First connector, battery, connector assembly and electrical equipment

Abstract

The present application discloses a first connector, a battery, a connector assembly, and an electrical device. The first connector is configured as a mating member for plugging in a second connector. The first connector includes a first connector body and a protective cover. The first connector body has an opening for plugging in the second connector. The protective cover is movably attached to the first connector body and configured to cover the opening. The protective cover is configured to be pushed by the second connector to be removed from the opening when the second connector is plugged into the first connector. The technical solution of the present application can solve the problem in the prior art that the connector is exposed to the outside when not connected, and is therefore easily contaminated.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of connectors, and more particularly to a first connector, a battery, a connector assembly, and an electrical device.

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications This application claims priority from a Chinese application filed on November 29, 2021, entitled "First Connector, Battery, Connector Assembly and Electrical Equipment" and bearing application number 202122975220.4, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Energy conservation is very important for the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles are energy-saving and environmentally friendly, making them a key factor for the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Two solutions have been proposed to improve the driving range of electric vehicles: fast charging and fast swapping. The fast swapping solution involves replacing low-power batteries with fully charged batteries to replenish electrical energy.

[0004] A quick-swap solution requires the use of a connector as a battery swap interface to connect the battery to the vehicle body, but in the prior art, when the battery is not connected to the vehicle body, the connector is exposed to the outside, making it susceptible to contamination by airborne contaminants and reducing safety. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a first connector, a battery, a connector assembly, and electrical equipment that can solve the problem in the prior art that the connector is exposed to the outside when not connected and is easily contaminated.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a first connector, which is a mating member for a second connector, and includes a first connector body and a protective cover, the first connector body having an opening for inserting the second connector, the protective cover being movably attached to the first connector body and configured to cover the opening, and the protective cover being configured to be pushed by the second connector to disengage from the opening when the second connector is inserted into the first connector.

[0007] In the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, the first connector and the second connector are used to solve a solution for quickly replacing a battery in an electrical equipment body. When the second connector is not inserted into the first connector, a protective cover covers the opening of the first connector body, thereby preventing the intrusion of external contaminants that could impair the performance of the first connector body and cause damage to the first connector body and a decrease in safety. When the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the protective cover is pushed out of the opening as the second connector is inserted, exposing the opening for insertion of the second connector, thereby enabling connection between the first and second connectors. Because the opening of the first connector body is only exposed when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, this effectively prevents the intrusion of external contaminants through the opening and causes damage to the first connector and a decrease in safety, ensuring normal operation of the battery and the electrical equipment. Furthermore, compared to the proposal to protect the first connector body by controlling the operation of the protective cover using a control system including a distance measurement sensor unit, a motor control system, and a pressure sensor unit, the proposal to protect the first connector body by having a protective cover movably installed on the first connector body and by pushing the second connector has the advantage of being simple in configuration and having low manufacturing costs and running costs.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the protective cover is rotatably attached to the first connector body, and the protective cover is configured to be pushed and rotated by the second connector so as to be removed from the opening when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, and the rotation axis of the protective cover is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector.

[0009] When the protective cover is pushed by the second connector, it can quickly rotate and come out of the opening, allowing the second connector to be inserted into the opening. By orienting the rotation axis of the protective cover perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector, the protective cover does not interfere with the insertion of the second connector when it rotates, and therefore the second connector can be smoothly inserted into the opening.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the first connector body includes an end face and an outer peripheral surface, the opening is provided on the end face, the outer peripheral surface is provided so as to surround the end face on all four sides, and when the protective cover covers the opening, one end of the protective cover is pushed by the second connector and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the first connector body in a rotatable manner.

[0011] By positioning one end of the protective cover so that it protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the first connector body, the part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the first connector body is pushed by the second connector, causing the protective cover to rotate outward from the first connector body, thereby exposing an opening located on the end face and forming a passage extending along the insertion direction of the second connector, allowing the second connector to move and be inserted into the opening.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the protective cover is slidably attached to the first connector body, and is configured to be pushed and rotated by the second connector, and then further pushed by the second connector to slide along the insertion direction of the second connector.

[0013] By slidably attaching the protective cover to the first connector body, the protective cover can be pushed and rotated by the second connector, and then further pushed and slid by the second connector, thereby allowing the second connector to be inserted into the opening without interfering with the movement of the second connector in the insertion direction.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the first connector body includes an end face and an outer peripheral surface, the opening is provided on the end face, the outer peripheral surface is provided so as to surround the end face on all four sides, a first slide groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface extending along the insertion direction of the second connector, and the protective cover is slidably connected to the first slide groove.

[0015] By providing the first slide groove on the outer peripheral surface of the first connector body, the protective cover can be pushed by the second connector and stably slide along the insertion direction of the second connector.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the protective cover includes a cover body and a fulcrum portion, the cover body is configured to cover the opening, the fulcrum portion is fixed to the cover body, and the fulcrum portion is rotatably and slidably connected to the first slide groove, and when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the protective cover is pushed by the second connector to rotate around the fulcrum portion and slide along the first slide groove.

[0017] The protective cover has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture. The cover body moves along the fulcrum part and can cover the opening, move out of the opening, and slide along the first slide groove, thereby protecting the inside of the first connector body, automatically exposing the insertion opening for the second connector when pushed by the second connector, and preventing the cover body from sliding when pushed by the second connector and interfering with the insertion of the second connector.

