Photovoltaic inverter and electrical connector

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a photovoltaic inverter and an electrical connector. The photovoltaic inverter comprises a housing, a circuit board and an electrical connector, the circuit board being accommodated in the housing, and the housing being provided with a through hole. The electrical connector comprises a first insulating housing, a battery cell and a sealing member; the first insulating housing passes through the through hole; the battery cell comprises a main electrical connection body, an elastic conductor and a connection terminal, and the main electrical connection body passes through the first insulating housing and the through hole; one end of the main electrical connection body is used for electrically connecting to a photovoltaic module, the other end of the main electrical connection body is electrically connected to one end of the elastic conductor, the end of the elastic conductor away from the main electrical connection body is electrically connected to the connection terminal, the connection terminal is fixed on the circuit board and achieves electrical connection, and the elastic conductor can extend and retract in the axial direction of the electrical connector. The sealing member covers the outer wall of the main electrical connection body in the circumferential direction of the main electrical connection body and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the main electrical connection body. The sealing member is hermetically connected between the inner wall of the first insulating housing and the main electrical connection body in the radial direction of the main electrical connection body, thereby preventing or reducing water vapor from entering the interior of the housing of the photovoltaic inverter from a gap between the main electrical connection body and the inner wall of the first insulating housing.

Description

Photovoltaic inverters and electrical connectors

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on December 25, 2024, with application number 202423255185.9 and entitled "Photovoltaic Inverter and Electrical Connector", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and in particular to a photovoltaic inverter and an electrical connector. Background Technology

[0003] With the continuous development of the new energy industry, photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, which convert solar energy into electrical energy, are widely used in fields such as communications, transportation, and aerospace. As a crucial component of PV power generation systems, PV inverters convert the direct current (DC) generated by PV solar panels into alternating current (AC) to meet the power needs of various devices. In PV inverters, electrical connectors are used to electrically connect the PV modules to the circuit board, and these connectors also need to be assembled with the housing. Because electrical connectors themselves are not waterproof, moisture can enter the PV inverter from the exposed end of the connector if proper mating is not performed, dust caps are not inserted, or cables are damaged, causing corrosion and ultimately leading to failure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a photovoltaic inverter and electrical connector that can improve sealing performance.

[0005] In a first aspect, one embodiment of this application provides a photovoltaic inverter, which includes a housing, a circuit board, and an electrical connector provided according to a possible implementation of the first aspect. The circuit board is housed within the housing. The housing has a through hole. The electrical connector includes a first insulating shell, a battery cell, and a sealant. The first insulating shell passes through the through hole. The battery cell includes an electrical connection body, an elastic conductor, a connection terminal, and a sealant. The electrical connection body passes through the first insulating shell, and one end of the electrical connection body is used for electrical connection with a photovoltaic module. One end of the elastic conductor is electrically connected to the other end of the electrical connection body, and the end of the elastic conductor away from the electrical connection body is electrically connected to the connection terminal. The connection terminal is fixed to the circuit board and achieves electrical connection, and the elastic conductor is capable of expansion and contraction along the axial direction of the electrical connector. The sealant covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body, and the sealant is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell and the electrical connection body.

[0006] The photovoltaic inverter provided in this application features a sealant that covers and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connector body, forming an integral unit. This means the sealant and the electrical connector body are non-detachably connected. The sealant provides a radial seal between the inner wall of the first insulating shell and the outer wall of the electrical connector body, improving the connector's sealing performance. Even without a male-female mating joint or a dust cap, the sealant's radial seal between the inner wall of the first insulating shell and the outer wall of the electrical connector body prevents or reduces moisture from entering the connector's interior and then the photovoltaic inverter's housing through gaps between the electrical connector body and the inner wall of the first insulating shell. This radial seal enhances the connector's sealing performance, reduces the possibility of moisture corrosion inside the photovoltaic inverter, protects the internal circuitry, and ultimately improves the connector's reliability.

[0007] In addition, the elastic conductor can expand and contract along the axial direction of the electrical connector. When the electrical connector and the circuit board are assembled together, the length of the elastic conductor in the axial direction of the electrical connector can be adjusted according to the actual distance between the circuit board and the housing. This can absorb the assembly tolerance between the electrical connector and the housing, as well as the stress between the circuit board and the electrical connector, and reduce the possibility that the electrical connector body and the circuit board cannot be electrically connected due to production and installation errors.

[0008] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the sealant and the electrical connection body are integrally molded using an injection molding process to improve the sealing performance and connection stability between the electrical connection body and the sealant. Furthermore, compared to existing sealing rings that require prior assembly to the battery cell, the integral molding structure of the sealant and electrical connection body in this application helps reduce assembly steps and improves the assembly efficiency of the electrical connector.

[0009] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the sealant includes a substrate and a first protrusion protruding from the outer wall of the substrate, the outer wall of the substrate being sealed to the inner wall of the first insulating shell, and the first protrusion being interference-fitted to the inner wall of the first insulating shell.

[0010] In this possible implementation, the first protrusion protrudes from the outer wall of the substrate and is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the first insulating shell to enhance the connection strength and stability between the sealant and the inner wall of the first insulating shell, and also to enhance the sealing performance between the first protrusion and the inner wall of the first insulating shell.

[0011] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the first protrusion extends circumferentially along the substrate to form a ring structure.

[0012] In this possible implementation, the first protrusion extends circumferentially along the substrate to form an annular structure, which helps to increase the contact area between the sealant and the inner wall of the first insulating shell, so as to form an auxiliary sealing structure in the circumferential direction of the substrate, and further improve the sealing performance between the sealant and the inner wall of the first insulating shell.

[0013] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the outer wall of the electrical connection body is provided with a first groove, and the portion of the sealant projected onto the electrical connection body is located in the first groove.

[0014] In this possible implementation, the first groove provides space for the elastic deformation of the sealant, improving the sealing reliability between the sealant and the first insulating shell. The sealant is formed on the electrical connection body by injection molding, and the first groove also serves to mate with the mold structure to position the electrical connection body.

[0015] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the outer wall of the electrical connection body is provided with a second groove, the first groove and the second groove are arranged along the axial direction of the electrical connector, and the portion of the sealant projected onto the electrical connection body is located in the second groove.

[0016] In this possible implementation, the second groove provides space for the elastic deformation of the sealant, improving the sealing reliability between the sealant and the first insulating shell. The sealant is formed on the electrical connection body by injection molding, and the second groove also serves to mate with the mold structure to position the electrical connection body.

[0017] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, along the axial direction of the electrical connector, the electrical connection body includes a first portion and a second portion. A portion of the second portion is stacked with a portion of the elastic conductor, and the stacking direction of the electrical connection body and the elastic conductor is perpendicular to the axial direction of the electrical connector. In the stacking direction, the first portion is larger than the second portion, a first groove is provided in the first portion, and the end of the second portion away from the first portion is electrically connected to a connection terminal. A seal is located on the outer wall of the first portion, or the seal is located in both the first and second portions.

[0018] In this possible implementation, a portion of the second part is stacked with a portion of the elastic conductor to increase the connection area between the electrical connection body and the elastic conductor. The sealant is located in the first part, reducing the amount of material used in the sealant while minimizing its impact on the electrical connection between the second part and the elastic conductor. The sealant's location between the first and second parts increases the contact area between the sealant and the electrical connection body, and between the sealant and the first insulating shell, thus improving the sealing performance of the electrical connector.

