Housing for a vehicle charging device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle housing for a charging device which prevents fluid communication of a fluid coming from each set of orifices by separating first drainage means of the fluid coming from a first set of orifices and second drainage means of a fluid coming from a second set of orifices from each other.SOLUTION: A housing 10 includes a first set E1 of orifices 16 to 20 and a second set E2 of orifices 22 to 32 that receive the pins of an electrical connector. Each of the orifices is a hole that penetrates the housing in the connection direction from a first interface of the housing to a second interface 14, and the first interface of the housing is connected to the housing of a mating electrical connector in the connection direction. The housing includes first drainage means that drains a fluid coming from the first set of orifices and second drainage means that drains the fluid coming from the second set of orifices. The two pieces of drainage means are separated from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing for a charging device of an electric vehicle, such a charging device, and a vehicle comprising such a charging device using said housing.

Background Art

[0002] The driving force of an electric vehicle is provided exclusively or partly by one or more electric motors. The electric motor can draw energy from an energy storage means such as a rechargeable battery.

[0003] An example of such an electric vehicle is shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle 1 in FIG. 1 includes an electric inlet 3 through which the battery (not visible in FIG. 1) of the vehicle 2 can be charged using a charging cable 5. The charging cable 5 has a charging nozzle 9 at one end 7, and this charging nozzle 9 includes a handle 11 and a portion 13 that connects to the electric inlet 3 in the connection direction E. Another end 15 of the charging cable 5 on the side opposite to the end 7 is connected to a charging station 17.

[0004] Many of the standards that exist for charging connectors vary depending on the geographical region in which the vehicle is marketed. As an example, it is known that an electric vehicle can be rapidly charged using direct current (DC) using a combined charging system or a CCS type charging connector. Such a charging connector can include both pins for direct current (DC) and pins for single-phase or three-phase alternating current (AC). The supply of direct current (DC) means that the battery can be charged relatively rapidly and thus advantageously with an output of at least 150 kW and a voltage above 400 V.

[0005] To accommodate charging of electric vehicles in rainy conditions, this type of known charging connector is provided with drains acting as drainage holes at the level of the cavities that house the pins, to discharge water from the charging connector. However, in the case of heavy rain, it has been found that water discharged through the drains can form an electrical conduction path, posing a risk of leakage current from the high-voltage DC terminals or AC terminals. In the currently known designs of charging connectors, it has been found that the shortest moisture path can direct leakage current towards the charging nozzle. Thus, for example, when a user operates the handle of the charging nozzle, there is a risk of forming a closed circuit. The risk to the user is heightened by the power at the high-voltage DC terminals where the voltage exceeds 400V. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve the electrical safety of a charging connector, particularly one including high-voltage DC pins, when charging an electric vehicle, especially in heavy rain conditions. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0007] The object of the present invention is a housing for an electrical connector, in particular for an electrical connector of a charging device of an electric vehicle, comprising a first set of orifices for receiving a first pin of the electrical connector and a second set of orifices for receiving a second pin of the electrical connector, wherein the voltage of the terminal of the second pin is higher than the voltage of the terminal of the first pin, the orifices are holes passing through the housing in the connection direction from a first interface of the housing towards a second interface of the housing, the first interface of the housing is designed to be connected in the connection direction to the housing of the mating electrical connector, the housing comprises first drainage means suitable for discharging the fluid coming from the first set of orifices, the housing comprises second drainage means suitable for discharging the fluid coming from the second set of orifices, and the first drainage means and the second drainage means are separated from each other, thereby preventing fluid communication between the fluid coming from the first set of orifices and the fluid coming from the second set of orifices. This is achieved by a housing characterized in that it prevents fluid communication between the fluid coming from the first set of orifices and the fluid coming from the second set of orifices.

[0008] Therefore, by using the housing according to the present invention, the fluid can be selectively separated according to whether the fluid comes from the first set of orifices or the second set of orifices. Since the output of the pins of the connector that the first set of orifices can receive is smaller than the output of the pins of the second set of orifices, the first drainage means and the second drainage means can be used to prevent fluid communication between fluids having different potentials. Therefore, the housing can be advantageously used to separate fluids that can come into contact with the terminals of, for example, a high-voltage DC connector in terms of fluid.

[0009] The present invention regarding the housing of the electrical connector can be further improved by the following embodiments.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the first drainage means and the second drainage means can each include a discharge duct, and the discharge duct of the first drainage means is arranged, optionally, along a direction opposite to the direction of the discharge duct of the second drainage means.