[0018] In an optional embodiment, the protective cover includes two fulcrum portions, the two fulcrum portions are installed opposite each other in the width direction of the cover body, the first slide grooves and the fulcrum portions are installed corresponding to each other, and each fulcrum portion is connected to the corresponding first slide groove in a rotatable and slidable manner.

[0019] By installing two fulcrum portions opposite each other in the width direction of the cover body and providing two corresponding first slide grooves in the first connector body, the stability of the protective cover and the first connector body is improved, and the protective cover can be pushed by the second connector to rotate and slide stably, thereby extending the service life of the protective cover and therefore the service life of the first connector.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, a first engagement portion is provided on the side of the protective cover away from the first connector body, and the first engagement portion is configured to engage with a second engagement portion on the second connector when the protective cover is pushed by the second connector and rotates so that the protective cover can slide along the insertion direction of the second connector.

[0021] By providing a first engagement portion that engages with the second engagement portion of the second connector, when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the first connector can slide in the insertion direction under the pushing of the second connector due to the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. Then, when the second connector is removed from the first connector, the second connector can move the protective cover, and therefore the protective cover automatically covers the opening, thereby achieving automatic protection during the battery replacement operation. That is, when the second connector is separated from the first connector, the protective cover is pulled by the second connector until it slides in the opposite direction to the insertion direction to a stop position and rotates toward the opening, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are separated. As a result, the protective cover covers the opening and prevents external contaminants from entering the inside of the first connector body.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the first connector includes two of the protective covers, and the two protective covers have a double-hinged structure and are configured to cover the opening together.

[0023] By installing two protective covers compared to the proposal of installing only one protective cover, the movement path required for the protective cover to move from covering the opening to exposing the opening can be reduced, thereby preventing the insertion of the second connector from being hindered due to an excessively long movement path. Furthermore, by installing two protective covers compared to the proposal of installing more than two protective covers, the manufacturing cost of the first connector can be effectively reduced.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, a first magnetically attractive member and a second magnetically attractive member are respectively installed at the adjacent ends of the two protective covers, and when the opening is covered by the two protective covers, the first magnetically attractive member and the second magnetically attractive member are attracted to each other.

[0025] A first magnetic attraction member and a second magnetic attraction member are respectively installed on the two protective covers, and when the opening is covered by the two protective covers, the first magnetic attraction member and the second magnetic attraction member are attracted to each other, thereby allowing the protective covers to stably cover the opening, improving the protective effect on the inside of the first connector body and ensuring the safety of the first connector body.

[0026] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a battery, the battery comprising: a housing, a battery cell housed in the housing, and a first connector according to any one of the above embodiments attached to the housing.

[0027] The battery supplies power to the electrical equipment body, allowing for quick replacement of the electrical equipment body. During battery transportation and assembly, the protective cover effectively protects the first connector body, preventing external contaminants from entering through the opening and damaging the performance of the first connector body. This allows for smooth assembly of the battery to the electrical equipment body, ensuring normal operation of the battery and the electrical equipment body.

[0028] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a connector assembly, comprising: a first connector according to any one of the above embodiments; and a second connector as a mating member inserted into the first connector.

[0029] In an optional embodiment, the second connector includes a second connector body and a pushing portion, the second connector body being a mating member inserted into the first connector body, and the pushing portion being connected to the second connector body and configured to push the protective cover.

[0030] By providing a pushing portion on the second connector body, the protective cover is pushed out of the opening of the first connector body during the process of inserting the second connector body into the first connector body, thereby allowing the second connector body to be inserted into the opening.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, a second engagement portion is provided on the pushing portion, and the second engagement portion is configured to engage with the first engagement portion on the protective cover so that the protective cover can be pushed by the second connector and slide along the insertion direction of the second connector.

[0032] By providing a second engagement portion on the pushing portion, when the protective cover is pushed, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with each other, and therefore the protective cover moves in accordance with the pushing portion, thereby enabling the protective cover to slide and close automatically.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, two pressing portions are provided, and the two pressing portions are provided at a distance from each other and are used to press the two protective covers.

[0034] The two pushing portions correspond to the two protective covers on the first connector, so that when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the pushing portions push the corresponding protective covers to rotate and remove them from the openings.

[0035] As an optional embodiment, the present application further provides an electrical equipment comprising: an electrical equipment main body, a battery that supplies power to the electrical equipment main body, and a connector assembly according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the first connector is mounted on one of the electrical equipment main body and the battery, and the second connector is mounted on the other of the electrical equipment main body and the battery.

[0036] The electrical equipment includes a connector assembly, i.e., a first connector and a second connector. When the electrical equipment body and the battery are not assembled, a protective cover on the first connector can effectively protect the first connector body, thereby preventing damage to the first connector body due to contaminants entering the opening of the first connector body, and thus ensuring the service life and safety of the first connector. When the electrical equipment body and the battery are assembled, when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the protective cover can be pushed to expose the opening of the first connector for inserting the second connector.

[0037] The above description is a summary of the technical solution of the present application, and in order to more clearly understand the technical solution of the present application, the contents of the specification can be referred to. In order to simplify the above and other objectives, features and advantages of the present application, the following lists specific embodiments of the present application. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. The drawings described are only for illustrating some embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope. Those skilled in the art can obtain other related drawings based on these drawings without using inventive abilities.

