DE102018108181A1 - Charging coupler with cooling device, charging cable with charging coupler and a motor vehicle with charging coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging coupler (1) for an electrically conductive connection of a storage module (31) for electrical energy in a motor vehicle (30) to a power supply unit (40) for providing electrical energy, wherein the charging coupler (1) has at least two electrically conductive charging contacts (2) for transmitting electrical energy and having at least two electrically conductive line contacts (3) for connection to an electrical supply line (4), and wherein the charging coupler (1) comprises a cooling device (5) for cooling the charging contacts (2) and / or line contacts (3), characterized in that the cooling device (5) at least one latent heat storage (6) with a phase change material (7) .. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging cable (20) with a charging cable cooling device (21) and a motor vehicle ( 30) with at least one charging coupler (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a charging coupler with a cooling device for an electrically conductive connection of a storage module for electrical energy in a motor vehicle with a power supply unit for the provision of electrical energy. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging cable with Ladekopplem for the connection of a memory module for electrical energy in a motor vehicle with a power supply unit and a motor vehicle with at least one charging coupler.

There are a variety of connections of memory modules for electrical energy in a motor vehicle with a power supply unit for the provision of electrical energy known. The multiplicity of connections can first be divided into separable and firmly connected connections. The separable connections have male and female connectors for disconnecting the connectors and male and female connectors.

When fast charging of electrified motor vehicles occurs as a result of ohmic resistances in the electrical connections from a power supply unit to a storage module for electrical energy in a motor vehicle and in the separable connecting elements to a warming. In particular, the contacts in the separable connecting elements, in the form of plugs and sockets, can become very hot due to the contact resistance between the separable connecting elements. Such connecting elements are also referred to as charging coupler. As a result, an achievable maximum charging power for the charging process of the memory module of a motor vehicle is limited. Both the connections and the separable connection elements can be protected against overheating. In particular, care must be taken to ensure safe handling by a user. To maintain operating temperatures, a maximum charging current can thus only be maintained for a certain period of time or even not achieved at all.

Are known devices for cooling a plug connection, which consist of a charging plug, a contact socket for receiving the charging plug and electrical cables, such as in the DE 10 2015 221 571 A1 shown. The cooling of the heat-generating components is ensured by means of a circulating coolant in cavities which extend along and / or in the vicinity of the heat-generating components.

Also known are heat conductors for contact sockets for electrical contacts from the DE 10 2012 216 694 A1 , The contact socket and the electrical lines have heat-conducting elements for dissipating heat from the electrically conductive components.

Thus, active cooling for the electrical connections, for the separable connecting elements and for a power supply unit for charging, in particular for fast charging, an electrified motor vehicle are known. The corresponding power supply units, the connections and the separable connecting elements are equipped with lines for a cooling medium, in particular water. A corresponding cooling system of heat exchanger, pump and fans is therefore required in the known power supply units. Thus, for such a power supply unit, in addition to the cost of the cooling system, additional maintenance costs for the cooling system and possibly even costs for a supply with a cooling medium to be considered. Also, there are costs for the operation of the cooling, i. the conveying of the cooling medium through the cooling circuit. For the construction of a nationwide charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, active cooling systems represent an additional and above all permanent cost factor, which is detrimental to the market penetration of electric vehicles or such charging systems. The known passive thermal conductors for contact sockets for electrical contacts must have heat sinks to deliver the heat generated. Heat sinks can reach critical temperatures during operation and thus pose a risk to safe handling by the user.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to remedy the disadvantages of the devices for the charging process, in particular for fast charging, of electric vehicles mentioned above, or at least partially remedy them. It is in particular the object of the present invention to provide a charging coupler for an electrically conductive connection with a cooling device and a charging cable and a motor vehicle, which enable safe and cost-effective cooling of the heat-generating components for a charging process of electric vehicles in a simple manner ,