[0011] Accordingly, the housing is also designed so that each of the fluids can be discharged in different directions from each other. This means that the fluid communication between the fluid coming from the first set of orifices and the fluid coming from the second set of orifices can be further prevented.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the discharge duct of the first drainage means can be arranged to extend in the direction of gravity towards the first interface or towards the bottom of the housing.

[0013] Accordingly, the discharge duct of the first drainage means can be used to discharge fluid from the side of the interface provided to receive a mating connector, for example a connector for a charging nozzle for charging an electric vehicle. Accordingly, the discharge duct of the first drain can be used to discharge fluid from the vehicle.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the discharge duct of the second drainage means can extend towards the second interface of the housing, in particular beyond the second interface of the housing. Additionally, according to another embodiment, the discharge duct of the second drainage means can extend in a direction parallel to the connection direction from the second interface and in a direction opposite to the first interface of the housing.

[0015] Accordingly, the discharge duct of the second drainage means is designed to discharge fluid towards the interior space of the vehicle. Therefore, the discharge duct of the second drainage means can be used to prevent fluid from being discharged from the vehicle during charging of the vehicle, i.e., from the side where the user is located. In particular, by preventing fluid coming from the second set of orifices receiving high voltage terminals above 400V from being discharged from the vehicle, the risk of forming a closed circuit along the flow path of the fluid when the user charges the vehicle is minimized.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the discharge duct of the first drainage means can be substantially perpendicular to the discharge duct of the second drainage means.

[0017] Accordingly, the discharge ducts are arranged such that the fluids resulting from each of the two sets of orifices are discharged separately from the vehicle (towards the ground) along the discharge ducts that are not parallel to each other. The configuration of this type of discharge duct can be easily adapted to a known housing of the prior art. Accordingly, the implementation of such an arrangement is simple.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the second drainage means can include a drainage cavity defined by a wall extending from a second interface of the housing, and the drainage cavity can be in fluid contact with a second set of orifices.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the drainage cavity may be closed by a sealing plug having dimensions based on the drainage cavity, such that the fluid coming from the second set of orifices can move between the drainage cavity and the sealing plug.

[0020] Accordingly, a seal can be provided in the drainage cavity along the flow path of the fluid coming from the second set of orifices using the sealing plug.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the discharge duct of the second drainage means can be arranged to be aligned with a hole provided in the sealing plug, such that the fluid coming from the drainage cavity can be discharged towards the discharge duct of the second drainage means.

[0022] Accordingly, the fluid coming from the second set of orifices and collected in the drainage cavity can be discharged from the drainage cavity via the discharge duct of the second drainage means.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the drainage cavity may be substantially Y-shaped.

[0024] This Y-shape is used in particular to separate from each other the orifices of the second set of orifices, in particular the orifices receiving the high-voltage supply terminals, by arranging them on each side of the three regions defined by the Y-shaped contour.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the housing can comprise two sub-housings that are engageable or snap-fittable with each other in the connection direction, the first sub-housing including the first interface of the housing and the second sub-housing including the discharge duct of the second drainage means.

[0026] Thus, the housing can be easily assembled and no other parts such as screws or nuts are required for assembly or installation.

[0027] Hereinafter, the present invention and its advantages will be described in more detail using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Figure 3

Figure 4a

Figure 4b

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the present invention will be described in more detail by using advantageous embodiments as examples. It should be noted that the embodiments to be described are only possible configurations, and when implementing the present invention, the individual features described above may be provided independently of each other or completely omitted.

[0030] Figures 2a and 2b show a housing 10 for an electrical connector, particularly for an electrical connector of a charging device of an electric vehicle. The housing 10 is made of an electrically insulating material. The housing 10 can be manufactured from injection-molded plastic.

[0031] The housing 10 includes a first interface 12 designed to be connected to the housing of the mating electrical connector in the connection direction indicated by arrow D in Figure 2a. The first interface 12 is particularly configured to receive the mating electrical connector of the charging nozzle of the electric vehicle as shown by reference numeral 9 in Figure 1.

[0032] The housing 10 includes a second interface 14 on the opposite side of the first interface 12 and parallel to the first interface 12. This is not visible in Figures 2a and 2b and is shown in Figure 3.

[0033] The housing 10 includes a first set E1 of orifices 16, 18, 20 (hereinafter shown with reference numerals omitted as 16 - 20) and a second set E2 of orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 (hereinafter shown with reference numerals omitted as 22 - 32). The orifices 16 - 32 are through-holes that penetrate the housing from one side to the other, with one opening at the level of the first interface 12 and the other opening at the level of the second interface 14.