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a first connector according to some embodiments of the present application when the opening is covered. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a first connector according to some embodiments of the present application with an opening exposed; [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a second connector according to some embodiments of the present application inserted into a first connector; [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of a first connector according to some embodiments of the present application when the opening is covered. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a second connector according to some embodiments of the present application inserted into a first connector; [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a first connector when an opening is exposed by a second connector according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective cover according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of a first connector according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion X in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second connector according to some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In order to more clearly explain the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely explained below with reference to the drawings used in the embodiments of the present application, and it goes without saying that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and do not represent all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without using inventive ability also fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0041] Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used in this specification are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "comprise," "have," and any variations thereof in the description of the present application, claims, and drawings above, mean inclusive and non-exclusive. The terms "first," "second," etc. in the description, claims, or drawings of this application are merely intended to distinguish between different elements and do not dictate a particular order or primary and secondary elements.

[0042] In this application, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, configuration, or characteristic described using the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the application. When the term is used in various parts of the specification, it does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it refer to an independent embodiment or an alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive from other embodiments.

[0043] In the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly defined or limited, the terms "attach," "link," "connect," and "attach" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate object, or the interiors of two elements may be in communication. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] The term "and / or" used in this application is merely for explaining the relationship between related objects, and it represents three kinds of relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the symbol " / " in this application generally represents the relationship indicated by "or" between the related objects before and after it.

[0045] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts, and for the sake of simplicity, detailed descriptions of the same parts will be omitted in different embodiments. The dimensions such as thickness and length of various parts in the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings, and the dimensions such as thickness and length of the entire integrated device, are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the present application.

[0046] As used in this application, "plurality" refers to two or more (including two).

[0047] Currently, in view of the development of the market situation, electric vehicles have become an important factor for the sustainable development of the automobile industry. To solve the problems of relatively long charging time and relatively short driving range, a proposal has been made to quickly replace the batteries of electric vehicles, which has to some extent improved the problem of slow charging speed.

[0048] When performing quick replacement work on electric vehicles, the connectors are exposed to the outside and are therefore easily damaged, reducing safety.

[0049] The inventors have found through research that this problem occurs because, during battery replacement, the battery is not always assembled into the vehicle body, and the connector is exposed to the outside during the process of storing, transporting, and quickly replacing the battery. This makes it easy for external contaminants or dust to enter the connector, impairing the performance of the connector itself. For example, the resistance of the high and low voltage terminals in the connector increases, or the liquid-cooled connection becomes clogged, damaging the connector and reducing safety.

[0050] In view of the above, the present inventors have designed a first connector to solve the problem that connectors in the prior art are easily damaged and have reduced safety. The first connector is a mating member for insertion of a second connector. The first connector includes a first connector body and a protective cover. The first connector body has an opening for insertion of the second connector. The protective cover is movably attached to the first connector body and configured to cover the opening. The protective cover is configured to be pushed by the second connector to disengage from the opening when the second connector is inserted into the first connector.

[0051] When the second connector is not inserted into the first connector, for example, during storage or transportation, a protective cover covers the opening to prevent it from being exposed to the outside. When the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the protective cover is pushed out of the opening as the second connector is inserted, exposing the opening for insertion of the second connector, thereby enabling connection between the first and second connectors. Because the opening of the first connector body is exposed only when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, it is possible to effectively prevent external contaminants from entering the opening and prevent performance of the first connector body itself from being impaired by external contaminants, thereby preventing damage to the first connector body, ensuring the safety of the first connector body, and ensuring normal operation of the battery and the vehicle body. In contrast to the proposal to protect the first connector body by controlling the operation of the protective cover using a control system including a distance measurement sensor unit, a motor control system, and a pressure sensor unit, the proposal to protect the first connector body by having a protective cover movably attached to the first connector body and by pushing the second connector has the advantages of a simple configuration and low manufacturing and running costs.

[0052] The first connector according to the present application can be used with a battery and can also be used in various equipment that uses a battery, such as a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft. When the first connector is used with a battery, the battery is connected to an electrical equipment body via the first connector, thereby allowing the battery to supply power to the electrical equipment body. For example, if the electrical equipment body is a vehicle, the first connector includes high and low voltage terminals and a liquid-cooled connection portion, and the vehicle is equipped with a second connector, which includes corresponding high and low voltage terminals and a liquid-cooled interface. When the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the high and low voltage terminals and the liquid-cooled connection portion can be simultaneously connected, thereby forming a complete high and low voltage system and a complete liquid-cooled system between the vehicle and the battery, and allowing the battery to supply power to the vehicle. When the first connector is used with an electrical equipment body, the electrical equipment body is connected to the battery via the first connector, thereby allowing the battery to supply power to the electrical equipment. For example, if the electrical equipment is a vehicle, the first connector includes high and low voltage terminals and a liquid-cooled connection portion, the battery has a second connector, the second connector includes corresponding high and low voltage terminals and a liquid-cooled interface, and the second connector can be plugged into the first connector to simultaneously connect the high and low voltage terminals and the liquid-cooled connection portion, so that the vehicle and the battery form a complete high and low voltage system and a complete liquid-cooled system, and the battery can supply power to the vehicle.

