Quick-Swap Connector Geometry for Low-Resistance Cooling Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing quick-swap connector assemblies for battery electric vehicles face significant flow resistance due to size limitations, which affect the efficiency of cooling water passage and heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

The connector assembly optimizes the size relationship between the valve body and valve core, with specific diameter ratios and distances, to minimize flow resistance while maintaining a compact design, utilizing movable valve cores and collars to seal and open flow passages efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the quick-swap connector assembly is made compact to fit limited assembly space, then the assembly size is reduced, but the flow resistance of cooling water increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly sizeVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the diameter ratio between valve body and valve core to a specific range (1.55-1.74), and adjusting the distance between adjacent valve cores (0.24-0.32 times the valve core diameter). These parameter optimizations reduce flow resistance while maintaining compact assembly dimensions, directly resolving the contradiction between size reduction and flow resistance increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the valve body and valve core sizes are reduced to maintain compact assembly, then the assembly remains compact, but the flow passage area decreases increasing flow resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve assembly sizeVSAvoidflow passage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the geometric parameters by setting the valve body outer diameter to valve core outer diameter ratio (D11/P1) between 1.55-1.74, and the flow passage port inner diameter to valve core outer diameter ratio (Q1/P1) between 1.02-1.03. These parameter changes ensure sufficient flow passage area while maintaining compact overall dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent arranges multiple valve cores in a spatial configuration where the distance between adjacent valve cores (S) is optimized (P1/S = 0.24-0.32). This spatial arrangement in three-dimensional space maximizes the flow passage area within the constrained valve body volume, effectively increasing the flow capacity without increasing the overall assembly size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4610536A1Quick-swap connector, quick-swap connector assembly, cooling water system, and electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 NIO BATTERY TECH (ANHUI) CO LTD
  • EP4610536A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4610536A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4610536A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to the technical field of new energy vehicles, and particularly provides a quick-swap connector, a quick-swap connector assembly, a cooling water system, and an electric vehicle, which are intended to solve the problem in the prior art of the generation of a large flow resistance when cooling water passes through the quick-swap connector assembly due to size limitations. To this end, the quick-swap connector of the disclosure includes: a first valve body, provided with a first flow passage port, a first flow passage channel in communication with the first flow passage port being provided in the first valve body; and a first valve core, movably arranged in the first flow passage channel, the first valve core being sealingly engaged with or disengaged from the first valve body by means of movement, wherein the first valve body has an outer diameter of D11, and the first valve core has an outer diameter of P1, where D11/P1 has a value in the range of 1.55 to 1.74. In the quick-swap connector of the disclosure, by adjusting the size relationship between the first valve body and the first valve core, under the condition of size limitations, the flow resistance of the cooling water is made smaller when flowing through the first valve body, thereby taking both the size and the flow resistance into consideration and improving the heat dissipation efficiency.