[0034] The orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 and the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 of the second set E2 are provided with drains 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 30a, 32a for discharging water. The drains are holes, cavities, or tubes of the set, and these can be used to collect fluids that can accumulate in the cavity facing the upper part of the housing 10 in the direction of gravity.

[0035] The orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 are provided to receive, for example, low-voltage pins (i.e., electrical contacts) of 12V, and the orifices 22 to 32, which are the orifices of the second set E2, are provided to receive pins of a higher voltage than the first set E1. Among the orifices of the second set E2, the orifices 30, 32 are particularly provided to receive a high-voltage DC power supply having a voltage exceeding 400V. The housing 10 is adapted to, for example, a composite connector.

[0036] The first interface 12 of the housing 10 includes a wall 34 extending perpendicular to the interface 12, and a drainage chamber 36 is formed between the wall 34 and the orifices E1, E2 of the set.

[0037] Only the drains of the orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 are configured to discharge the fluid coming from the orifices towards the drainage chamber 36. Then, this fluid can be discharged through a discharge duct 38 located at the lowest point of the housing 10 in the direction of gravity G. The drainage chamber 36 corresponds to a corresponding part of the charging nozzle.

[0038] The housing 10 comprises first drainage means suitable for discharging fluid such as water coming from the first set of orifices E1 towards the drainage chamber 36 of the first interface 12 of the housing 10. The flow path of the fluid coming from the first set of orifices E1 is shown by the contour T1 in FIG. 2b. The drainage chamber 36 is formed by a seal which is arranged on the second interface 14 of the housing 10 (not visible in FIGS. 2a and 2b but shown in FIG. 3 and described hereinafter) which is on the opposite side of the first interface 12 and parallel to the first interface 12. Thus, the first drainage means according to the invention comprises a drainage chamber formed by a seal, in particular a seal made of rubber.

[0039] According to the invention, the housing 10 comprises second drainage means suitable for discharging fluid coming from the second set of orifices E2 away from the first set of orifices E1.

[0040] The second drainage means will be described hereinafter with particular reference to FIGS. 3, 4a and 5.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the second interface 14 of the housing 10 which comprises the first set of orifices E1 and the second set of orifices E2 described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b. For reference elements having the same reference numerals as those described above, no further description will be given and reference is made to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0042] The second interface 14 of the housing 10 includes a wall 40 which extends perpendicular to the interface and defines a drainage cavity 42. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the drainage cavity 42 is substantially Y-shaped. In a variant of the invention, the drainage cavity may have a different geometry.

[0043] The orifices 30, 32 for receiving the high voltage DC terminals are arranged on both sides of the drainage cavity 42.

[0044] The drain cavity 42 is in fluid communication with the orifices 22 - 32 which are the second set of orifices E2. Thus, the fluid coming from the orifices 22 - 32, particularly the drain of the orifices 22 - 32, can be collected in the drain cavity 42. The flow path of the fluid coming from the second set of orifices E2 is indicated by the contour T2 in FIG. 3.

[0045] In a variant form, the drain cavity 42 includes at least two cavities independent of each other, and these cavities are arranged such that the fluid contacting the high - voltage DC pins in the orifices 30, 32 is fluidly separated from the fluid contacting the high - voltage AC pins in the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28. Thus, this type of drain cavity can include a first cavity for collecting the fluid coming from the orifices 30, 32 and a second cavity separated from the first cavity for collecting the fluid coming from the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28.

[0046] In another variant form, the first cavity can function to discharge the fluid contacting the high - voltage DC pin in the orifice 30, and the second cavity can function to discharge the fluid contacting the high - voltage DC pin in the orifice 32. The third cavity can function to discharge the fluid contacting the high - voltage AC pins in the orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, and the first cavity, the second cavity, and the third cavity are configured to be fluidly separated from each other.

[0047] The drain cavity 42 is closed by a sealing plug 100 formed of, for example, an elastomer. FIG. 4a shows the sealing plug 100 disposed in the drain cavity 42. The dimensions of the sealing plug 100 are such that fluid coming from the drains of the orifices 22 - 32, which are the second set of orifices E2, can flow in the direction of gravity G along the second interface 14 through the drain cavity 42. To enable the fluid to be discharged from the drain cavity 42, the sealing plug 100 has a discharge hole 102 at the lowest point of the sealing plug 100 in the direction of gravity G.