[0053] The following describes an example in which the main body of electrical equipment is a vehicle 1000. Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0054] A control device 200, a motor 300, and a battery 100 are installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the control device 200 is configured to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300. For example, the battery 100 is located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle, for example, as a power source for operating the vehicle 1000, for the circuit system of the vehicle 1000, and for supplying operating electricity for starting, navigating, and driving the vehicle 1000. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 100 is not only used as a power source for operating the vehicle 1000, but can also be used as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000 to supply driving power to the vehicle 1000 by replacing or partially replacing gasoline or natural gas.

[0055] The battery 100 is removable from the vehicle to allow battery replacement operations for the vehicle 1000. When a battery runs out, the exhausted battery is removed and another battery 100 is installed so that the vehicle 1000 continues to be powered.

[0056] The connector serves as a connection structure on the battery side and is connected to a connection structure of the vehicle during the process of installing the battery 100 in the vehicle, thereby enabling the battery to supply power to the vehicle.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector 10 according to some embodiments of the present application when the opening 110 is covered, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first connector 10 according to some embodiments of the present application when the opening 110 is exposed, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second connector 20 according to some embodiments of the present application when inserted into the first connector 10. The first connector 10 is a mating member for the second connector 20 to be inserted into. The first connector 10 includes a first connector body 11 and a protective cover 12. The first connector body 11 has an opening 110 for inserting the second connector 20. The protective cover 12 is movably attached to the first connector body 11 and configured to cover the opening 110. The protective cover 12 is configured to be pushed by the second connector 20 and removed from the opening 110 when the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10.

[0058] The first connector 10 is a mating component for the second connector 20. The first connector 10 may be installed on a battery and the second connector 20 may be installed on the main body of the electrical equipment, or the first connector 10 may be installed on the main body of the electrical equipment and the second connector 20 may be installed on the battery. The first connector body 11 is the main structure of the mating component for the second connector 20. High and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections (high and low voltage terminal 11a is shown as an example in FIG. 3 ) are provided in the first connector body 11, so that when the second connector 20 is properly inserted into the first connector 10, the high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections are connected to the corresponding high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections of the second connector 20, thereby forming a complete high and low voltage system and / or a complete liquid cooling system together with the first connector 10 and the second connector 20. The opening 110 provided in the first connector body 11 is configured to expose high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections for insertion of the second connector 20 .

[0059] The protective cover 12 is a part that is movably installed on the first connector body 11, and is configured to cover the opening 110 to protect the inside of the first connector body 11, for example, to prevent contact between the high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid-cooled connection parts and the outside, or to move away from the opening 110 when the second connector 20 is pushed to expose the inside of the first connector body 11, for example, to expose the high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid-cooled connection parts for inserting the second connector 20.

[0060] When the second connector 20 is not inserted into the first connector 10, for example, during storage or transportation, a protective cover 12 covers the opening 110 to prevent it from being exposed to the outside. When the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 is pushed out of the opening 110 as the second connector 20 is inserted, exposing the opening 110 for insertion of the second connector 20, thereby enabling connection between the first connector 10 and the second connector 20. Because the opening 110 of the first connector body 11 is exposed only when the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector, it is possible to effectively prevent external contaminants from entering the opening 110 and prevent the performance of the first connector body 11 from being impaired by external contaminants, thereby preventing damage to the first connector body 11, ensuring the safety of the first connector body 11, and ensuring normal operation of the battery and the electrical equipment body. Furthermore, compared to the proposal to protect the first connector body 11 by controlling the operation of the protective cover using a control system including a distance measurement sensor unit, a motor control system, and a pressure sensor unit, the proposal to protect the first connector body by moving the protective cover 12 by pushing the second connector 20 has the advantages of a simple configuration and low manufacturing and running costs.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the protective cover 12 is rotatably attached to the first connector body 11, and is configured to be pushed and rotated by the second connector 20 so as to be removed from the opening 110 when the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10. The axis of rotation of the protective cover 12 is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector 20.

[0062] The protective cover 12 is rotatably attached to the first connector body 11, that is, the protective cover 12 rotates relative to the first connector body 11 to cover or expose the opening 110.

[0063] Optionally, the protective cover 12 may be movably connected to the first connector body 11 in other ways, for example, the protective cover 12 may be attached to the first connector body 11 so as to be slidable along a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector 20, in which case the effect of the protective cover 12 covering or exposing the opening 110 can also be achieved.

[0064] When protective cover 12 is pushed by second connector 20, it rotates relative to first connector body 11 and can be removed from opening 110, thereby allowing second connector 20 to be inserted into opening 110. By orienting the rotation axis of protective cover 12 perpendicular to the insertion direction of second connector 20, protective cover 12 does not interfere with the insertion of second connector 20 when it rotates, and therefore second connector 20 can be inserted into opening 110 smoothly.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first connector body 11 includes an end face 111 and an outer peripheral surface 112, the opening 110 is provided on the end face 111, and the outer peripheral surface 112 is provided to surround the end face 111 on all four sides, and when the protective cover 12 covers the opening 110, one end of the protective cover 12 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11 so as to be pushed and rotated by the second connector 20.

[0066] The end face 111 of the first connector body 11 is the surface of the end of the first connector body 11 that comes into contact with the second connector body 22 when the first connector body 11 and the second connector 20 are connected. The outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11 is provided around the outer surface of the end face 111.

