DE102012020409A1 - Electrical connection device for vehicle e.g. plug-in hybrid vehicle, has electrical resistors which are in contact between contacts for detecting terminal device, when sealing element is connected to connecting element - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has first connecting element (2) that is provided with several plug contacts (3). A second connecting element is connected with a sealing element (4) for transmitting electrical energy. A control device (5) is connected to contacts (31,32) of the connecting device. The control device is arranged by connecting the connecting element of the sealing element. The electrical resistors (6) are in contact between the contacts for detecting the terminal device, when sealing element is connected to the connecting element. An independent claim is included for vehicle.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to an electrical connection device which is used in particular on a vehicle. Such connection devices can be used, for example, to charge batteries of plug-in hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles.

The aforementioned plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles need to charge their batteries an interface with which the vehicle can be connected to an external power supply. Such charging sockets are known from the prior art, for example from the DE 10 2010 055 919 A1 , of the US 2009/0023315 A1 or the DE 10 2007 042 610 A1 known. However, all of these documents can not provide a satisfactory system in which intrusion of foreign matter into the charging socket can be effectively prevented. This problem is attempted by numerous other patents to solve. For example, the US 5,401,174 A a charging socket into which a blind plug can be screwed. Although such a system allows good coverage of the charging socket as protection against the ingress of foreign bodies, but is complicated by the screwing of the dummy plug and continues to be no access protection, since the blind plug can be removed at any time.

Another charging socket is from the DE 10 2009 052 366 A1 in which it is described that a vehicle has two charging sockets of the same type on each side of the vehicle. In order to prevent mutual interference of the two charging sockets, both charging sockets have a cover which can be locked by a control unit. If a user puts one of the charging sockets into operation by plugging in a charging cable, the other socket is automatically locked. As access protection, both sockets can be locked at the same time. The sealing of the charging socket by means of a lid analogous to a fuel cap in vehicles with internal combustion engine, however, is very expensive if a sufficiently good seal is to be achieved and also space-wise not possible with all vehicles.

Another approach is pursued by the DE 10 2010 045 685 A1 in which a charging plug or a blind plug can be inserted into the charging socket, wherein both charging plug and the dummy plug have a same contour, which is used by a locking element of the charging socket for locking. Thus, the blind plug can be locked in the charging socket to prevent unauthorized access to the charging socket. In the patent application is indicated that the locking device of the charging socket can be coupled, for example, with central locking of the vehicle. However, with this alternative approach, there is no way to tell if a blind plug is actually plugged or not. The lock is always performed without checking whether a blind plug is inserted.

It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connection device which can be used in particular in a vehicle and which reliably and reliably prevents the penetration of foreign bodies at a cost-effective production and assembly, and also permits a Zuganssicherung.

Disclosure of the invention

The object is solved by the features of claim 1.

This discloses an electrical connection device having a first connection element comprising a plurality of electrical contacts. The first connecting element is preferably designed as a socket of an electrical plug connection, so that the electrical contacts are preferably electrical plug contacts. The electrical contacts may be, for example, contacts for the transmission of electrical energy for charging a battery or may alternatively be contacts for the transmission of data information. It is preferably provided that the contacts have a different dimension depending on their use. For transmitting electrical energy, the first connecting element according to the invention can be connected to a second connecting element, wherein the second connecting element is preferably designed as a plug of an electrical plug connection. For example, the second connecting element can be connected via an electrically conductive cable to a power source, with which electrical energy can be delivered to the first connecting element. Likewise, it is possible according to the invention to connect the first connecting element with a sealing element. Such a sealing element is preferably used to close the electrical connection device when no energy is to be transmitted from outside through the connection device. A control device according to the invention is connected to at least two contacts of the connection unit and preferably serves to detect further components connected to the first connection element. For this purpose, the control device is set up to detect an electrical resistance which, through the second connecting element or through the sealing element with the two contacts of the connecting device, with which the control device connected, was contacted. Thus, the control device can preferably detect whether, for example, no element is connected to the first connection element (resistance infinitely large) or whether a second connection element or a sealing element is connected to the first connection element (predefined resistance value measurable). In this case, the control device is set up to detect the sealing element on the basis of the detected electrical resistance. For this purpose, the sealing element is preferably associated with a characteristic resistance value known to the control device. It is thus possible for the control device to detect whether the electrical connection device is closed with a sealing element or whether the electrical connection device is accessible.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical connection device has a locking device which can optionally lock the second connection element or the sealing element. On the one hand, this is needed to ensure that a connection between the first connection element and the second connection element, via which electrical energy is transmitted from outside through the electrical connection device, is not suddenly disconnected. This would have negative effects, for example, if the electrical connection device is used to charge a vehicle-side battery. On the other hand, with the locking device and the sealing element can be locked so that unauthorized access to the contacts of the first connecting element is prevented and, for example, a risk of injury is eliminated by electrical shock.