[0019] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connector body includes a cavity, the electrical connector body has an opening that penetrates the outer wall of the electrical connector body and the inner wall of the cavity, the opening communicates with the cavity, a sealant passes through the opening, a portion of the sealant is housed in the cavity, and the sealant is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cavity in the radial direction of the electrical connector.

[0020] In this possible implementation, the electrical connection body is embedded in the sealant, which increases the contact area between the sealant and the electrical connection body. On the one hand, this helps to reduce the possibility of water vapor entering the photovoltaic inverter from the cavity of the electrical connection body. On the other hand, it also helps to improve the connection strength and connection stability between the electrical connection body and the sealant.

[0021] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the battery cell further includes a baffle fixedly housed within a cavity, and a sealant covers the baffle.

[0022] In this possible implementation, during the molding process of the seal, the baffle can prevent the material of the seal from flowing out of the electrical connection body, which also helps to reduce the amount of material used in the seal.

[0023] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the sealant comprises an adhesive that is bonded to the inner wall of the first insulating shell.

[0024] In this possible implementation, the sealant can be formed by potting, which simplifies the structure of the electrical connection body since there is no need to form a groove structure on the electrical connection body to assist injection molding.

[0025] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the inner wall of the first insulating shell includes a first setting section, a second setting section, and a protrusion. The first setting section and the second setting section are connected along the axial direction of the electrical connector. The inner diameter of the first setting section is smaller than the inner diameter of the second setting section. The protrusion protrudes from the end wall of the first setting section near the second setting section. A gap is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the protrusion and the inner wall of the second setting section. The electrical connection body passes through the first setting section, the protrusion, and the second setting section. The outer wall of the electrical connection body and the inner wall of the first setting section are radially fitted together in the electrical connector. A sealant is received in the inner cavity of the protrusion.

[0026] In this possible implementation, the sealant can be housed within the cavity of the protrusion without filling the entire cavity of the first insulating shell, which helps to reduce the amount of sealant material used.

[0027] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connector further includes an end cap connected to one end of the first insulating shell, the end cap being movable relative to the first insulating shell in the axial direction of the electrical connector.

[0028] In this possible implementation, the connecting terminal is electrically connected between the elastic conductor and the circuit board, and the connecting terminal passes through the end cover, which is movably connected to the first insulating shell. During assembly or use, the connecting terminal moves axially along the elastic conductor, and the end cover, driven by the elastic conductor, can move or float relative to the first insulating shell in the axial direction of the electrical connector. This allows for adjustment of the axial length of the electrical connector, increasing the adjustment range and facilitating the absorption of assembly tolerances between the electrical connector, circuit board, and shell, thus simplifying the assembly and use of the photovoltaic inverter.

[0029] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the end of the electrical connection body facing the elastic conductor is provided with a first connection plane, the elastic conductor is provided with a second connection plane, and the first connection plane and the second connection plane are arranged opposite to each other and electrically connected.

[0030] In this possible implementation, since the electrical connection body and the elastic conductor are electrically connected through the first connection plane and the second connection plane, it is beneficial to increase the connection area between the electrical connection body and the elastic conductor and improve the connection stability between the electrical connection body and the elastic conductor.

[0031] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the connecting terminal is provided with a third connecting plane, and the end of the connecting terminal facing the elastic conductor is provided with a fourth connecting plane, the third connecting plane and the fourth connecting plane are arranged opposite to each other and electrically connected.

[0032] In this possible implementation, since the connecting terminal and the elastic conductor are electrically connected through the third connecting plane and the fourth connecting plane, it is beneficial to increase the connection area between the connecting terminal and the elastic conductor and improve the connection stability between the connecting terminal and the elastic conductor.

[0033] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connector further includes a retaining element sleeved on the outer wall of the electrical connection body, the retaining element being used to connect with the inner wall of the first insulating shell to connect the electrical connection body to the first insulating shell together.

[0034] In this possible implementation, the electrical connection body is connected to the first insulating shell by a retaining element, thereby improving the ease of assembly of the electrical connection body and the first insulating shell.

[0035] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connection body is provided with a limiting groove extending circumferentially along the electrical connection body, and the retaining member is received in the limiting groove.

[0036] In this possible implementation, the limiting groove can be used to position the retainer when it is assembled to the electrical connection body, thereby improving the ease of assembly between the electrical connection body and the retainer.

[0037] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the connecting terminals are fixed to the circuit board by soldering.

[0038] In photovoltaic inverters with related technologies, electrical connectors are connected to the circuit board by screws using cable crimp terminals. This method results in too many connection points between the electrical connector and the circuit board, leading to poor stability and reliability.

[0039] In this possible implementation, the connecting terminals are directly fixed to and electrically connected to the circuit board by welding. The welding process can be carried out using automated equipment. Compared with the method of crimping the cable to the circuit board, the connection between the connecting terminals and the circuit board has better consistency, which facilitates quality control and production automation.

[0040] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connector further includes a second insulating shell, which is sleeved outside the first insulating shell.

[0041] In this possible implementation, the second insulating shell is used for detachable connection with the first insulating shell to assemble the electrical connector into the housing.

[0042] Using a threaded connection in this possible implementation can improve the connection strength between the first insulating shell and the second insulating shell, and reduce the possibility of the first insulating shell detaching from the shell.

[0043] According to the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the electrical connector further includes a gasket fitted onto a first insulating shell, the outer wall of which is provided with a boss, the gasket being located between the boss and a second insulating shell, and in the axial direction of the electrical connector, the shell being able to be located between the second insulating shell and the gasket, the gasket being located between the shell and the boss.

[0044] In this possible implementation, the gasket prevents moisture from entering the housing through gaps between the second insulating shell, the first insulating shell, and the shells themselves, thus improving the sealing and reliability of the photovoltaic inverter. The gasket also provides cushioning when the photovoltaic inverter is subjected to external impacts.

[0045] Secondly, one embodiment of this application also provides an electrical connector, including a first insulating shell, a battery cell, and a sealant. The first insulating shell is disposed through a through hole. The battery cell includes an electrical connection body, an elastic conductor, and a connection terminal. The electrical connection body is disposed through the first insulating shell, and one end of the electrical connection body is used for electrical connection with a photovoltaic module. One end of the elastic conductor is electrically connected to the other end of the electrical connection body, and the end of the elastic conductor away from the electrical connection body is electrically connected to the connection terminal. The connection terminal is used to fix it on a circuit board and realize electrical connection, and the elastic conductor is capable of expansion and contraction along the axial direction of the electrical connector. The sealant covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body, and the sealant is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell and the electrical connection body. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a photovoltaic system applied to a household power station according to an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a photovoltaic inverter provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 3 is a partial side view of the photovoltaic inverter shown in Figure 2;

[0049] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector provided in the first embodiment of this application applied to a photovoltaic inverter;

[0050] Figure 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a local area A in Figure 4;

[0051] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present application where the electrical connector is a female connector;

[0052] Figure 7 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the electrical connector shown in Figure 6;

[0053] Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view obtained along line BB in Figure 6;

[0054] Figure 8B is an enlarged schematic diagram of a local area C in Figure 8A;

[0055] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connection body, the retaining member, and the seal provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0056] Figure 10 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of the electrical connection body, retaining member, sealant, and elastic conductor provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0057] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present application where the electrical connector is a male connector;

[0058] Figure 12 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the electrical connector shown in Figure 11;

[0059] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view obtained along line DD in Figure 11;

[0060] Figure 14 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of the electrical connection body, retaining member, sealant, and elastic conductor provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0061] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electrical connector provided in the second embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electrical connector provided in the third embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in Figure 16 without a seal.