[0067] "When the protective cover 12 covers the opening 110, one end of the protective cover 12 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11" means that one end of the protective cover 12 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11, and thus, when the protective cover 12 is pushed by the second connector 20, the position at which the pushing force acts is a portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11 that can rotate the protective cover 12.

[0068] Optionally, the protective cover 12 is installed on the end surface 111, and the rotation axis of the protective cover 12 is located at the end surface 111. That is, the protective cover 12 is installed on the outer circumferential surface 112, and the rotation axis of the protective cover 12 penetrates the outer circumferential surface 112. For example, the protective cover 12 includes a cover body 120 and a fulcrum part 121, the cover body 120 is plate-shaped, the fulcrum part 121 includes a support member 122 connected perpendicularly to the cover body 120, a groove (not shown) is formed on the outer circumferential surface 112, a protruding block 123 (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 4) is formed on the support member 122, and the protruding block 123 is rotatably installed in the groove, and the second connector 20 includes a pressing part 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the pushing portion 21 is a member corresponding to the protective cover 12, and may be plate-shaped, and is used to push the cover body 120 of the protective cover 12 so as to rotate in the groove to expose the opening 110.

[0069] By positioning one end of the protective cover 12 so that it protrudes from the outer surface 112 of the first connector body 11, the part protruding from the outer surface 112 of the first connector body 11 is pushed by the second connector 20, causing the protective cover 12 to rotate outward from the first connector body 11, thereby exposing the opening 110 located on the end surface 111 and forming a passage extending along the insertion direction of the second connector 20, allowing the second connector 20 to move and be inserted into the opening 110.

[0070] 5 to 7 , in some embodiments of the present application, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first connector 10 according to some embodiments of the present application when an opening 110 is covered, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second connector 20 according to some embodiments of the present application when inserted into the first connector 10, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the opening 110 of the first connector 10 according to some embodiments of the present application when exposed by the second connector 20. Protective cover 12 is slidably attached to first connector body 11, and is configured to be pushed and rotated by second connector 20, and then further pushed by second connector 20 to slide along the insertion direction of second connector 20.

[0071] "The protective cover 12 is slidably attached to the first connector body 11" means that the protective cover 12 is rotatably connected to the first connector body 11 and is slidable relative to the first connector body 11.

[0072] By slidably attaching the protective cover 12 to the first connector body 11, the protective cover 12 can be pushed and rotated by the second connector 20 and then further pushed and slid by the second connector 20, allowing the second connector 20 to be inserted into the opening 110 without interfering with the movement of the second connector 20 in the insertion direction. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7 , comparing a design in which the protective cover 12 cannot slide relative to the first connector body 11 with a design in which the protective cover 12 can slide relative to the first connector body 11, as can be seen from FIG. 3 , after the protective cover 12 rotates to expose the opening 110, the protective cover 12 has a certain height in the direction toward the second connector 20 in the insertion direction of the second connector 20, interfering with the insertion of the second connector 20. Therefore, in the design shown in FIG. 3 , a chamber for the protective cover 12 must be provided in the second connector 20 to solve this problem. Providing a chamber in the second connector 20 increases the manufacturing cost of the second connector 20. In contrast, in Figure 7, the protective cover 12 can slide in response to the insertion of the second connector 20, so it does not interfere with the insertion of the second connector 20, and manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to a proposal in which the protective cover 12 cannot slide relative to the first connector body 11.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present application, the first connector body 11 includes an end face 111 and an outer peripheral surface 112, the opening 110 is provided on the end face 111, the outer peripheral surface 112 is provided so as to surround the end face 111 on all four sides, the outer peripheral surface 112 is provided with a first slide groove 113 extending along the insertion direction of the second connector 20, and the protective cover 12 is slidably connected to the first slide groove 113.

[0074] The two opposing ends of the first slide groove 113 are a first end 1130 and a second end 1131, and the first slide groove 113 has a groove-like structure that extends from the first end 1130 to the second end 1131 along the insertion direction of the second connector 20. The first slide groove 113 allows the protective cover 12 to slide along the insertion direction of the second connector 20.

[0075] By providing a first slide groove 113 on the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11, the protective cover 12 can be pushed by the second connector 20 and slid stably along the insertion direction of the second connector 20.

[0076] 8 is a perspective view of a protective cover 12 according to some embodiments of the present application. The protective cover 12 includes a cover body 120 and a fulcrum portion 121. The cover body 120 is configured to cover the opening 110, and the fulcrum portion 121 is fixed to the cover body 120 and rotatably and slidably connected to the first slide groove 113. When the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 is pushed by the second connector 20 to rotate around the fulcrum portion 121 and slide along the first slide groove 113.

[0077] The cover body 120 is plate-shaped, and thereby can be tightly fitted to the end face 111 of the first connector body 11 to reliably cover the opening 110, thereby protecting the inside of the first connector 10.

[0078] The fulcrum part 121 is a member connected to the cover body 120 and rotatably and slidably connected to the first slide groove 113. Optionally, the fulcrum part 121 includes a support member 122 and a protruding block 123, the support member 122 and the cover body 120 being perpendicularly connected to each other, the protruding block 123 being mounted on the support member 122, the axis of rotation of the protruding block 123 being perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector 20, and the protruding block 123 being mounted in the first slide groove 113 and being rotatable and slidable within the first slide groove 113. Optionally, the second connector 20 includes a pressing part 21, which, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , is a member corresponding to the protective cover 12 and may be plate-shaped, for pressing the cover body 120 of the protective cover 12 to rotate in the recessed groove so as to expose the opening 110.