The above problem is solved by the claims. Accordingly, the object is achieved by a charging coupler with the features of claim 1, a charging cable with at least one charging coupler with the features of claim 8 and by a motor vehicle with a charging coupler having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. There are features and Details that are described in connection with the charging coupler according to the invention, of course, also in connection with the charging cable according to the invention and the motor vehicle according to the invention and in each case vice versa, so that with respect to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always reciprocal reference is or may be.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a charging coupler for an electrically conductive connection of a storage module for electrical energy in a motor vehicle with a power supply unit for the provision of electrical energy. The charging coupler has at least two electrically conductive charging contacts for transmitting electrical energy and at least two electrically conductive line contacts for connection to an electrical supply line. Furthermore, the charging coupler has a cooling device for cooling the charging contacts and / or line contacts, wherein the cooling device has at least one latent heat accumulator with a phase change material.

A charging coupler according to the invention is to be understood as a charging plug or socket. As a charging plug, the charging coupler can be made female or male. This means that the charging coupler can be designed as a female charging plug or as a female charging socket and have a contact receptacle for a push-in contact of a male mating connector or a male mating socket. Likewise, the charging coupler may be formed as a male charging plug or as a male charging socket and have a push-in contact for a contact of a female mating connector or a female mating sleeve. Furthermore, a charging coupler according to the invention is to be understood such that the charging coupler is designed or arranged as a charging socket or charging plug on a power supply unit, preferably on a charging cable and / or particularly preferably on a motor vehicle.

A storage module for electrical energy is to be understood in the context of the invention as, for example, an accumulator, in particular for use in a motor vehicle as a traction battery.

A power supply unit according to the invention is to be understood as a publicly accessible or private charging station for motor vehicles or as a private energy supply unit of a user, in particular a power supply unit in spatial proximity to a parking space and / or in a garage.

Electrically conductive charging contacts and electrically conductive line contacts according to the invention are to be understood as connection contacts to further components of the charge coupler or to components of other assemblies. In particular, the charging contacts according to the invention are to be understood as plug-in contacts for making contact with a charging socket of a motor vehicle. The line contacts according to the first aspect of the invention are to be understood in particular as a connection element for a supply line of the charge coupler or as a connection element to a power supply unit.

A latent heat storage device is a device that can record, store and release thermal energy repeatedly. For this purpose, a phase change material is used in the interior of the latent heat storage. A phase change material is characterized in that the latent heat of fusion, in particular the heat of absorption, is substantially greater than the heat which it can store due to its specific heat capacity (without the phase transformation effect). The absorption of heat melts the phase change material in the latent heat storage. A release of the stored thermal energy takes place by re-solidification of the phase change material, wherein the phase change material emits the previously recorded large amount of heat as solidification heat back to the environment. The melting and solidification are consequently to be understood as the eponymous phase changes (liquid - solid or vice versa) of the phase change material. In particular, salts (e.g., Glauber's salt, sodium acetate) or organic compounds (e.g., paraffins, fatty acids) are used as the phase change material.

Advantageously, the inventive design of the charge coupler by the presence of at least one latent heat storage with a phase change material. By the phase change material, a further increase in temperature of a heat generating element of the charge coupler after reaching a maximum temperature, in particular the melting temperature of the phase change material, can be prevented or delayed. By the heat transfer from the heat-generating component to the latent heat storage, the phase change material is melted. For the period of the phase change (solid - liquid) of the phase change material, the heat - generating component remains at the same or almost the same temperature. Thus, with the present invention with particularly simple and inexpensive means, a maintenance of a higher charging current during the charging of an electric vehicle for a longer period can be secured. The invention requires for the solution of inventive task no extensive additional peripherals, such as in particular heat exchangers, pumps and fans, does not generate permanent maintenance costs and completely dispensed with achievable by a user heat sinks that warm up during operation or even become hot. That is, according to the invention, a cooling of the charge coupler or its contacts alone be made possible due to the presence of at least one latent heat storage.

After a successful charge of the memory module of the motor vehicle, the heat-generating components in a charging coupler, in the vehicle, in the charging cable and / or in the charging station, especially in a non-public charging station, a certain period of time, especially hours or days, for cooling the latent heat storage. By cooling the latent heat storage a phase change of the phase change material takes place in the opposite direction in the form of a solidification (liquid - solid), whereby the heat is released to the environment.