[0064] Figure 18 is a perspective view of the battery cell provided in the third embodiment of this application.

[0065] Reference numerals: 1-Photovoltaic system; 2-Electrical equipment; 3-Grid; 10-Photovoltaic inverter; 20-Photovoltaic module; 30-Photovoltaic optimizer; 40-Energy storage system; 50-Grid-connected / off-grid controller; 60-Power sensor; 101-Housing; 1011-Through hole; 103-Circuit board; 105-Electrical connector; 701-First insulating shell; 711-External thread; 713-Boss; 715-Matching groove; 716-First guide section; 7011-First setting section; 7013-Second setting section; 7015-Protrusion; 72-Electrical connection body; 721-First part; 7211-Limiting groove; 7212-Matching hole; 7213-First groove; 7215-Second groove; 723-Second Part; 7231-Transition section; 7233-Mounting section; 7235-Opening; 7236-First connecting plane; 725-Cavity; 73-Elastic conductor; 731-Second connecting plane; 733-Third connecting plane; 74-Connecting terminal; 741-Fourth connecting plane; 75-Holding member; 751-Collector; 7511-Opening; 7513-Claw; 753-Holding part; 79-Baffle; 703-End cap; 7031-Second guide part; 7035-Elastic arm; 704-Battery cell; 707-Gasket; 705-Second insulating shell; 7051-Internal thread; X-Axial direction; 706-Seal; 761-Base; 763-First protrusion; 765-Second protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0066] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a photovoltaic system 1 applied to a residential power station according to one embodiment of this application. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic system 1 includes a photovoltaic inverter 10, a photovoltaic module 20, a photovoltaic optimizer 30, an energy storage system 40, a grid-connected / off-grid controller 50, and a power sensor 60. This embodiment architecture is applicable to the grid-connected / off-grid system architecture of residential power stations.

[0067] A photovoltaic optimizer 30 is installed on a photovoltaic module 20, which converts solar energy into electrical energy. The photovoltaic optimizer 30 is used to improve the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic module 20. Specifically, the photovoltaic optimizer 30 is a DC-input, DC-output module-level power electronic device. By connecting in series with the photovoltaic module 20, it employs predictive current and voltage technology to ensure the module is always in optimal operating condition. Following the working principle of a step-down topology, it addresses the impact of shading, inconsistent orientation, or differences in module electrical specifications on power generation in photovoltaic power plants, achieving maximum module power output and increasing system power generation.

[0068] The photovoltaic module 20 is electrically connected to the photovoltaic inverter 10, and the photovoltaic module 20 transmits direct current to the photovoltaic inverter 10. The photovoltaic inverter 10 is electrically connected to the energy storage system 40 and the grid-connected / off-grid controller 50.

[0069] In one embodiment, the photovoltaic inverter 10 has a DC-DC conversion module. The DC-DC conversion module of the photovoltaic inverter 10 can be used to convert the DC power generated by the photovoltaic inverter 10 into the voltage required for energy storage in the energy storage system 40, and transmit it to the energy storage system 40 for energy storage.

[0070] In one embodiment, the photovoltaic inverter 10 converts the direct current (DC) power provided by the photovoltaic module 20 into alternating current (AC) power and transmits the AC power to the grid-connected / off-grid controller 50. The grid-connected / off-grid controller 50 is electrically connected to both the electrical device 2 and the power grid 3. In practical applications, the grid-connected / off-grid controller 50 can control the photovoltaic system 1 to be in either an off-grid or grid-connected state.

[0071] When the grid-connected controller 50 is in an off-grid state, there is no electrical connection between the grid-connected controller 50 and the power grid 3, and the AC power transmitted by the photovoltaic inverter 10 is only supplied to the electrical appliances 2. The electrical appliances 2 include household appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines.

[0072] When the grid-connected controller 50 is in grid-connected mode, it is electrically connected to the power grid 3 via the power sensor 60. When the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic module 20 cannot meet the power demand of the electrical equipment 2, the power grid 3 can supply electrical energy to the photovoltaic system 1 through the grid-connected controller 50. When the power generation of the photovoltaic module 20 exceeds the power consumption of the electrical equipment 2, the grid-connected controller 50 can transmit the excess power to the power grid 3. The power sensor 60 is used to measure the power flow between the photovoltaic system 1 and the power grid 3; for example, the power sensor 60 can be an electricity meter.

[0073] In another embodiment of the photovoltaic system 1 architecture for residential green electricity, the aforementioned grid-connected / off-grid controller 50 may not be included. That is, the photovoltaic inverter 10 can also be directly connected to the electrical appliance 2 and the power grid 3 to directly transmit AC power to the electrical appliance 2. This embodiment architecture is suitable for grid-connected system architectures for residential power stations.

[0074] In other power plant and industrial and commercial photovoltaic system architectures, the photovoltaic inverter 10 can also be directly connected to the grid 3 to directly transmit AC power to the grid 3.

[0075] It should be noted that Figure 1 schematically illustrates the application scenario of photovoltaic system 1 in a household power station. Photovoltaic system 1 can also be applied in industrial photovoltaic power stations. The structure of photovoltaic system 1 illustrated in Figure 1 does not represent the structure, size, and positional relationship of the internal components of photovoltaic system 1. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to actual needs.

[0076] The photovoltaic module 20 includes a photovoltaic panel, which is connected to the photovoltaic inverter 10. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic string includes multiple photovoltaic panels connected in series. The direct current from the multiple photovoltaic panels is collected and connected to the photovoltaic inverter 10 through the series connection.

[0077] Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, in one embodiment, the photovoltaic inverter 10 includes a housing 101, a circuit board 103, and an electrical connector 105. The housing 101 has a through hole 1011 for the electrical connector 105 to pass through. The electrical connector 105 passes through the through hole 1011 of the housing 101 and is electrically connected to the circuit board 103. The electrical connector 105 can be used to electrically connect to the photovoltaic module 20 or a photovoltaic string (as shown in Figure 1), that is, the electrical connector 105 can be used as a photovoltaic (PV) terminal of the photovoltaic inverter 10 for power transmission. The photovoltaic inverter 10 can have at least one electrical connector 105.

[0078] In this embodiment, FIG4 exemplarily shows only a portion of the structure of the housing 101, and the circuit board 103 can be housed within the housing 101. It is understood that the housing 101 may also not have an internal cavity; for example, the housing 101 may be a plate.

[0079] In one related technology, because the electrical connector itself is not waterproof, moisture may enter the photovoltaic inverter from the end of the electrical connector that is exposed from the shell without proper mating or dust cap insertion, causing corrosion and ultimately leading to failure.

[0080] Based on this, this application provides a photovoltaic inverter and its associated electrical connector, aiming to improve sealing performance. The photovoltaic inverter includes a housing, a circuit board, and an electrical connector provided according to a possible implementation of the first aspect, with the circuit board housed within the housing. The housing has a through-hole. The electrical connector includes a first insulating shell, a battery cell, and a sealant. The first insulating shell passes through the through-hole. The battery cell includes an electrical connection body, an elastic conductor, and a connection terminal. The electrical connection body passes through the first insulating shell, and one end of the electrical connection body is used for electrical connection with a photovoltaic module. One end of the elastic conductor is electrically connected to the other end of the electrical connection body, and the end of the elastic conductor away from the electrical connection body is electrically connected to the connection terminal. The connection terminal is fixed to the circuit board and achieves electrical connection. The elastic conductor is capable of expansion and contraction along the axial direction of the electrical connector. The sealant covers the outer wall of the electrical connector body circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connector body. The sealant is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell and the electrical connector body. In this way, even if the electrical connector body is not mated or the dust cap is not inserted, moisture can be prevented or reduced from entering the interior of the electrical connector and then the housing through the gap between the electrical connector body and the inner wall of the first insulating shell. This helps to improve the sealing performance of the electrical connector, reduce the possibility of moisture causing corrosion to the inside of the photovoltaic inverter, and protect the internal circuit of the photovoltaic inverter, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connector and the photovoltaic inverter.