[0079] Protective cover 12 has a simple structure and can be easily manufactured. Cover body 120 moves along fulcrum portion 121 and can cover opening 110, move out of opening 110, and slide along first slide groove 113, thereby protecting the inside of first connector body 11, automatically exposing opening 110 for insertion of second connector 20 when pushed by second connector 20, and preventing the cover from sliding when pushed by second connector 20 and interfering with the insertion of second connector 20.

[0080] In some embodiments of the present application, the protective cover 12 includes two fulcrum portions 121, which are arranged opposite each other in the width direction of the cover body 120, and the first sliding grooves 113 and the fulcrum portions 121 are arranged correspondingly, and each fulcrum portion 121 is respectively connected to the corresponding first sliding groove 113 in a rotatable and slidable manner.

[0081] "The first slide groove 113 and the fulcrum portion 121 are installed in correspondence" means that a first slide groove 113 for connecting with a corresponding fulcrum portion 121 is provided on each of two opposing surfaces of the first connector body 11 in the width direction of the cover body 120.

[0082] Optionally, a second slide groove 114 is provided on the first connector body 11, and the second slide groove 114 connects the end face 111 of the first connector body 11 with the first slide groove 113, and is used for assembling the protective cover 12. That is, the fulcrum part 121 of the protective cover 12 first enters the second slide groove 114 from the position where the second slide groove 114 and the end face 111 intersect, and then moves along the second slide groove 114 to be assembled with the first slide groove 113.

[0083] By installing two fulcrum portions 121 opposite each other in the width direction of the cover body 120 and providing two corresponding first slide grooves 113 in the first connector body 11, the stability of the protective cover 12 and the first connector body 11 is improved, and the protective cover 12 can be pushed by the second connector 20 to rotate and slide stably, thereby extending the service life of the protective cover 12 and therefore the service life of the first connector 10.

[0084] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figures 6 to 8, a first engagement portion 124 is provided on the side of the protective cover 12 away from the first connector body 11, and the first engagement portion 124 is configured to engage with the second engagement portion 210 in the second connector 20 when the protective cover 12 is pushed by the second connector 20 and rotates so that the protective cover 12 can be pushed by the second connector 20 and slide along the insertion direction of the second connector 20.

[0085] The first engagement portion 124 is provided on the side of the protective cover 12 away from the first connector body 11, and is a member that engages with the second engagement portion 210 in the pressing portion 21 of the second connector 20. The first engagement portion 124 may be an engagement block, and the second engagement portion 210 may be an engagement groove provided in the pressing portion 21.

[0086] By providing first engagement portion 124 that engages with second engagement portion 210 of second connector 20, when second connector 20 is inserted into first connector 10, first connector 10 can slide in the insertion direction under the pushing of second connector 20 due to the engagement between first engagement portion 124 and second engagement portion 210. Then, when second connector 20 is removed from first connector 10, pushing portion 21 can move protective cover 12, so that protective cover 12 automatically covers opening 110, thereby realizing automatic protection during the battery replacement process. That is, when the second connector 20 moves away from the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 slides in the opposite direction to the insertion direction to a stop position (first end 1130) and rotates toward the opening 110, and the protective cover 12 is pulled by the pushing portion 21 until the first engagement portion 124 and the second engagement portion 210 separate, and as a result, the protective cover 12 covers the opening 110, preventing external contaminants from entering the inside of the first connector body 11.

[0087] Optionally, an inclined surface 1240 is formed on the end of the first engagement portion 124 that is spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface 112 of the first connector body 11. By providing the inclined surface 1240, the first engagement portion 124 can be easily detached from the second engagement portion 210, thereby contributing to realizing the automatic closing operation of the protective cover 12.

[0088] The present application does not limit the number of protective covers 12, and the number of protective covers 12 may be one, two, three, four, etc. In some embodiments of the present application, Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a first connector 10 according to some embodiments of the present application. The first connector 10 includes two protective covers 12, and the two protective covers 12 have a double-hinged structure and are configured to cover the opening 110 together.

[0089] The two protective covers 12 are installed as a double-opening structure, which means that the two protective covers 12 are installed symmetrically with respect to the center line of the first connector body 11 in the width direction of the protective covers 12, and together cover and expose the opening 110.

[0090] By installing two protective covers 12 compared to the proposal of installing only one protective cover 12, the movement path required for the protective cover 12 to move from a state in which it covers the opening 110 to a state in which it exposes the opening 110 can be reduced, thereby preventing interference with the insertion of the second connector 20 due to an excessively long movement path. Furthermore, by installing two protective covers 12 compared to the proposal of installing more than two protective covers 12, the manufacturing cost of the first connector 10 can be effectively reduced.

[0091] Optionally, Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the portion X in Fig. 9. A step-like protrusion 1200 is provided at each of the opposing ends of the two protective covers 12 of the double-door structure, i.e., a step-like protrusion 1200 is provided at the end of the cover body 120. As a result, when the opening 110 is covered by the two protective covers 12, the shape of the step-like protrusions 1200 of the two protective covers 12 matches, thereby improving the protective effect on the opening 110.

