traction motor, comprising: The electrical high voltage connector (1) comprises: a terminal receptacle (20) in which at least one or more electrical entity terminals (10) of said high voltage entity (0) are or can be arranged; a connector interface (30) that can be provided in the terminal receptacle (20), the connector interface (30) having at least one or more electrical interface terminals (310) arranged therein, the electrical interface terminals extending in an axial direction (Ax) of the high voltage connector (1); It is equipped with The high voltage connector (1) comprises at least one positioning device (100; 250, 350) allocated to the terminal receptacle (20) and to the connector interface (30), and the connector interface (30) and the terminal receptacle (20) are / can be mutually positioned with respect to a wall (14, Lr-Qr) of the high voltage entity (0) by means of the positioning device. Characterized by: Electrical high voltage connector (1).

2. - by means of said positioning device (100; 250, 350) said terminal receptacle (20) and said connector interface (30) are / can only be positioned relative to each other; the high voltage connector (1) or the terminal receptacle (20) and the connector interface (30) are not / cannot be intentionally positioned in the axial direction (Ax) by the positioning device (100; 250, 350); and / or the position of the high voltage connector (1) or of the connector interface (30) in the axial direction (Ax) is / can be ensured by a third component (14) of the high voltage entity (0), in particular a wall (14); Characterized by:

2. An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to claim 1.

3. The positioning device (100; 250, 350) comprises a positioning means (250) for the terminal receptacle (20) and a positioning means (350) for the connector interface (30); The positioning means (250, 350) relative to each other An intentionally configurable / configured mounting tolerance of the terminal receptacle (20) to the connector interface (30) in at least one bidirectional spatial direction (Qr) is / can be reduced to a line segment, or substantially eliminated / can be eliminated, or substantially eliminated / can be eliminated in a first bidirectional spatial direction (Qr) and reduced / can be reduced to a line segment in a second bidirectional spatial direction (Lr). It is designed to Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The relative positioning means (250, 350) of the positioning device (100; 250, 350) allow the terminal receptacle (20) and the connector interface (30) to move relative to each other with intentionally configurable / configured mounting tolerances, - Substantially absent in the first spatial dimension (Qr); - located / may be located along a line segment in the second spatial dimension (Lr); and / or - be / can be unintentionally placed in the third spatial dimension (Ar) Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. said high voltage connector (1) comprises exactly or at least one, two, three or four positioning devices (100) for correct positioning of the terminal receptacle (20) and the connector interface (30); and / or At least two positioning devices (100) are substantially identical and theoretically interchangeable, preferably by translational and / or rotational displacement. Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. a single positioning device (100) comprising a funnel (250 / 350) as the first positioning means (250 / 350) and a stud (350 / 250) as the second positioning means (250 / 350); and / or said funnel-shaped portion (250 / 350) and said studs (350 / 250) are designed to fit together such that said studs (350 / 250) are / can be arranged to be able to move back and forth within said funnel-shaped portion (250 / 350) in a first bidirectional direction (Lr) and are substantially unable to move in a second bidirectional direction (Qr); Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. The terminal receptacle (20) and the connector interface (30) are used to attach the high voltage connector (1) to the high voltage entity (0), The fastening means (12), in particular the clamping screw (12) of the high voltage connector (1) from one side of the terminal receptacle (20), the entity terminal (10) and / or the high voltage entity (0), is / can be moved forward into the high voltage connector (1). They are mutually formed in such a way that Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. the clamping screw (12) has an electrically insulated rotatable screw head; the screw head does not have any electromagnetic shields and / or seals, and / or The clamping screw (12) has a threaded base that does not contain an electrical insulator, in particular without touch protection Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the terminal receptacle (20) for the entity terminal (10) of the high voltage entity (0) has a plurality of individual receptacles (210) spaced apart from one another; the individual receptacles (210) are provided with latching devices (212) for locking the associated entity terminals (10) in place; and / or The individual receptacles (210) have a through cutout (220), the diameter of which is preferably greater than the maximum diameter of the fastening means (12); Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. the connector interface (30) comprises an interface housing (300) including a dome (312) in which at least a portion of the interface terminals (310) are disposed; the interface housing (300) has a circumferential seal (320) whereby the interface housing (300) is / can be sealed to the wall (14) of the high voltage entity (0); and / or a seal is disposed between each of the interface terminals (310) and a terminal chamber (314) of the connector interface (30); Characterized by: An electrical high voltage connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. 1. A method for attaching an electrical high voltage connection to an electrical high voltage entity (0), in particular a battery (0) for a vehicle including an electric traction motor, comprising: In a first step, at least one or more electrical entity terminals (10) of the high voltage entity (0) are arranged in a terminal receptacle (20), and a connector interface (30) having at least one or more electrical interface terminals (310) extending in an axial direction (Ax) of the high voltage connector (1) is installed in the terminal receptacle (20); In the mounting method, In a second step following the first step, a first fastening means (12), in particular a clamp screw (12), of the high voltage connector (1) from the underside of the entity terminal (10) adjacent to the high voltage entity (0) is moved forward into the high voltage connector (1) and fixed to the interface terminal (310). Characterized by: How to install:

12. In a third step following the second step, a second fastening means, in particular a second clamp screw, of a second high voltage entity from the upper side of the entity terminal (10) is moved forward into the high voltage connector (1) and fixed to the interface terminal (310). Characterized by: The method of mounting according to claim 11.

13. In the first step of the mounting method, At least one or more of said entity terminals (10) are plugged, clipped and / or latched into said terminal receptacle (20); at least one positioning means (250) of said terminal receptacle (20) is received in at least one positioning means (350) of said connector interface (30); and / or the terminal receptacle (20) and the connector interface (30) self-actingly position each other relative to the wall (14, Lr-Qr) of the high voltage entity (0) by the positioning means (250, 350); Characterized by:

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12.

14. in the second step of the mounting method, the first fastening means (12) is first advanced from a base side through the terminal receptacle (20) and / or the entity terminal (10) to the interface terminal (310) of the connector interface (30); - in the method of installation, the first fastening means (12) and the second fastening means are advanced into the connector interface (30) from substantially opposite sides and secured therein; and / or At least the terminal receptacle (20), the connector interface (30) and the first fastening means (12) constitute a high voltage connector (1) designed according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Characterized by: A method of mounting according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

15. A power-electrical unit (3) and an electrical high voltage connector (1) for said power-electrical unit (3). In an electric high-voltage entity (0), in particular a battery (0), a traction battery (0) or an inverter (0), for a vehicle preferably including an electric traction motor, comprising: The high voltage connector (1) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and / or the high voltage connector (1) is attached to the high voltage entity (0) by a method of attachment according to any one of claims 11 to 14. Characterized by: Electrical High Voltage Entity (0).

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