[0081] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the first embodiment of this application provides an electrical connector 105, which can be a PV terminal. The electrical connector 105 is used for electrical connection between the circuit board 103 of the photovoltaic inverter 10 and the photovoltaic module 20 (as shown in Figure 1). The electrical connector 105 includes a first insulating shell 701, an end cap 703, a battery cell 704, a second insulating shell 705, a sealant 706, and a gasket 707. The first insulating shell 701 is used to pass through a through hole 1011. The end cap 703 covers one end of the first insulating shell 701 and can be received within the housing 101. The end cap 703 is connected to the first insulating shell 701 and can move relative to the first insulating shell 701 in the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. The battery cell 704 passes through the first insulating shell 701 and the end cap 703 and can pass through the through hole 1011. The battery cell 704 can elastically contract in the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. A second insulating shell 705 is fitted over the first insulating shell 701 and can be located outside the housing 101. The second insulating shell 705 is used for detachable connection with the first insulating shell 701 to assemble the electrical connector 105 into the housing 101. A sealant 706 is housed within the first insulating shell 701 and seals between the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the battery cell 704. The sealant 706 is used to prevent or reduce moisture from entering the interior of the photovoltaic inverter 10 through the gap between the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the battery cell 704. A gasket 707 is fitted over the first insulating shell 701. The gasket 707 is used to cushion the first insulating shell 701 between the inner wall of the housing 101 and the housing 101 to reduce moisture from entering the housing 101 through the gap between the outer wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the housing 101, thereby improving the reliability between the first insulating shell 701 and the housing 101. The axial direction X of the electrical connector 105 is shown in the X direction in the drawings.

[0082] The battery cell 704 can extend and retract along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, and the end cap 703 can move relative to the first insulating shell 701 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. When assembling the electrical connector 105 and the circuit board 103 together, the length of the battery cell 704 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105 can be adjusted according to the actual distance between the circuit board 103 and the shell 101. The end cap 703 can move with the battery cell 704 to adjust the relative position between the end cap 703 and the first insulating shell 701 to adapt to the actual distance between the circuit board 103 and the shell 101. This can absorb the assembly tolerance between the electrical connector 105 and the shell 101, as well as the stress between the circuit board 103 and the electrical connector 105, reducing the possibility that the battery cell 704 and the circuit board 103 cannot be electrically connected due to production and installation errors.

[0083] It is understood that in some possible implementations, the end cap 703, the second insulating shell 705, and the gasket 707 may be omitted.

[0084] For example, referring to Figure 5, two electrical connectors 105 are mounted on the same housing 101, and the battery cells 704 of the two electrical connectors 105 are connected to the same circuit board 103. Of the two electrical connectors 105, one is a male connector and the other is a female connector. The male connector can be used to mate with other female connectors, and the female connector can be used to mate with other male connectors. It is understood that this application does not limit the electrical connectors 105 to being male or female connectors; the two electrical connectors 105 can be electrically connected to different circuit boards 103. This application does not limit the number of electrical connectors 105 mounted on the same housing 101.

[0085] Please refer to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8A. Figures 6 to 8A all illustrate a female connector. The outer wall of the first insulating shell 701 has an external thread 711 for connection with the second insulating shell 705. The second insulating shell 705 has an internal thread 7051, and the external thread 711 is threadedly connected to the internal thread 7051. Using a threaded connection improves the connection strength between the first insulating shell 701 and the second insulating shell 705, reducing the possibility of the electrical connector 105 detaching from the housing 101. In some embodiments of this application, the external thread 711 on the outer wall of the first insulating shell 701 can be omitted, and the internal thread 7051 of the second insulating shell 705 can be omitted. The second insulating shell 705 can be fixed to the first insulating shell 701 by snap-fitting, adhesive, or other methods. In some possible implementations, the second insulating shell 705 can be omitted, and the first insulating shell 701 can be directly fixed to the housing 101 by adhesive, snap-fitting, or other methods.

[0086] The outer wall of the first insulating shell 701 is also provided with a boss 713. The boss 713 is used to position the gasket 707 when it is assembled to the first insulating shell 701, and also to prevent the gasket 707 from detaching from the end of the first insulating shell 701 with the boss 713. As shown in Figure 5, when the electrical connector 105 is installed in the housing 101 and electrically connected to the circuit board 103, the boss 713 is housed inside the housing 101. In the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, the housing 101 is located between the second insulating shell 705 and the gasket 707, and the gasket 707 is located between the housing 101 and the boss 713. The gasket 707 can prevent moisture from entering the interior of the housing 101 from the gaps between the second insulating shell 705, the first insulating shell 701, and the housing 101, thereby improving the sealing and reliability of the photovoltaic inverter 10. The gasket 707 can also play a certain role in buffering when the photovoltaic inverter 10 is subjected to external impact.

[0087] The inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 is provided with a locking groove 715 (as shown in Figure 8B) for locking and connecting with the battery cell 704.

[0088] The first insulating shell 701 also includes a first guide portion 716 (as shown in FIG7), which is used to slide with the end cap 703.

[0089] End cap 703 includes a second guide portion 7031 (as shown in FIG. 7). The second guide portion 7031 is slidably connected to the first guide portion 716. In this embodiment, the first guide portion 716 includes a guide groove, and the second guide portion 7031 includes a guide post. The guide groove extends along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. At least a portion of the guide post is slidably received within the guide groove to enable end cap 703 to move relative to the first insulating shell 701 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. End cap 703 may also include a limiting portion, which includes an interference-fit protrusion and / or a snap. The limiting portion is used to cooperate with the first insulating shell 701 to limit the relative movement between end cap 703 and the first insulating shell 701 after the relative position between the first insulating shell 701 and end cap 703 is determined. It is understood that one of the first guide portion 716 and the second guide portion 7031 includes a guide groove, and the other of the first guide portion 716 and the second guide portion 7031 includes a guide post. The guide groove extends along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, and the guide post of the first guide portion 716 is slidably connected to the guide groove of the second guide portion 7031.

[0090] The battery cell 704 includes an electrical connection body 72, an elastic conductor 73, a connection terminal 74, and a retaining member 75. The electrical connection body 72 passes through the first insulating shell 701 and the through hole 1011, and one end of the electrical connection body 72 is used to connect to the photovoltaic module 20 (as shown in FIG. 1). The elastic conductor 73 is electrically connected between the other end of the electrical connection body 72 and the connection terminal 74. The elastic conductor 73 is telescopic along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105 to adjust the length of the battery cell 704 in the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. The connection terminal 74 passes through the end cover 703, and the end of the connection terminal 74 away from the electrical connection body 72 is used to electrically connect to the circuit board 103. In this embodiment, the end cover 703 may further include at least one elastic arm 7035 (as shown in FIG. 8A), which is used to retain the connection terminal 74 passing through the end cover 703 so that the connection terminal 74 is connected to the end cover 703. The retaining member 75 is sleeved on the electrical connection body 72 and retains it against the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 to connect the battery cell 704 to the first insulating shell 701 and restrict relative displacement between the battery cell 704 and the first insulating shell 701 in the axial direction X. The sealing material 706 covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body 72 circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body 72. The sealing material 706 provides a radial seal between the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the electrical connection body 72. It is understood that this application does not limit the battery cell 704 to being fixed relative to the first insulating shell 701 by a snap-fit ​​method; the battery cell 704 can be connected to the first insulating shell 701 by adhesive or other methods.

