Charging cable

Abstract

To provide a charging cable that is easy to handle while simultaneously addressing noise and heat issues. [Solution] The charging cable according to the present invention comprises a conductive portion including a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor; a refrigerant passage formed on the outer periphery of the conductive portion and in at least a portion in the direction in which the conductive portion extends, through which a refrigerant for cooling the conductor flows; and a shielding layer enclosed within the refrigerant passage and covering the conductive portion in at least a portion in the direction in which the refrigerant passage extends.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging cable.

Background Art

[0002] Charging cables used for charging electric vehicles and the like, which have been increasing in recent years, need noise countermeasures and heat generation countermeasures because they conduct high voltage and high current. Patent Document 1 describes a technology related to a cable that cools a core material by flowing a refrigerant through a cooling passage extending along a core wire including the core material through which current flows.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=X]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, by taking noise countermeasures and heat generation countermeasures, there is a problem that the cable diameter becomes larger and the weight of the charging connector connected to the charging cable becomes larger, making it difficult to handle.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a charging cable that is easy to handle while achieving both noise countermeasures and heat generation countermeasures.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The charging cable according to the present invention includes a conduction part including a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor, a refrigerant passage formed on the outer peripheral side of the conduction part and at least partially in the direction in which the conduction part extends, through which a refrigerant for cooling the conductor flows, and a shield layer included in the refrigerant passage and covering at least a part of the conduction part in at least a part of the direction in which the refrigerant passage extends.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a charging cable that is easy to handle while simultaneously addressing noise and heat generation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a charging cable according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the charging cable along line II-II. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the configuration of the refrigerant passage and shielding layer in a charging cable according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are simplified, and the technical scope of the embodiments should not be narrowly interpreted based on their depiction. Furthermore, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, in the following embodiments, when referring to the number of elements (including quantity, numerical value, amount, range, etc.), unless specifically stated or clearly limited to a particular number in principle, the number is not limited to that particular number and may be greater than or less than that number.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the components are not necessarily essential unless otherwise explicitly stated or considered to be clearly essential in principle. Similarly, in the following embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc., of the components, etc., it shall include those that substantially approximate or resemble their shape, etc., unless otherwise explicitly stated or considered to be clearly not essential in principle. The same applies to the numbers, etc. (including the number of items, numerical values, quantities, ranges, etc.).

[0011] For clarity, the following explanation will use a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (XYZ). The X direction is the direction in which the conductive portion extends. The following explanation assumes the +Y direction is upward, but this will change depending on the orientation of the charging cable.

[0012] <Background of considerations leading to the design of the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment> Charging cables used to charge batteries in electric vehicles and other vehicles carry high voltage and high current, so noise and heat countermeasures are implemented. The charging cable contains a power cable for power supply and a communication cable for coordinated control between the power conversion unit within the charging device and the battery status.

[0013] Charging cables may cause malfunctions in equipment due to signal disturbances in the communication cable caused by the high voltage and high current carried by the power cable. Furthermore, the use of charging cables may be restricted for pacemaker wearers. Therefore, charging cables incorporate noise countermeasures, such as noise shielding, and measures to mitigate heat generation caused by the high current flowing through the power cable.

[0014] Implementing noise reduction and heat dissipation measures in charging cables increases both the cable diameter and the weight of the charging connector. As a result, handling the charging cable becomes more difficult. Therefore, it is desirable that charging cables achieve both noise reduction and heat dissipation while being lightweight and easy to handle.

[0015] Therefore, the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment was discovered. The charging cable 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0016] [Embodiment] <Charging Cable 1 Configuration> Using FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the charging cable 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the charging cable 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of the charging cable 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows only the components of the first cable portion 10 and the connecting portion 31 among the components shown in FIG. 1, and illustration of the other components is omitted.

[0017] The charging cable 1 is a cable that connects between the charging socket of a charging device and a vehicle when supplying power to charge a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle.

[0018] The charging cable 1 includes a first cable portion 10, a second cable portion 20, and a connector portion 30. The first cable portion 10 and the second cable portion 20 are connected via the connecting portion 31 of the connector portion 30.

[0019] The first cable portion 10 includes a conductor 11 electrically connected to the first power terminal T1 of the connector portion 30, an insulating coating 12 covering the conductor 11, a refrigerant passage 14, a shield layer 15, and an insulating outer jacket 16 covering the refrigerant passage 14 and the shield layer 15. The conductor 11 and the insulating coating 12 together are referred to as a conduction portion 13. A communication line (not shown) may be provided in the first cable portion 10 so as to run parallel to the conduction portion 13. <(

[0020] Further, the second cable portion 20 includes a conductor 21 electrically connected to the second power terminal T2 of the connector portion 30, an insulating coating 22 covering the conductor 21, a refrigerant passage 24, a shield layer 25, and an insulating outer jacket 26 covering the refrigerant passage 24 and the shield layer 25. Also, the conductor 21 and the insulating coating 22 together are referred to as a conduction portion 23. A communication line (not shown) may be provided in the second cable portion 20 so as to run parallel to the conduction portion 23.