It is preferably provided that the control unit is set up to determine a maximum current carrying capacity for the connected second connection element on the basis of the detected electrical resistance. The current carrying capacity characterizes a maximum current that may flow through the connected second connecting element. This current may be limited, for example, by a cable being used, by the connector itself, or by intelligent data exchange with the charging infrastructure. Such a possibility is already present in many connection devices from the prior art. Thus, the manufacture and assembly of the electrical connection devices according to the invention can be done very inexpensively, since the majority can be used on already existing components. For example, for the sealing element, a predefined resistance value can be assigned the current carrying capacity of zero, so that the control device, upon detecting this resistance, recognizes that it is a blind plug which can not transmit any electrical energy to the electrical connection device.

It is particularly preferred to provide a memory arrangement in which a table stores a plurality of values for electrical characteristics. These parameters may be, for example, currents, voltages and / or resistors, which are determined in particular by the control device upon detection of the electrical resistance. In this case, according to the invention, each of these values in the table is assigned the second connecting element, in particular with a characteristic current-carrying capacity, or the sealing element. This table facilitates the control device to associate a detected resistor with a member that has contacted this resistor by being connected to the first connector. The control device can therefore also determine very easily whether a sealing element has been connected to the first connecting element.

The invention further relates to a sealing element which is provided for sealing the electrical connection device according to the invention. The sealing element according to the invention comprises at least one electrical resistance and at least two electrical mating contacts. The electrical mating contacts are preferably designed as a counterpart to the electrical contacts of the electrical connection device, therefore, preferably have the form of plug contacts. More preferably, the electrical mating contacts of the sealing member are so connected to the electrical contacts of the electrical connection device that the electrical mating contacts contact those contacts that are connected to the control device. Preferably, the resistance of the sealing element between the two electrical mating contacts is arranged, so that when connecting the sealing member to the electrical connection device, this resistor is contacted detectable for the control device. Furthermore, the sealing element is designed as a blind closure and therefore can preferably seal the electrical connection device against the penetration of foreign bodies and prevent electrical contacting of the electrical contacts of the first connection element. This may include, for example, the penetration of objects as well as the ingress of dust, dirt or water.

Particularly preferably, the sealing element is designed such that it can be locked in the electrical connection device. The electrical connection device can therefore be the sealing element, analogous to the second connecting element, lock and thus ensure complete and reliable sealing.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle is proposed which has a battery and an electrical connection device according to the invention. In this case, the vehicle is designed such that the battery can be charged via the electrical connection device. Preferably, the vehicle further comprises a sealing element according to the invention. Thus, it is possible that the electrical connection device of the vehicle is securely sealed against external influences. Likewise, access to the electrical connection device by an authorized group of persons can be made possible by the locking according to the invention.