[0091] The electrical connector 105 and photovoltaic inverter 10 provided in this application, because the sealant 706 covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body 72 and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body 72 to form an integral unit, that is, the sealant 706 and the electrical connection body 72 are not detachably connected. The sealant 706 is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the electrical connection body 72. When the electrical connector 105 is used in the photovoltaic inverter 10, even if the electrical connection body 72 does not have a male and female mating or is not fitted with a dust cap, it can avoid or reduce the entry of moisture from the gap between the electrical connection body 72 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 into the interior of the electrical connector 105 and then into the interior of the shell 101. This is beneficial to improving the sealing performance of the electrical connector 105, reducing the possibility of moisture causing corrosion to the interior of the photovoltaic inverter 10, and realizing the protection of the internal circuit of the photovoltaic inverter 10, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connector 105.

[0092] Furthermore, the elastic conductor 73 connects the connecting terminal 74 and the electrical connection body 72. The elastic conductor 73 can extend and retract along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, thereby enabling the battery cell 704 to extend and retract along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. When the electrical connector 105 and the circuit board 103 are assembled together, the length of the elastic conductor 73 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105 is adjusted according to the actual distance between the circuit board 103 and the housing 101. This adjusts the length of the battery cell 704 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, thereby absorbing the assembly tolerance between the electrical connector 105 and the housing 101, as well as the stress between the circuit board 103 and the electrical connector 105, reducing the possibility that the electrical connection body 72 and the circuit board 103 may not be electrically connected due to production and installation errors.

[0093] In this embodiment, the number of battery cells 704 is one, representing a single battery cell 704 application scenario. It can be understood that the number of battery cells 704 can be two or more. In applications with two or more battery cells 704, the electrical connection bodies 72 of the two or more battery cells 704 pass through the seal 706. The number of seals 706 can be at least two; for example, at least two seals 706 are arranged along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105.

[0094] Referring to Figure 8A, in some embodiments of this application, the electrical connection body 72 includes a first portion 721 and a second portion 723 connected along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. The first portion 721 is generally cylindrical. The second portion 723 is closer to the end cap 703 than the first portion 721. The electrical connection body 72 also has a cavity 725 extending from the first portion 721 to the second portion 723 for accommodating a portion of the seal 706. Referring in conjunction with Figures 8A, 8B, and 9, the outer wall of the first portion 721 has a limiting groove 7211, a first recess 7213, and a second recess 7215. The limiting groove 7211 is used to accommodate a retaining member 75 to limit the position of the retaining member 75 in the electrical connection body 72. The bottom wall of the limiting groove 7211 is also recessed with a mating hole 7212 for engaging with the retaining member 75 to connect the retaining member 75 to the electrical connection body 72, reducing the possibility of the retaining member 75 detaching from the electrical connection body 72. The first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 are used to engage with the sealant 706. The electrical connection body 72 between the first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 supports the sealant 706, providing support when the sealant 706 is in an interference fit with the first insulating shell 701, reducing the possibility of the sealant 706 collapsing or deforming in the axial direction of the electrical connection body 72, allowing the sealant 706 to fit tightly with the first insulating shell 701, and reducing the risk of seal failure due to insufficient interference fit. Both the first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 communicate with the cavity 725.

[0095] The second part 723 is stacked on top of the elastic conductor 73, and the stacking direction of the second part 723 and the elastic conductor 73 is perpendicular to the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. In the stacking direction, the size of the first part 721 is larger than the size of the second part 723. The second part 723 includes a transition section 7231 and a mounting section 7233. The transition section 7231 connects the mounting section 7233 and the first part 721. The transition section 7231 has an opening 7235 communicating with the cavity 725. The opening 7235 facilitates the entry of material used to form the seal 706 from the outside of the electrical connector body 72 into the cavity 725 during the molding process of the seal 706. In the stacking direction, the size of the transition section 7231 decreases from the end of the transition section 7231 that connects with the first part 721 towards the other end. The mounting section 7233 is generally flat. The mounting section 7233 is stacked on top of a portion of the elastic conductor 73. The mounting section 7233 has a first connecting plane 7236 for connecting with the elastic conductor 73. The limiting groove 7211, the first groove 7213, and the second groove 7215 are arranged sequentially along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, with the second groove 7215 located close to the second portion 723. It is understood that the position of the opening 7235 on the electrical connection body 72 is not limited in this application; for example, the opening 7235 of the transition section 7231 can be omitted, and the mounting section 7233 has an opening 7235 on its end face away from the first portion 721.

[0096] The electrical connection body 72 can be manufactured by stamping a sheet of metal. Due to the process, the resulting electrical connection body 72 has structures such as cavities 725 and openings 7235. Stamping has high production efficiency and cost advantages. The electrical connection body 72 can also be, but is not limited to, being formed by machining. For example, a column can be formed into the electrical connection body 72 by machining. The electrical connection body 72 can omit the cavities 725 and openings 7235, that is, the electrical connection body 72 can be a solid structure. Machining is beneficial to improving the machining accuracy of the electrical connection body 72. This application does not limit the structure and shape of the electrical connection body 72.

[0097] In the female connector, the cavity 725 of the electrical connection body 72 penetrates the end face of the electrical connection body 72 away from the elastic conductor 73, so as to mate with the electrical connection body 72 of the male connector, thus achieving male-female mating. It can be understood that in the female connector, the cavity 725 of the electrical connection body 72 can be omitted, and the end face of the electrical connection body 72 away from the elastic conductor 73 is provided with a socket for mate with the electrical connection body 72 of the male connector.

[0098] Referring to Figure 10, in some embodiments of this application, the elastic conductor 73 is generally shaped like a bent spring sheet to increase its elastic deformation capability. The elastic conductor 73 includes a second connecting plane 731 and a third connecting plane 733. The second connecting plane 731 is disposed opposite to and electrically connected to the first connecting plane 7236. Since the electrical connection body 72 and the elastic conductor 73 are electrically connected through the first connecting plane 7236 and the second connecting plane 731, it is beneficial to increase the connection area between the electrical connection body 72 and the elastic conductor 73 and improve the connection stability between the electrical connection body 72 and the elastic conductor 73. The third connecting plane 733 is used for electrical connection with the connecting terminal 74. The first connecting plane 7236 and the second connecting plane 731 can be fixed together by a welding process. Since both the first connecting plane 7236 and the second connecting plane 731 are planar structures, when flux is applied to the first connecting plane 7236 and / or the second connecting plane 731, it is beneficial to improve the flatness and uniformity of the flux coating, thereby improving the electrical connection stability between the electrical connection body 72 and the elastic conductor 73. The first connecting plane 7236 of the electrical connection body 72 can be omitted, and the second connecting plane 731 of the elastic conductor 73 can be omitted. The electrical connection body 72 and the elastic conductor 73 can be fixed together and electrically connected in other ways, such as by crimping. Crimping is a technique that uses tools or equipment to compress and displace metal within a specified limit by applying pressure, and connects a wire to a terminal. This application does not limit the structure of the elastic conductor 73; the elastic conductor 73 can also have other structures, such as flexible braided mesh, or regular or irregular structures such as columns.