[0092] In some embodiments of the present application, a first magnetically attractive member (not shown) and a second magnetically attractive member (not shown) are respectively installed at the adjacent ends of the two protective covers 12. When the two protective covers 12 cover the opening 110, the first magnetically attractive member and the second magnetically attractive member are attracted to each other.

[0093] The first and second magnetically attractive members are components that can be magnetically attracted to each other, such as magnets, and are attached to the protective cover 12 by bonding, engagement, or other methods.

[0094] When the first and second magnetic attraction members are respectively installed on the two protective covers 12 and the opening 110 is covered by the two protective covers 12, the first and second magnetic attraction members are attracted to each other, thereby allowing the protective covers 12 to stably cover the opening 110, improving the protective effect on the inside of the first connector body 11, preventing damage to the first connector body 11, ensuring the safety of the first connector body 11, and ensuring the normal operation of the battery.

[0095] In some embodiments of the present application, the present application provides a battery, the battery including a housing, a battery cell, and the first connector 10 according to the above embodiment. The battery cell is housed in the housing, and the first connector 10 is attached to the housing.

[0096] The battery supplies power to the electrical equipment body, allowing for quick replacement of the electrical equipment body. During battery transportation and assembly, the protective cover 12 effectively protects the first connector body 11, preventing external contaminants from entering the opening 110 and damaging the first connector body 11. This allows for smooth assembly of the battery to the electrical equipment body, ensuring normal operation of the battery and the electrical equipment body.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a connector assembly, which includes a second connector 20 and the above-mentioned first connector 10, wherein the second connector 20 is a mating member that is inserted into the first connector 10.

[0098] 11 is a perspective view of a second connector 20 according to some embodiments of the present application. The second connector 20 includes a second connector body 22 and a pushing portion 21. The second connector body 22 is a mating member that is inserted into the first connector body 11, and the pushing portion 21 is connected to the second connector body 22 and serves to push the protective cover 12.

[0099] The second connector body 22 is the main structure of the mating member that is inserted into the first connector body 11. High and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections are provided in the second connector body 22, which connects with the high and low voltage terminals and / or liquid cooling connections in the first connector body 11 to form a complete high and low voltage system and / or a complete liquid cooling system.

[0100] The pushing portion 21 is a member connected to the second connector body 22, and may be plate-shaped, and is used to push the protective cover 12 of the first connector 10.

[0101] By providing a pushing portion 21 on the second connector body 22, when the second connector body 22 is inserted into the first connector body 11, the protective cover 12 is pushed so as to come out of the opening 110 of the first connector body 11, thereby allowing the second connector body 22 to be inserted into the opening 110.

[0102] In some embodiments of the present application, the pushing portion 21 is provided with a second engagement portion 210, which is configured to engage with the first engagement portion 124 on the protective cover 12 so that the protective cover 12 can be pushed by the second connector 20 and slide along the insertion direction of the second connector 20.

[0103] The second engagement portion 210 is structured to engage with the first engagement portion 124 of the protective cover 12. When the first engagement portion 124 is an engagement block, the second engagement portion 210 can be an engagement groove. By providing the second engagement portion 210 on the pressing portion 21, when the protective cover 12 is pressed, the first engagement portion 124 and the second engagement portion 210 engage with each other, and therefore the protective cover 12 moves in accordance with the pressing portion 21, allowing the protective cover 12 to slide and close automatically.

[0104] In some embodiments of the present application, two pushing portions 21 are provided, and the two pushing portions 21 are provided at a distance from each other to push the two protective covers 12. The two pushing portions 21 correspond to the two protective covers 12 in the first connector 10, so that when the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10, the pushing portions 21 push the corresponding protective covers 12 to rotate and remove them from the openings 110.

[0105] In some embodiments, the present application further provides an electrical device. The electrical device includes an electrical device body, a battery, and a connector assembly, and the battery supplies power to the electrical device body. The first connector 10 is installed on one of the electrical device body and the battery, and the second connector 20 is installed on the other of the electrical device body and the battery. The electrical device includes the connector assembly, i.e., the first connector 10 and the second connector 20. When the electrical device body and the battery are not assembled, the protective cover 12 of the first connector 10 can effectively protect the first connector body 11, thereby preventing contaminants from entering the opening 110 of the first connector body 11 and damaging the performance of the first connector body 11. This ensures the safety of the first connector 10 and the normal operation of the battery and the electrical device body. When assembling the electrical equipment main body and the battery, in the process of inserting the second connector 20 into the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 can be pushed to expose the opening 110 of the first connector 10 for inserting the second connector 20.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 , the present application provides a first connector 10. The first connector 10 includes a first connector body 11 and two protective covers 12. The first connector 10 is a mating member for insertion of a second connector 20. The second connector 20 includes a second connector body 22 and a pressing portion 21. The two protective covers 12 have a double-hinged structure, and a first slide groove 113 corresponding to the protective covers 12 and extending along the insertion direction of the second connector 20 is provided on an outer circumferential surface 112 of the first connector body 11. The protective cover 12 includes a cover body 120 and a fulcrum portion 121. The cover body 120 is configured to cover the opening 110, and the fulcrum portion 121 is fixed to the cover body 120 and slidably and rotatably connected to the first slide groove 113. A first engagement portion 124 is provided on the side of cover body 120 away from first connector body 11, and first engagement portion 124 is configured to engage with second engagement portion 210 of second connector 20. When second connector 20 is inserted into first connector 10, protective cover 12 automatically opens; that is, when second connector 20 is inserted, pushing portion 21 pushes and rotates cover body 120 to expose opening 110, and then first engagement portion 124 and second engagement portion 210 engage, and cover body 120 is further pushed to slide along first slide groove 113 until second connector 20 is inserted into opening 110. When the second connector 20 is removed from the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 automatically closes to protect the inside of the first connector body 11; that is, when the second connector 20 is separated from the first connector 10, the protective cover 12 slides in the opposite direction to the insertion direction to the end of the first slide groove 113 and rotates toward the opening 110, and the protective cover 12 is pulled by the pushing portion 21 until the first engagement portion 124 and the second engagement portion 210 are separated. As a result, the protective cover 12 covers the opening 110 to prevent external contaminants from entering the inside of the first connector body 11, thereby ensuring the safety of the first connector body 11.