Furthermore, the vehicle preferably has a cover. The cover is preferably configured to cover the electrical connection device. For example, the electrical connection device can be arranged in the body of the vehicle. In this case, a visually attractive cover is desirable. Since the sealing element according to the invention already seals the electrical connection device against the penetration of foreign bodies, it is sufficient for the cover element to produce only a visually appealing transition to the body. In particular, preferably no locking is necessary for the cover according to the invention, since the sealing element according to the invention, which is preferably locked in the electrical connection device, denied access to the electrical connection device for unauthorized persons.

In an advantageous development, the cover element is set up such that only then can the electrical connection device be covered when the sealing element is connected to the electrical connection device and / or is locked in the same. This has the advantage that the user of the vehicle is reminded to reuse the sealing element, for example after a charging process, in the electrical connection device, so that the sealing element can not be forgotten.

Brief description of the drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

1 a schematic overview of an electrical connection device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

2 a schematic overview of an electrical connection device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is closed with a sealing element according to the invention,

3 a schematic overview of a vehicle which is equipped with an electrical connection device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and

4 a schematic overview of an electrical connection device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is connected for energy transmission with a second connecting element.

Detailed description of embodiments

1 shows a schematic view of an electrical connection device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this case, the electrical connection device comprises 1 a first connecting element 2 which is in the form of a socket. The connecting element 2 further includes a plurality of electrical contacts 3 , which are also preferably designed as sockets. Furthermore, the contacts 3 individually isolated from each other. In addition, the contacts point 3 different dimensions, on the one hand contacts for signal transmission, on the other hand contacts are provided for energy transmission. A control device 5 is with the connecting element 2 connected, wherein the control device 5 in particular a signal connection 31 and a ground connection 32 contacted.

Furthermore, the structure of a sealing element is schematically 4 shown when connected to the first connecting element 2 also the signal connection 31 and the ground connection 32 contacted. For connecting signal connection 31 and ground connection 32 has the sealing element 4 a first contact 8th and a second contact 9 on. The first contact 8th and the second contact 9 are about a resistance 6 connected with each other.

The sealing element 4 In addition, it has a flexible element 40 , For example, via a plastic line, mechanically with the electrical connection device 1 connected. The flexible element 40 serves to protect against loss or oblivion of the sealing element, since the sealing element 4 can not be removed further from the electrical connection device than the length of the flexible element 40 allows.

Once the sealing element 4 with the first connecting element 2 Connects first contact 8th a connection to the signal connector 31 forth, while the second contact 9 a connection to the ground connection 32 manufactures. Through this contact, it is the control device 5 possible, the resistance 6 capture. Based on this resistance, the control device 5 recognize that a sealing element has been connected to the first connecting element. Therefore, the control device 5 It is known that the electrical connection device is in a safe state, since from now on the penetration of foreign bodies into the first connection element 2 or undesired contacting of the electrical contacts 3 is excluded.

2 shows the electrical connection device according to the invention, with a sealing element 4 is closed. It can be seen again that the sealing element 4 a resistance 6 includes, over a first contact 8th with a signal connection 31 and a second contact 9 with a ground connection 32 of the first connecting element 2 connected is. All other contacts, z. B. a first power connection 30 and a second performance conclusion 33 , are from the sealing element 4 not contacted.

As soon as the control device 5 the resistance 6 detected, this can determine that the electrical connection device 1 through the sealing element 4 was closed. The control device 5 Therefore, a locking device 7 activate that also with the control device 5 connected is. The locking device 7 prevents removal of the sealing element 4 by, for example, a pen 70 pulling out the sealing element 4 from the first connection element 2 prevented. Thus, the control device 5 the removal of the sealing element 4 first release and the locking device 7 Act accordingly, thus removing the sealing element 4 is possible. For example, such release may be via the central locking of a vehicle when the electrical connection device is used as a charging socket for the vehicle or, as with existing vehicles, an extra fuel door lock button is used.