By the latent heat storage of the charge coupler for an electrically conductive connection a safe and cost-effective cooling of the heat-generating components in a simple manner and thus the advantageous longer operation of the charge coupler is made possible with higher charging currents.

It is also conceivable to use at least two, in particular different, phase change materials in the latent heat accumulator of a charge coupler. The phase change materials may have different or equal phase change temperatures. With a use of two phase change materials with different melting temperatures, the period of heat absorption can be advantageously extended or extended by the time-shifted melting process of the phase change materials. Thus, a maintenance of operable temperatures of the charge coupler and at the same time of the maximum charging current for the charging of the motor vehicle for as long as possible be made possible.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latent heat storage of the charge coupler may be in direct contact with the charging contacts and / or the line contacts. A direct contact between the latent heat storage, in particular the phase change material and the potentially heat generating contacts of the charge coupler allow a particularly advantageous direct heat transfer. Direct contact between the heat source, in particular the charging and line contacts of the charge coupler, and the latent heat storage reduces the heat transfer resistance and thus increases the thermal conductivity. A constant or almost constant temperature of the heat source during the phase change of the phase change material is thus advantageously made possible and reduces possible obstacles to heat transfer.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the latent heat accumulator has a casing which encloses the phase change material. Due to the properties of the liquid phase of the phase change material, a physical limitation of the phase change material is necessary. An unlimited use of the phase change material would result in a phase change (solid - liquid), in particular a melting of the phase change material, an uncontrolled spread and / or a loss of the phase change material. An envelope is therefore to be understood in particular as a fluid-tight envelope for receiving the phase change material. An envelope of the latent heat store, which comprises the phase change material, can be configured in many ways. The envelope may be configured as a thin-walled bag or jacket. Likewise, the envelope may be designed as a constructive component of the charge coupler, in particular as a housing or housing part of the charge coupler. The envelope thus essentially constitutes a cavity for receiving the phase change material. The envelope may advantageously be designed to be flexible at least in some areas. With a possible volume difference of the phase change material in its different phases, a corresponding tolerance or a maximum necessary volume can be taken into account in the volume of the envelope. A latent heat store with its own casing, in particular a thin-walled casing, can be very advantageous for the manufacturing process of the charge coupler. By way of example, the latent heat accumulator in its liquid phase in a shell, through which thus existing flexibility of the latent heat accumulator, are particularly advantageously installed in the charging coupler. Alternatively or additionally, the phase change material can be injected into a cavity of the charge coupler or its housing and thus allow particularly complex cavities for receiving phase change material. The cooling of the potential heat sources is made cheaper and more efficient with this embodiment of the charge coupler according to the invention and the production can be made simpler.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises that the latent heat storage is arranged within the charge coupler. In addition to the constructive embodiments mentioned above, the latent heat accumulator can be configured in a cavity of the charge coupler or be arranged. This allows components and consequently costs and effort for the production of the charge coupler can be reduced. Furthermore, an improved cooling of the two electrically conductive charging contacts or the at least two electrically conductive line contacts is ensured.

A preferred embodiment of a charge coupler according to the invention provides that in each case a latent heat storage is arranged in the form of a hollow cylinder around a respective charging contact and / or in each case one line contact. By means of this embodiment of the charge coupler, the most direct possible transfer of the heat of the potentially heat-generating charge and / or line contacts to the latent heat stores is generated. The design of the latent heat storage as a hollow cylinder provides as large a contact surface between the heat generating charging and / or line contacts and the latent heat storage ago, to optimize the heat transfer. The cost-effective structural embodiment of the latent heat storage as a hollow cylinder by a respective charging and / or line contact, represents a simple step to cool the potentially heat-generating components separately. The latent heat storage allow a constant or almost constant temperature of the heat sources during the phase change of the phase change material (liquid - solid) by simple means.