[0107] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and does not limit the present application. Those skilled in the art may have various modifications and variations to the present application. As long as they do not deviate from the spirit and principle of the present application, any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc., fall within the scope of protection of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1000 vehicles 300 motor 200 control device 100 batteries 10 First Connector 11 First connector body 11a High and low voltage terminal 110 Aperture 111 End face 112 Outer surface 113 First slide groove 1130 1st end 1131 2nd end 114 Second slide groove 12 Protective cover 120 Cover body 1200 Staircase 121 Fulcrum 122 Support member 123 Protruding Block 124 first engagement portion 1240 Slope 20 Second Connector 21 Pushing part 210 second engagement portion 22 Second connector body

Claims

1. A first connector configured as a mating member for insertion of a second connector, a first connector body and a protective cover; the first connector body has an opening for inserting the second connector; the protective cover is movably attached to the first connector body and configured to cover the opening; the protective cover is configured to be pushed by the second connector to be removed from the opening when the second connector is inserted into the first connector; the protective cover is rotatably attached to the first connector body, and the protective cover is configured to be pushed and rotated by the second connector so as to be removed from the opening when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, and a rotation axis of the protective cover is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the second connector, the protective cover is slidably attached to the first connector body, and is configured to be pushed by the second connector to rotate and then further pushed by the second connector to slide along the insertion direction of the second connector, The first connector includes two protective covers, and the two protective covers have a double-hinged structure and are configured to cover the opening together. A first connector comprising:

2. The first connector body includes an end surface and an outer peripheral surface, the opening is provided on the end surface, the outer peripheral surface is provided so as to surround the four periphery of the end surface, and when the protective cover covers the opening, one end of the protective cover is pushed by the second connector and rotatably protrudes from the outer peripheral surface.

2. The first connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises: a first connector;

3. The first connector body includes an end surface and an outer peripheral surface, the opening is provided on the end surface, the outer peripheral surface is provided so as to surround the four periphery of the end surface, a first slide groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface and extends along the insertion direction of the second connector, and the protective cover is slidably connected to the first slide groove.

2. The first connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises: a first connector;

4. The protective cover includes a cover body and a fulcrum part, the cover body is configured to cover the opening, the fulcrum part is fixed to the cover body, and the fulcrum part is rotatably and slidably connected to the first slide groove, and when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the protective cover is pushed by the second connector to rotate around the fulcrum part and slide along the first slide groove.

4. The first connector according to claim 3.

5. The protective cover includes two fulcrums, which are arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the cover body, and the first slide grooves and the fulcrums are arranged corresponding to each other, and each fulcrum is connected to the corresponding first slide groove so as to be rotatable and slidable.

5. The first connector according to claim 4.

6. A first engaging portion is provided on the side of the protective cover that is spaced apart from the first connector body, and the first engaging portion is configured to engage with a second engaging portion of the second connector when the protective cover is pushed and rotated by the second connector so that the protective cover can slide along the insertion direction of the second connector by being pushed by the second connector.

2. The first connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises: a first connector;

7. a first magnetically attractive member and a second magnetically attractive member are respectively installed at the ends of the two protective covers that are close to each other; When the opening is covered by the two protective covers, the first magnetically attractive member and the second magnetically attractive member are attracted to each other.

2. The first connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises: a first connector;

8. The housing and a battery cell housed in the housing; and a first connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7 attached to the housing. A battery characterized by:

9. A first connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7; a second connector that is a mating member inserted into the first connector; A connector assembly comprising:

10. The second connector includes a second connector body and a pushing portion, the second connector body being a mating member inserted into the first connector body, and the pushing portion being connected to the second connector body and configured to push the protective cover.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9.

11. The pushing portion is provided with a second engaging portion, and the second engaging portion is configured to engage with the first engaging portion of the protective cover so that the protective cover can be pushed by the second connector and slide along the insertion direction of the second connector.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10.

12. Two pressing portions are provided, and the two pressing portions are provided at an interval to press the two protective covers.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10.

13. An electrical installation comprising: The electrical equipment itself, a battery that supplies power to the electrical equipment body; and the connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first connector is mounted on one of the electrical equipment body and the battery, and the second connector is mounted on the other of the electrical equipment body and the battery. Electrical equipment characterized by:

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