[0099] In some embodiments of this application, the end of the connecting terminal 74 facing the elastic conductor 73 is provided with a fourth connecting plane 741 for electrical connection with the third connecting plane 733. The third connecting plane 733 and the fourth connecting plane 741 are arranged opposite to each other and electrically connected (as shown in FIG. 10). Since the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73 are electrically connected through the third connecting plane 733 and the fourth connecting plane 741, it is beneficial to increase the connection area between the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73 and improve the connection stability between the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73. The third connecting plane 733 and the fourth connecting plane 741 can be fixed together by welding. Since both the third connecting plane 733 and the fourth connecting plane 741 are planar structures, when flux is applied to the third connecting plane 733 and / or the fourth connecting plane 741, it is beneficial to improve the flatness and uniformity of the flux coating, thereby improving the electrical connection stability between the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73. The fourth connecting plane 741 can be omitted from the connecting terminal 74, the third connecting plane 733 can be omitted from the elastic conductor 73, and the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73 can be directly connected by welding. Alternatively, the connecting terminal 74 and the elastic conductor 73 can be fixed together and electrically connected in other ways, such as by crimping. The end of the connecting terminal 74 away from the elastic conductor 73 is used for electrical connection with the circuit board 103. The connecting terminal 74 can be fixed and electrically connected to the circuit board 103 by soldering, but is not limited to soldering. Automated equipment can be used for soldering. Compared with crimping the cable to the circuit board, the connection between the connecting terminal 74 and the circuit board 103 has better consistency, which is conducive to quality control and production automation.

[0100] In some embodiments of this application, please refer again to Figures 8A, 8B, 9, and 10. The retaining member 75 includes a retaining sleeve 751 and a retaining portion 753. The retaining portion 753 is generally claw-shaped. The outer wall of the retaining sleeve 751 has an opening 7511, which penetrates the inner wall of the retaining sleeve 751 and extends along the axial direction of the retaining sleeve 751 through both end faces of the retaining sleeve 751, i.e., the retaining sleeve 751 has an open-loop structure. The opening 7511 can increase the elastic deformation of the retaining member 75, so as to facilitate the fitting of the retaining sleeve 751 onto the first portion 721. The retaining sleeve 751 is received in the limiting groove 7211. The inner wall of the opening 7511 has a protruding claw 7513 extending toward the inner cavity of the retaining sleeve 751. The protruding claw 7513 engages with the mating hole 7212, reducing the possibility that the opening 7511 of the retaining sleeve 751 may detach from the electrical connection body 72 due to excessive force. The two end faces of the ferrule 751 in the axial direction can abut against the inner wall of the limiting groove 7211, thereby reducing the possibility of the ferrule 751 moving relative to the electrical connection body 72 in the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105.

[0101] One end of the retaining part 753 is fixed to the sleeve 751, while the other end of the retaining part 753 is a free end to increase its elastic deformation capability. Referring again to Figures 8A and 9, when the retaining member 75 is assembled onto the electrical connection body 72, the free end extends towards the side where the second part 723 is located. The engaging groove 715 is an annular groove extending circumferentially along the first insulating shell 701 and located on the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701. The free ends of multiple retaining parts 753 engage within the engaging groove 715 (as shown in Figure 8B). Because the retaining parts 753 are not easily disengaged within the engaging groove 715, the possibility of movement of the retaining member 75 relative to the first insulating shell 701 is reduced. Multiple retaining parts 753 cooperating with the same engaging groove 715 improves the ease of assembly between the sleeve 751 and the electrical connection body 72.

[0102] In some embodiments of this application, there can be multiple retaining portions 753, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the sleeve 751. This provides multiple connection points between the retaining member 75 and the first insulating shell 701 in the circumferential direction, improving the connection strength and stability between the retaining member 75 and the first insulating shell 701, and reducing the possibility of movement of the electrical connection body 72 relative to the first insulating shell 701. It is understood that the retaining portion 753 can be an elastic protrusion or other structure, the engaging groove 715 can be omitted, the retaining portion 753 can be press-fitted with the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701, and the number of retaining portions 753 can also be one.

[0103] In some embodiments of this application, the sealant 706 is located in the first portion 721, and the overlapping area of ​​the projection of the sealant 706 on the electrical connection body 72 and the second portion 723 is 0. In this way, while reducing the amount of material used in the sealant 706, the influence of the sealant 706 on the electrical connection between the second portion 723 and the elastic conductor 73 can be reduced.

[0104] The seal 706 includes a base 761, a first protrusion 763, and a second protrusion 765. The base 761 is generally cylindrical. A first portion 721 is embedded in the base 761, and the base 761 is radially sealed between the first portion 721 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 in the electrical connector 105. In other words, a portion of the base 761 is received in a cavity 725 and is radially abutted and fixed to the inner wall of the cavity 725 in the electrical connector 105; a portion of the base 761 fills the first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215; and a portion of the base 761 is radially abutted and fixed to the outer wall of the first portion 721 in the electrical connector 105. The outer wall of the base 761 is used for radial sealing connection with the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 in the electrical connector 105. Since the first part 721 is embedded in the base 761, and the base 761 is radially sealed between the first part 721 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 in the electrical connector 105, the contact area between the seal 706 and the electrical connection body 72 is increased. On the one hand, this helps to reduce the possibility of water vapor entering the photovoltaic inverter 10 from the cavity 725 of the electrical connection body 72. On the other hand, it also helps to improve the connection strength and connection stability between the electrical connection body 72 and the seal 706.

[0105] The first protrusion 763 and the second protrusion 765 protrude from the outer wall of the base 761. The first protrusion 763 and the second protrusion 765 are interference-fitted with the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 to ensure a tight fit between the sealant 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701, avoiding or reducing the generation of gaps between the sealant 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701. The first protrusion 763 and the second protrusion 765 both extend circumferentially along the base 761 to form an annular structure. The annular structure helps to increase the contact area between the sealant 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701, so as to form an auxiliary sealing structure in the circumference of the base 761, further improving the sealing performance between the sealant 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701.

[0106] The portion of the projection of the first protrusion 763 onto the electrical connection body 72 is located in the first groove 7213. The portion of the projection of the second protrusion 765 onto the electrical connection body 72 is located in the second groove 7215. The portion of the first protrusion 763 projecting onto the electrical connection body 72 is located in the first groove 7213, meaning that a portion of the first protrusion 763 covers the first groove 7213. The portion of the second protrusion 765 projecting onto the electrical connection body 72 is located in the second groove 7215, meaning that a portion of the second protrusion 765 covers the second groove 7215. During assembly, the sealing material 706 can be first fitted onto the electrical connection body 72. As the sealing material 706 is inserted into the preset position of the first insulating shell 701 along with the electrical connection body 72, the presence of the first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 allows the substrate 761 to deform inward toward the inside of the first groove 7213 under the pressure of the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701, and part of the substrate 761 can deform inward toward the inside of the second groove 7215 under the pressure of the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701. This helps to accommodate a certain elastic deformation of the sealing material 706, improves the sealing reliability between the sealing material 706 and the first insulating shell 701, and also facilitates the assembly between the battery cell 704 and the first insulating shell 701. It is understood that this application does not limit the portion of the projection of the first protrusion 763 onto the electrical connection body 72 to be located in the first groove 7213, nor does it limit the portion of the projection of the second protrusion 765 onto the electrical connection body 72 to be located in the second groove 7215. In other words, this application does not limit the placement of the first protrusion 763 and the second protrusion 765 on the base 761, nor does it limit the structure of the sealant 706. For example, the first protrusion 763 and the second protrusion 765 may be omitted.