Another preferred development of a charge coupler is that the phase change material is embedded in a pore structure or encapsulated in a foam structure. The use of phase change material in an encapsulated foam structure is a variant of the previously described embodiment with a shell for the phase change material. A foam structure with encapsulated phase change material corresponds to a plurality of small, adjacent sheaths with phase change material included. The foam structure may have varying large or nearly identical cavities. The size of the cavities, ie the fineness of the foam structure can be very fine, with very small trapped phase change material quantities, or coarser, with larger amounts of phase change material in the cavities. A finer foam structure, and thus a summed larger surface area of the encapsulated phase materials, can advantageously accelerate the solidification process of the latent heat storage and thus more quickly enable reuse of the latent heat storage, i. The charge coupler can be used for a recharge process with maximum charge current. The embodiment of a charge coupled device according to the invention having a latent heat storage device with a phase change material in a pore structure can advantageously enable a thermal exchange within the phase change material that is connected through the pore structure.

According to a preferred development of the invention may be provided in a charging coupler, that between two latent heat storage an electrically insulating separating element is arranged. If the phase change material in one and / or both phases is electrically conductive, an electrically insulating separating element between these contacts and / or components can be installed to insulate the charging and / or line contacts and / or further electrical components of the charge coupler. An electrically insulating separating element can be designed as a part of the housing of the charge coupler or as a separate component in the charging coupler. Thus, a short circuit between the electrical components of the charge coupler is avoided in a simple and cost-effective manner and ensures the function and the cooling of the charge coupler.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a charging cable for the connection of a storage module for electrical energy in a motor vehicle with a power supply unit for the provision of electrical energy. The charging cable has at least one charging coupler for connection to a motor vehicle and / or for connection to a power supply unit for providing electrical energy, wherein the at least one charging coupler according to the first aspect of the invention is formed. The charging cable according to the invention has the same advantages as already described above with regard to the charging coupler according to the invention according to the first aspect. Further, the charging cable is possible by the variety of embodiments of the charge coupler in any combination of two of these embodiments. Advantageously, the charging cable is designed as a connection between a power supply unit and a motor vehicle. With such a charging cable, it is possible to maintain a maximum charging power for a longer period during a charging process of an electric motor vehicle. A charging cable may have such a charging coupler at only one end. At the other end of the charging cable, a charging coupler may be provided without a cooling device. Alternatively, the other end of the charging cable can be firmly connected to a power supply unit, possibly even on the motor vehicle itself. However, a charging cable particularly preferably has a charging coupler according to the invention at both ends. Since the charging couplers of such a charging cable each have latent heat storage, the heat generating components of the charging coupler for the period of the phase change (solid - liquid) of Phase change materials of the latent heat storage of the charge coupler are kept at a constant or approximately constant temperature. A reduction of the maximum charging current can therefore be delayed and / or prevented with simple and inexpensive means.

According to a preferred development of the invention may be provided in a charging cable, that the charging cable has a charging cable cooling device with at least one latent heat storage with a phase change material, wherein the charging cable cooling device is formed at least partially flexible. With such a further development, in addition to the cooling of the at least one charging coupler, the cooling of the charging cable is made possible. With additional cooling of the charging cable, the charging process of an electric motor vehicle is further shortened and made safer, since both the connections and the separable connecting elements are protected against overheating. In particular, a maximum charging current can be maintained for as long as possible and the components can be kept at working temperatures. The described positive effects of the latent heat storage for the charge coupler are also achieved for the charging cable by the latent heat storage is used in a charging cable. The latent heat storage of the charging cable can also have the embodiments of the latent heat storage of the charge coupler. Thus, in an advantageous further embodiment of the latent heat storage of the charging cable is in direct contact with the lines. In another advantageous embodiment, the latent heat storage of the cable has a sheath which encloses the phase change material. In yet another preferred embodiment of a charging cable, a latent heat accumulator is in each case arranged in the form of a hollow cylinder around a respective line of the charging cable. In yet another advantageous embodiment, the phase material of the latent heat accumulator of the charging cable is embedded in a pore structure or encapsulated in a foam structure. In an embodiment of the invention, an electrically insulating separating element is advantageously arranged between two latent heat accumulators of a charging cable. The advantages of the embodiments of the latent heat accumulator of the charging cable can be understood analogously to the advantages of the embodiments of the latent heat accumulator of a charge coupler.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a motor vehicle with a charging coupler according to the first aspect. The motor vehicle has a storage module for electrical energy, a charging coupler according to one of the preceding embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, and an electrical supply line which connects the at least one charge coupler to the storage module in an electrically conductive manner. The motor vehicle also has the stated advantages, as already described above with respect to the charge coupler according to the invention. The motor vehicle with a charging coupler enables safe and cost-effective cooling of the heat-generating components in a simple manner. A maximum charging current for the charging of the motor vehicle can thus be maintained as long as possible and the heat-generating components are kept at working temperatures. Thus, the charging process of the memory module of the motor vehicle is shortened very advantageous. The cooling according to the invention with a latent heat accumulator is particularly advantageous for use in a charging coupler in the form of a connection socket of a storage module of a motor vehicle. Since between two charging processes of a memory module is a sufficiently long time for cooling the latent heat storage and thus the solidification of the phase change material, the cooling can be completely retrieved by latent heat storage during each charging process.