[0021] Current flows through the conductors 11 and 21 when charging a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. The insulating coatings 12 and 22 are formed of a material having electrical insulation properties.

[0022] The refrigerant passages 14 and 24 are formed on the outer peripheral side of the conduction portions 13 and 23 and at least partially in the direction (X direction) in which the conduction portions 13 and 23 extend, and are passages through which the refrigerant that cools the conducting wires 11 and 21 flows. As the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passages 14 and 24, a heat medium such as cooling oil or cooling water is used.

[0023] The refrigerant is pumped into the refrigerant passages 14 and 24 by, for example, a water pump (not shown) and flows in the direction of arrow A. Thereby, the refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant passage 14, the connecting portion 31, and the refrigerant passage 24. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the refrigerant passage 14, the connecting portion 31, and the refrigerant passage 24, but is not limited thereto, and may circulate in the order of the refrigerant passage 24, the connecting portion 31, and the refrigerant passage 14.

[0024] When an electric current is flowing through the conducting wires 11 and 21 and the conducting wires 11 and 21 are generating heat, the conducting wires 11 and 21 are cooled by heat transfer between the conducting wires 11 and 21 and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passages 14 and 24 (arrow B in FIG. 2 in the first cable portion 10). Also, the refrigerant cools the first electrical terminal T1 and the second electrical terminal T2. Therefore, the temperature rise of the conducting wires 11 and 21 is suppressed.

[0025] The shield layers 15 and 25 are respectively enclosed in the refrigerant passages 14 and 24 and cover at least a part of the conduction portions 13 and 23 in the direction (X direction) in which the refrigerant passages 14 and 24 extend. The shield layers 15 and 25 are preferably formed over the entire length in the -X direction in which the conduction portions 13 and 23 extend from the connector portion 30.

[0026] The shield layers 15 and 25 may be formed in a wire mesh shape or a foil shape using a material having high thermal conductivity such as a copper wire, an iron wire, or an aluminum wire. The shield layers 15 and 25 prevent interference of external electromagnetic noise in the cables running parallel to the vicinity of the conducting wires 11 and 21. The shield layers 15 and 25 are preferably grounded.

[0027] The connector section 30 includes a connecting section 31, a first electrical terminal T1, and a second electrical terminal T2. The connecting section 31 connects the first cable section 10 and the second cable section 20. The first electrical terminal T1 and the second electrical terminal T2 are connected to the terminals of a vehicle charging inlet (not shown). The first electrical terminal T1 may be an N (negative) terminal electrically connected to the conductor 11. The second electrical terminal T2 may be a P (positive) terminal electrically connected to the conductor 21.

[0028] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the refrigerant passage 14 and the shielding layer 15 in a charging cable 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram partially showing the first cable portion 10. In the figure, t1 is the thickness of the refrigerant passage 14 and t2 is the thickness of the shielding layer 15.

[0029] In the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment, the shield layer 15 is enclosed within the refrigerant passage 14, resulting in a large pressure loss when pumping refrigerant into the refrigerant passage 14. Therefore, the thickness t1 of the refrigerant passage 14 and the thickness t2 of the shield layer 15 shown in the figure can be adjusted.

[0030] By making the thickness t2 of the shield layer 15 smaller than the thickness t1 of the refrigerant passage 14, the pressure loss when pumping refrigerant into the refrigerant passage 14 can be reduced. Furthermore, the adjustment of the pressure loss when pumping refrigerant into the refrigerant passage 14 is not limited to this, and may also be achieved by reducing the mesh density of the shielding wires constituting the shield layer 15.

[0031] <Effects of the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment> In the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment, the shielding layers 15 and 25 are enclosed within the refrigerant passages 14 and 24 formed on the outer circumference of the conductive portions 13 and 23. Therefore, heat dissipation and noise countermeasures can be implemented without increasing the diameter of the charging cable 1.

[0032] Therefore, the charging cable 1 according to this embodiment achieves both noise reduction and heat generation reduction, and is easy to handle.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described above in accordance with the embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and of course includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims of the present patent application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Charging cable 11,21 Conductor 12,22 Insulation coating 13,23 Conductive section 14,24 Refrigerant passage 15,25 Shield layer

Claims

[Claim 1] A conductive portion including a conductor and an insulating coating covering the conductor, A refrigerant passage is formed on the outer periphery of the conductive portion, at least in part in the direction in which the conductive portion extends, through which a refrigerant for cooling the conductor flows, A shield layer enclosed within the refrigerant passage and covering the conductive portion in at least a portion of the direction in which the refrigerant passage extends, A charging cable is included.

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