[0107] In this embodiment, the sealant 706 is prepared by injection molding. The first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 are also used to assist in molding the sealant 706. In one possible implementation, when the sealant 706 needs to be molded on the electrical connector body 72, the electrical connector body 72 is placed into the injection molding cavity formed by the first mold (not shown) and the second mold (not shown). The first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 are used to cooperate with the inner wall structure of the injection molding cavity to position the electrical connector body 72. The arrangement direction of the first mold and the second mold is perpendicular to the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. Then, liquid silicone is injected into the injection molding cavity. The liquid silicone can enter the cavity 725 through the first groove 7213, the second groove 7215, etc., and cover the outer wall of the electrical connector body 72 to form the sealant 706. A sealant 706 is formed on the electrical connector body 72 through injection molding, meaning the sealant 706 and the electrical connector body 72 are integrally molded together, improving the sealing performance and connection stability between them. Compared to existing sealing rings that require prior assembly to the battery cell, the integral molding structure of the sealant 706 and the electrical connector body 72 in this application reduces assembly steps and improves the assembly efficiency of the electrical connector 105.

[0108] In addition, the sealant 706 is formed in the area of ​​the first portion 721 where the first groove 7213 and the second groove 7215 are located, which helps to reduce the amount of material used in the sealant 706.

[0109] It is understood that this application does not limit the molding method of the sealant 706, nor does it limit the material of the sealant 706 to silicone; the sealant 706 can be made of other flexible materials. The sealant 706 covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body 72, which does not have a cavity 725, and is generally cylindrical in shape, fitting around the outside of the electrical connection body 72.

[0110] Please refer to Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate the male connector. The male connector is similar in structure to the aforementioned female connector. The difference is at least that the end face of the electrical connection body 72 of the male connector away from the elastic conductor 73 does not have a socket. The end of the electrical connection body 72 of the male connector away from the elastic conductor 73 is used to insert into the socket of the female connector to realize the mating of the male connector and the female connector.

[0111] Please refer to Figure 15. The second embodiment of this application provides an electrical connector 105. The electrical connector 105 provided in the second embodiment has a structure that is generally the same as that provided in the first embodiment. The difference is that in the electrical connector 105 provided in the second embodiment, the electrical connection body 72 omits the second groove. In the axial X direction of the electrical connector 105, the transition section 7231 of the second part 723 is embedded in the seal 706. The seal 706 covers the outer wall and the inner wall of the transition section 7231. The end face of the seal 706 facing the end cap 703 is also in contact with the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701. Since the seal 706 extends from the first part 721 to the transition section 7231, the contact area between the seal 706 and the electrical connection body 72 and between the seal 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 is increased, which is beneficial to improving the connection stability between the seal 706 and the electrical connection body 72 and between the seal 706 and the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701, as well as the sealing performance of the electrical connector 105.

[0112] The transition section 7231 and the mounting section 7233 form an accommodating space. The first groove 7213 and the accommodating space assist in molding the sealant 706. When the sealant 706 needs to be molded on the electrical connector body 72, the electrical connector body 72 is placed into the injection molding cavity formed by the first mold (not shown) and the second mold (not shown). The first groove 7213 and the accommodating space are used to mate with the inner wall structure of the injection molding cavity to position the electrical connector body 72. The arrangement direction of the first mold and the second mold is perpendicular to the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. Then, liquid silicone is injected into the injection molding cavity. The liquid silicone enters the cavity 725 through the opening of the first groove 7213 and the electrical connector body and covers the outer wall of the electrical connector body 72 to form the sealant 706. By forming the sealant 706 on the electrical connector body 72 through the injection molding process, the sealing performance and connection stability between the electrical connector body 72 and the sealant 706 are improved.

[0113] Referring to Figures 16 and 17, the third embodiment of this application provides an electrical connector 105. The electrical connector 105 provided in the second embodiment has a generally similar structure to the electrical connector 105 provided in the first embodiment, the difference being at least that the first groove and the second groove are omitted in the electrical connection body 72, and the sealant 706 includes a colloid, which is bonded to the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701. Compared to the first and second embodiments, the third embodiment uses a colloid to form the sealant 706. Since it is not necessary to form a groove structure on the electrical connection body 72 to assist injection molding, it is beneficial to simplify the structure of the electrical connection body 72.

[0114] The inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 includes a first mounting section 7011, a second mounting section 7013, and a protrusion 7015. The first mounting section 7011 and the second mounting section 7013 are connected along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105. The inner diameter of the first mounting section 7011 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second mounting section 7013. The second mounting section 7013 is located between the first mounting section 7011 and the end cap 703. The protrusion 7015 protrudes from the end wall of the first mounting section 7011 facing the end cap 703, and a gap is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the protrusion 7015 and the inner wall of the second mounting section 7013. The inner cavity of the protrusion 7015 is used to accommodate the sealing material 706. The inner cavities of the protrusion 7015, the first mounting section 7011, and the second mounting section 7013 are connected. The electrical connection body 72 passes through the first mounting section 7011, the protrusion 7015, and the second mounting section 7013. The outer wall of the electrical connection body 72 is radially fitted with the inner wall of the first mounting section 7011 in the electrical connector 105. In this way, the sealant 706 can be accommodated in the inner cavity of the protrusion 7015 without filling the entire inner cavity of the first insulating shell 701, which helps to reduce the amount of material used for the sealant 706.

[0115] In this embodiment, the inner cavity of the protruding part 7015 is funnel-shaped, and the inner diameter of the inner cavity of the protruding part 7015 decreases from one end of the protruding part 7015 near the end cap 703 to the other end, so as to guide the glue during glue pouring.

[0116] The end cap 703 has a through hole extending through the end cap 703 along the axial direction X of the electrical connector 105, and the through hole of the end cap 703 can be used for potting colloid.

[0117] It is understood that this application does not limit the inner wall structure and shape of the first insulating shell 701, as long as the inner wall of the first insulating shell 701 and the sealant 706 can be bonded together.

[0118] Please refer to Figures 16, 17 and 18. The battery cell 704 also includes a baffle 79, which is housed in the cavity 725 of the electrical connection body 72. The baffle 79 is used to prevent the colloid from flowing out of the battery cell 704 after it is injected into the cavity 725 through the opening 7235, so as to reduce the amount of colloid used.

[0119] When a sealant 706 needs to be formed on the electrical connection body 72, the electrical connection body 72, the connecting terminal 74, and the retaining member 75 can be assembled into a pre-assembled body. This pre-assembled body is then assembled with the first insulating shell 701, and the end cap 703 is assembled to the first insulating shell 701. The connecting terminal 74 passes through the end cap 703. Adhesive is then injected into the first insulating shell 701 through the through-hole of the end cap 703 using a dispensing machine. The adhesive flows into the inner cavity of the protrusion 7015 and into the cavity 725 of the electrical connection body 72. After the adhesive cures, the sealant 706 is formed.