Likewise, the object can be achieved by a charging station with a charging coupler according to the first aspect or with a charging cable according to the second aspect of the invention. The charging station serves to provide energy for a storage module of a motor vehicle. The advantages described above also apply accordingly to the charging station.

Furthermore, the charging coupler according to the invention according to the first aspect can also be combined with a charging station with additional cooling. The cooling of the charging station can be active or passive, preferably also with a latent heat storage configured. Additional cooling of the charging station can, for example after a charging process, cool a charging coupler inserted in the cooling of the charging station and thus accelerate the solidification process of the latent heat accumulator of the charging coupler. Consequently, a charging station designed in this way shortens the time until a charging process with the charging coupler according to the invention with complete cooling effect of the latent heat accumulator of the charge coupler is available again. This embodiment of a charging station is advantageous for a publicly accessible and thus potentially highly frequented charging station.

• 1 in einer Schnittdarstellung einer Seitenansicht eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Ladekopplers mit Kühlvorrichtung,
• 2 in einer Draufsicht eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Ladekopplers mit Kühlvorrichtung,
• 3 in einer Draufsicht eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Ladekopplers mit Kühlvorrichtung,
• 4 in einem Querschnitt eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Ladekabels mit Ladekabelkühlvorrichtung,
• 5 in einer Seitenansicht eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Kraftfahrzeugs mit Ladekoppler mit Kühlvorrichtung

An inventive charging coupler, a charging cable according to the invention and a motor vehicle according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Each show schematically:

• 1 in a sectional view of a side view of a preferred embodiment of a charging coupler according to the invention with a cooling device,
• 2 in a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a charge coupler according to the invention with a cooling device,
• 3 in a plan view of a further preferred embodiment of a charging coupler according to the invention with a cooling device,
• 4 in a cross section a preferred embodiment of a charging cable according to the invention with charging cable cooling device,
• 5 in a side view of a preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention with charging coupler with cooling device

Elements with the same function and mode of action are in the 1 to 5 each provided with the same reference numerals.

In 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a charge coupler according to the invention 1 with coolers 5 shown. The charging coupler 1 is a charging plug on a charging cable 20 and with two coolers 5 for cooling the charging contacts 2 designed. The cooling devices 5 are as latent heat storage 6 with phase change material 7 educated. The line contacts 3 are with a charging cable 20 electrically connected. For easy and efficient cooling of the charging contacts 2 , are the charging contacts 2 directly from the phase change materials 7 surrounded and are advantageously in contact with the phase change materials 7 , A direct heat transfer between the potentially heat generating charging contacts 2 and the latent heat storage 6 allows the best possible heat transfer. A maximum charging current for the charging process of a motor vehicle 30 can thus maintain as long as possible and the charging contacts 2 for the period of phase change (solid - liquid) to a constant or approximately constant, operable temperature.