[0048] FIG. 3 also shows a seal 50 that can be used to form a drain chamber 36 (located at the level of the interface 12, as seen in FIG. 2b). The seal 50 includes a protrusion 52 on one of its interfaces. The protrusion 52 is substantially rectangular in the illustrated example and has a complementary shape to a cavity 44 located at the level of the interface 14 of the housing 10. The seal 50 further includes a plurality of holes 54a - 54g with dimensions and arrangements corresponding to the orifices 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 of the housing 10. Each of the holes 54a - 54g includes walls 56a - 56g that extend perpendicular to the seal 50 in the same direction as the protrusion 52.

[0049] FIG. 4b shows the state where the seal 50 is disposed at the level of the interface 14 of the housing 10, that is, the state where the seal 50 is assembled to the housing 10. In the assembled state shown in this FIG. 4b, the protrusion 52 of the seal 50 is inserted into the corresponding cavity 44 of the interface 14 of the housing 10. Thus, the seal 50 can be used to connect and seal the drains of the orifices 16, 18, 20 of the first set E1 (see reference numerals 16a, 18a, 20a in FIG. 2b) to the drain chamber 36 located at the level of the interface 12 of the housing 10.

[0050] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the housing 10 comprises two sub-housings 10a, 10b. The first sub-housing 10a corresponds to the housing shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b and includes a set of orifices E1, E2 and a discharge duct 38. The second sub-housing 10b is designed to be attached to the second interface 14 of the first sub-housing 10a. The sub-housings 10a, 10b can be assembled by engagement or snap fitting.

[0051] The second sub-housing 10b includes a discharge duct 202. The discharge duct 202 shown in FIG. 3 is tubular. In a variant form, the discharge duct may have a different geometry.

[0052] The discharge duct 202 is arranged such that when the housing 10 is in the assembled state, the hollow portion 204 of the discharge duct 202 communicates with the discharge hole 102 of the sealing plug 100. Fluid can be discharged from the drainage cavity 42 through the hollow portion 204.

[0053] According to the present invention, the first discharge duct 38 is provided to discharge fluid coming from the first set of orifices E1, and the second discharge duct 202 is provided to discharge fluid coming from the second set of orifices E2. The second discharge duct 202 of the second part of the housing 200 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the discharge duct 38. In addition, the second discharge duct 202 is arranged to discharge fluid from the second interface 14 in a direction D1 away from the first interface 12. This prevents fluid communication between the fluid coming from the second set of orifices E2 (which may come into contact with the high voltage DC terminal in some cases) and the fluid coming from the first set of orifices E1.

[0054] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the second discharge duct 202 comprises an extension 206, which can further increase the length L1 of the second discharge duct 202.

[0055] Therefore, the length L1 of the second discharge duct 202, which may increase depending on the length of the tube 206 in some cases, is longer than the length of the moisture path that can be formed on the side of the interface 12 between the orifices 22 to 32 of the second set E2 and the charging nozzle 300.

[0056] Using this arrangement, the path through which the fluid coming from the orifices E2 of the second set travels can be made longer than the path through which the fluid coming from the orifices E1 of the first set travels. Therefore, with this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the risk that leakage current is generated by the fluid coming from the high-voltage DC orifices E2 and that leakage current preferentially occurs on the shortest moisture path formed at the interface 12.

[0057] Therefore, using the present invention, the fluid coming from the high-voltage DC and AC orifices E2 can be separated from the fluid coming from the low-voltage terminals and the interface 10 to which the user can connect the charging nozzle 300 (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 10 is arranged with respect to a vehicle 400 having a vehicle body 402 partially shown in FIG. 5. The vehicle body 402 defines the boundary between the external space 406 and the internal space 404 of the vehicle 400.

[0058] Advantageously, by arranging the second discharge ducts 202, 206 in the internal space 404 of the vehicle 400, the fluid can be drained in the direction D1 to an internal area of the vehicle 400 (not visible in FIG. 5) away from the interface 12 and the charging nozzle 300. Thereafter, the fluid is discharged from the vehicle towards the ground. Therefore, since the high-voltage fluid is removed and discharged along a path corresponding to the longest path among the paths through which leakage current can occur, the user can touch and handle the handle of the charging nozzle 300.

[0059] Therefore, the fluid coming from the orifices 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 of the housing 10 can be selectively discharged to both sides of the elements of the vehicle body 402 of the vehicle 400 depending on whether the fluid comes from the orifices E1 of the first set or the orifices E2 of the second set.

[0060] The present invention can be adapted to any of the standards used for charging sockets specific to the geographical regions where the vehicle is commercially available.