In 3 is a vehicle 100 shown, with an electrical connection device 1 equipped according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. In this case, the electrical connection device 1 in particular with a battery of the vehicle 100 connected so that the battery of the vehicle 100 via the electrical connection device 1 can be loaded. To initiate a charge is a second connector 400 with the electrical connection device 1 connected, allowing an energy transfer to the vehicle 100 is possible. For this purpose, the second connecting element 400 a cable 401 on that over an additional connecting element 402 with a power source 403 connected is.

In 4 is the connection between the first connection element 2 the electrical connection device 1 and second connecting element 400 shown in detail. In addition to a first contact 800 and a second contact 900 , which is analogous to the contacts of the sealing element 4 are present and a resistance 600 contact, has the second connecting element 400 in addition a third contact 901 and a fourth contact 902 on. The third contact 901 and the fourth contact 902 is used for power transmission and is therefore over the cable 401 with the additional connecting element 402 connected electrically conductive.

In addition, the second connecting element 400 about the first contact 800 with the signal connection 31 , about the second contact 900 with the ground connection 32 , about the third contact 901 with the first power connection 30 and about the fourth contact 902 with the second power connection of the first connection element 2 connected. Therefore, the control device 5 based on the contacted resistance 600 recognize which ampacity the second connector has and set a corresponding current across the first power connector 30 and via the second power connection 33 to be transferred.

Analogous to the locking of the sealing element 4 is also the second connection element 400 through the locking device 7 lockable. Therefore, for example, an activation of the pen 70 take place as soon as the control device 5 the resistance 600 of the second connecting element 400 detected.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010055919 A1 [0002]
• US 2009/0023315 A1 [0002]
• DE 102007042610 A1 [0002]
• US 5401174 A [0002]
• DE 102009052366 A1 [0003]
• DE 102010045685 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Electrical connection device ( 1 ), in particular for a vehicle, comprising a first connecting element ( 2 ) with a plurality of electrical contacts ( 3 ), in particular plug contacts, wherein the first connecting element ( 2 ) with a second connecting element ( 400 ) for transmitting electrical energy or with a sealing element ( 4 ) is connectable, and a control device ( 5 ) with at least two contacts ( 31 . 32 ) of the connection device ( 1 ), the control device ( 5 ) is set up by connecting the second connecting element ( 400 ) or the sealing element ( 4 ) contacted electrical resistance ( 6 ; 600 ) between the two contacts ( 31 . 32 ) of the connection device ( 1 ) and based on the electrical resistance ( 6 ; 600 ) to determine whether the sealing element ( 4 ) with the first connecting element ( 2 ) connected is. Electrical connection device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, comprising a locking device ( 7 ), which is set up, optionally the second connecting element ( 400 ) or the sealing element ( 4 ) to lock. Electrical connection device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit ( 5 ), based on the electrical resistance ( 6 ; 600 ) a maximum current carrying capacity for the connected second connecting element ( 400 ). Electrical connection device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a memory arrangement in which a table having a multiplicity of values for electrical characteristics, in particular currents and / or voltages and / or resistances, is stored, the table in each case having a value of the second connecting element ( 400 ) or the sealing element ( 4 ). Sealing element ( 4 ) for sealing an electrical connection device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one electrical resistance ( 6 ) and at least two electrical mating contacts ( 8th . 9 ), in particular plug contacts, wherein the resistor ( 6 ) between the electrical mating contacts ( 8th . 9 ) is arranged and the sealing element ( 4 ) is designed as a blind closure. Sealing element ( 4 ) according to claim 5, wherein the at least two electrical mating contacts ( 8th . 9 ), each having an electrical contact ( 30 . 31 ) of the electrical connection device ( 1 ) to contact. Sealing element ( 4 ) according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the sealing element ( 4 ) in the electrical connection device ( 1 ) is lockable. Vehicle ( 100 ), comprising a battery and an electrical connection device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the battery via the electrical connection device ( 1 ) is rechargeable. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 8, comprising a sealing element ( 4 ) according to any one of claims 5 to 7. Vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the electrical connection device ( 1 ), optionally with inserted sealing element ( 4 ), by a cover, in particular without locking, can be covered.

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