[0120] It should be understood that expressions such as “comprising” and “may include” used in this application indicate the existence of the disclosed functions, operations, or constituent elements, and do not limit one or more additional functions, operations, and constituent elements. In this application, terms such as “comprising” and / or “having” are to be interpreted as indicating a particular characteristic, number, operation, constituent element, component, or combination thereof, but not to exclude the existence or possibility of adding one or more other characteristics, numbers, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0121] Furthermore, in this application, the expression "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the associated listed words. For example, the expression "A and / or B" may include A, may include B, or may include both A and B.

[0122] In this application, expressions including ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" may modify the elements. However, such elements are not limited by the foregoing expressions. For example, the foregoing expressions do not limit the order and / or importance of the elements. The foregoing expressions are only used to distinguish one element from other elements. For example, "first user equipment" and "second user equipment" refer to different user equipment, although both "first user equipment" and "second user equipment" are user equipment. Similarly, without departing from the scope of this application, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

[0123] When a component is referred to as "connected" or "accessed" to other components, it should be understood that this component not only connects directly to or accesses other components, but also that another component may exist between this component and other components. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as "directly connected" or "directly accessed" to other components, it should be understood that no component exists between them.

[0124] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic inverter (10), characterized in that, The photovoltaic inverter (10) includes a housing (101), a circuit board (103) and an electrical connector (105). The circuit board (103) is housed in the housing (101), and the housing (101) is provided with a through hole (1011). The electrical connector (105) includes a first insulating shell (701), a battery cell (704), and a sealant (706); The first insulating shell (701) passes through the through hole (1011); The battery cell (704) includes an electrical connection body (72), an elastic conductor (73), and a connection terminal (74). The electrical connection body (72) passes through the first insulating shell (701) and the through hole (1011). One end of the electrical connection body (72) is used for electrical connection with the photovoltaic module (20). The other end of the electrical connection body (72) is electrically connected to one end of the elastic conductor (73). The end of the elastic conductor (73) away from the electrical connection body (72) is electrically connected to the connection terminal (74). The connection terminal (74) is fixed on the circuit board (103) and realizes electrical connection. The elastic conductor (73) can extend and retract along the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105). The sealant (706) covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body (72) circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body (72). The sealant (706) is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701) and the electrical connection body (72).

2. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealant (706) and the electrical connection body (72) are integrally formed by injection molding.

3. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealant (706) includes a base (761) and a first protrusion (763) protruding from the outer wall of the base (761). The outer wall of the base (761) is sealed to the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701), and the first protrusion (763) is interference-fitted to the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701).

4. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first protrusion (763) extends circumferentially along the substrate (761) to form a ring structure.

5. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the electrical connection body (72) is provided with a first groove (7213), and the portion of the sealant (706) projected onto the electrical connection body (72) is located in the first groove (7213).

6. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer wall of the electrical connection body (72) is provided with a second groove (7215), the first groove (7213) and the second groove (7215) are arranged along the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105), and the portion of the sealant (706) projected onto the electrical connection body (72) is located in the second groove (7215).

7. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, Along the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105), the electrical connection body (72) includes a first portion (721) and a second portion (723); one end of the electrical connection body (72) is stacked with the elastic conductor (73), and the stacking direction of the electrical connection body (72) and the elastic conductor (73) is perpendicular to the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105). In the stacking direction, the size of the first part (721) is larger than the size of the second part (723), the first groove (7213) is provided in the first part (721), and the end of the second part (723) away from the first part (721) is electrically connected to the connecting terminal (74); The sealant (706) covers the outer wall of the first part (721), or the sealant (706) covers both the outer wall of the first part (721) and the outer wall of the second part (723).

8. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connector body (72) includes a cavity (725). The electrical connector body (72) has an opening (7235) that penetrates the outer wall of the electrical connector body (72) and the inner wall of the cavity (725). The opening (7235) communicates with the cavity (725). The sealant (706) passes through the opening (7235). A portion of the sealant (706) is housed within the cavity (725). The sealant (706) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cavity (725) in the radial direction of the electrical connector (105).

9. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The battery cell (704) also includes a baffle (79), which is fixedly housed in the cavity (725), and the sealant (706) covers the baffle (79).

10. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealant (706) comprises a colloid and is bonded to the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701).

11. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The inner wall of the first insulating shell (701) includes a first mounting section (7011), a second mounting section (7013), and a protrusion (7015). The first setting segment (7011) and the second setting segment (7013) are connected along the axial (X) direction of the electrical connector (105), and the inner diameter of the first setting segment (7011) is smaller than the inner diameter of the second setting segment (7013). The protruding part (7015) protrudes from the end wall of the first setting section (7011) near the second setting section (7013), and a gap is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the protruding part (7015) and the inner wall of the second setting section (7013). The electrical connection body (72) passes through the first setting section (7011), the protrusion (7015) and the second setting section (7013). The outer wall of the electrical connection body (72) and the inner wall of the first setting section (7011) are in radial contact with the electrical connector (105). The sealant (706) is received in the inner cavity of the protrusion (7015).

12. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connector (105) further includes an end cap (703), which is connected to one end of the first insulating shell (701). The end cap (703) is movable relative to the first insulating shell (701) in the axial (X) direction of the electrical connector (105). The connecting terminal (74) passes through the end cap (703).

13. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The electrical connection body (72) has a first connection plane (7236) at one end facing the elastic conductor (73), and the elastic conductor (73) has a second connection plane (731). The first connection plane (7236) and the second connection plane (731) are arranged opposite to each other and electrically connected.

14. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The connecting terminal (74) is provided with a third connecting plane (733), and the end of the connecting terminal (74) facing the elastic conductor (73) is provided with a fourth connecting plane (741). The third connecting plane (733) and the fourth connecting plane (741) are arranged opposite to each other and electrically connected.

15. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connector (105) further includes a retaining member (75), which is sleeved on the outer wall of the electrical connector body (72) and is engaged with the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701).

16. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The electrical connection body (72) is also provided with a limiting groove (7211) extending circumferentially along the electrical connection body (72), and the retaining member (75) is received in the limiting groove (7211).

17. The photovoltaic inverter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connector (105) further includes a second insulating shell (705), which is sleeved on the first insulating shell (701).

18. The electrical connector (105) according to claim 17, characterized in that, The electrical connector (105) further includes a gasket (707) sleeved on the first insulating shell (701). The outer wall of the first insulating shell (701) is provided with a boss (713). The gasket (707) is located between the boss (713) and the second insulating shell (705). In the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105), the housing (101) can be located between the second insulating shell (705) and the gasket (707). The gasket (707) is located between the housing (101) and the boss (713).

19. An electrical connector (105), characterized in that, The electrical connector (105) includes a first insulating shell (701), a battery cell (704), and a sealant (706); The first insulating shell (701) is used to pass through the through hole (1011); The battery cell (704) includes an electrical connection body (72), an elastic conductor (73), and a connection terminal (74). The electrical connection body (72) passes through the first insulating shell (701) and the through hole (1011). One end of the electrical connection body (72) is used for electrical connection with the photovoltaic module (20), and the other end of the electrical connection body (72) is electrically connected to one end of the elastic conductor (73). The end of the elastic conductor (73) away from the electrical connection body (72) is electrically connected to the connection terminal (74). The connection terminal (74) is used to fix it on the circuit board (103) and realize electrical connection. The elastic conductor (73) can extend and retract along the axial direction (X) of the electrical connector (105). The sealant (706) covers the outer wall of the electrical connection body (72) circumferentially and is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the electrical connection body (72). The sealant (706) is radially sealed between the inner wall of the first insulating shell (701) and the electrical connection body (72).

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