[0061] It should be noted that the described embodiments are merely possible configurations, and the individual features of various embodiments may be combined or provided independently of each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1 Vehicle 3 Electrical inlet 5 Charging cable 7 End 9 Charging nozzle 11 Handle 13 Connection part 15 End 17 Charging terminal 10 Housing 10a, 10b Sub - housing 12 First interface 14 Second interface 16, 18, 20, E1 First set of orifices 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, E2 Second set of orifices 34 Wall 36 Drainage chamber 38 Discharge duct 40 Wall 42 Drainage cavity 44 Cavity 50 Seal 52 Protrusion 54a~54g Holes 56a~56g Walls 100 Sealing plug 102 Hole 202 Discharge duct 204 Hollow part 206 Extension of the discharge duct 300 Charging nozzle 400 Vehicle 402 Vehicle body 404 Interior space of the vehicle External space of vehicle 406 D Connection direction D1 Drainage direction G Direction of gravity L1 Length of discharge duct T1; T2 Flow path

Claims

1. A housing for an electrical connector, - a first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) for receiving a first pin of the electrical connector, - a second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) for receiving a second pin of the electrical connector, comprising, the voltage of the terminal of the second pin being higher than the voltage of the terminal of the first pin, the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) and the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) being holes that penetrate the housing in a connection direction from a first interface (12) of the housing to a second interface (14) of the housing, the first interface (12) of the housing being designed to be connected in the connection direction to a housing of a mating electrical connector, the housing comprising first drainage means suitable for discharging fluid coming from the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20), the housing comprising second drainage means suitable for discharging fluid coming from the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32), the first drainage means and the second drainage means being separated from each other so as to prevent fluid communication between the fluid coming from the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) and the fluid coming from the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32), the second drainage means including a drainage cavity (42) defined by a wall (40) extending from the second interface (14) of the housing, the drainage cavity (42) being configured to be in fluid contact with the second set of orifices, A housing characterized by this.

2. the first drainage means includes a discharge duct (38), and the second drainage means includes a discharge duct (202), The discharge duct (38) of the first drainage means is arranged along a direction opposite to the direction of the discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means. The housing according to claim 1.

3. The discharge duct (38) of the first drainage means is arranged to extend in the direction of gravity towards the first interface (12) or towards the bottom of the housing. The housing according to claim 2.

4. The discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means extends towards the second interface (14) of the housing or extends beyond the second interface (14) of the housing. The housing according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means extends in a direction parallel to the connection direction from the second interface (14) and in a direction opposite to the first interface (12) of the housing. The housing according to claim 4.

6. The discharge duct (38) of the first drainage means is substantially perpendicular to the discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means. The housing according to claim 2, 3, or 4.

7. The discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means extends beyond the second interface (14) of the housing. The housing according to claim 2 or 3.

8. The drainage cavity (42) is closed by a sealing plug (100) having dimensions based on the drainage cavity (42), and fluid coming from the second set of orifices can move between the drainage cavity (42) and the sealing plug (100). The housing according to claim 1.

9. The second drainage means includes discharge ducts (202, 204), and the discharge ducts of the second drainage means are arranged to be aligned with holes (102) provided in the sealing plug (100) so that fluid coming from the drainage cavity (42) can be discharged towards the discharge ducts (202, 204) of the second drainage means. The housing according to claim 8.

10. The drainage cavity (42) is substantially Y-shaped. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. It comprises two sub-housings (10a, 10b) that can be engaged or snap-fitted with each other in the connection direction, the first sub-housing (10a) includes the first interface (12) of the housing, and the second sub-housing (10b) includes the discharge ducts (202, 204) of the second drainage means. The housing according to any one of claims 3 to 10.

12. A housing for an electrical connector, - a first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) for receiving the first pins of the electrical connector, - a second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) for receiving the second pins of the electrical connector, and comprising, the voltage of the terminals of the second pins is higher than the voltage of the terminals of the first pins, the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) and the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) are holes that penetrate the housing in the connection direction from the first interface (12) of the housing to the second interface (14) of the housing, the first interface (12) of the housing is designed to be connected to the housing of the mating electrical connector in the connection direction. The housing includes first drainage means suitable for discharging fluid coming from the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20). The housing includes second drainage means suitable for discharging fluid coming from the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32). By being configured such that the first drainage means and the second drainage means are separated from each other, fluid communication between the fluid coming from the first set of orifices (16, 18, 20) and the fluid coming from the second set of orifices (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) is prevented. The first drainage means includes a discharge duct (38), and the second drainage means includes a discharge duct (202). The discharge duct (38) of the first drainage means is arranged along a direction opposite to the direction of the discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means. The discharge duct (202) of the second drainage means extends towards or beyond the second interface (14) of the housing. A housing characterized by the above.

13. The housing is a housing for an electrical connector of a charging device for an electric vehicle. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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