In 2 is a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of a charge coupler according to the invention 1 with cooling device 5 shown. The charging contacts 2 of the charge coupler 1 are from a phase change material 7 a latent heat storage 6 surround. The phase change material 7 is in a thin-walled shell 8th includes. In the plane of the figure is the shell 8th likewise designed fluid-tight. The thickness of the shell 8th the latent heat storage 6 and the distances to adjacent components are shown disproportionately large for the sake of illustration. In this embodiment of the charge coupler 1 are the five charging contacts shown 2 all of a phase change material 7 surround. So is a particularly large volume of phase change material 7 around the potentially heat-generating charging contacts 2 allows and therefore a particularly advantageous large absorption potential of heat in the latent heat storage 6 created. This will be a use of the charge coupler 1 over a longer period at higher charging current allows.

In 3 is a schematic plan view of another preferred embodiment of a charge coupler according to the invention 1 with cooling device 5 shown. In contrast to 2 is the phase change material 7 the latent heat storage 6 not from a shell 8th surrounded but encapsulated embedded in a foam structure. A foam structure in this embodiment has a summed larger surface area of the encapsulated phase change materials 7 consequently accelerating the solidification process of the latent heat storage 6 advantageous and thus enables a reusability of the latent heat storage 6 faster, ie the charge coupler 1 Can be reused faster for a recharge process with maximum charging current. The bottom two charging contacts 2 are exemplary of a separating element 9 electrically isolated.

In 4 is a schematic cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a charging cable according to the invention 20 with two electrically conductive wires 22 with a charging cable cooling device 21 shown. The charging cable cooling device 21 of the charging cable 20 is as two cylindrical latent heat storage 6 each with a phase change material 7 around the electrically conductive wires 22 of the charging cable 20 educated. The coat of the charging cable 20 envelops the veins 22 as well as the latent heat storage 6 , This ensures that the phase change materials 7 regardless of the phase transitions and the phase state, remain at predetermined positions defined by the boundary of the charging cable jacket. In the preferred embodiment of the charging cable according to the invention 20 In addition, the charging cable jacket separates the two latent heat accumulators 6 electrically insulating each other. Thus, a short circuit is safely prevented even if the latent heat storage 6 electrically conductive phase change material 7 exhibit.

In 5 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention 30 with a memory module 31 and a charging coupler according to the invention 1 shown. The memory module 31 of the motor vehicle 30 is by means of a supply line 4 with the charging coupler 1 connected. The charging coupler 1 is in this embodiment as a charging socket of the motor vehicle 30 designed. An inventive charge coupler 1 in a motor vehicle 30 allows a charging process of the memory module 31 of the motor vehicle 30 with a higher charging current over a prolonged period. The latent heat storage 6 of the charge coupler 1 enables a safe and cost-effective cooling of the heat-generating components, in particular the charging 2 and / or line contacts 3 , the charge coupler 1 in a simple manner, thus delaying a reduction in the charging current due to the achievement of critical temperatures of these heat-generating components or adjacent components of the charge coupler 1 and / or the motor vehicle 30 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

charging coupler

2

charging contacts

3

line contacts

4

supply line

5

cooler

6

Latent heat storage

7

Phase change material

8th

shell

9

separating element

20

charge cable

21

Charging cable Cooler

22

Charging cable wire

30

motor vehicle

31

memory module

40

Power supply unit

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 102015221571 A1 [0004]
• DE 102012216694 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Charging coupler (1) for an electrically conductive connection of a storage module (31) for electrical energy in a motor vehicle (30) with a power supply unit (40) for the provision of electrical energy, wherein the charging coupler (1) at least two electrically conductive charging contacts (2) for Having transmission of electrical energy and at least two electrically conductive line contacts (3) for connection to an electrical supply line (4), and wherein the charging coupler (1) has a cooling device (5) for cooling the charging contacts (2) and / or line contacts (3 ), characterized in that the cooling device (5) has at least one latent heat store (6) with a phase change material (7). Charging coupler (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the latent heat accumulator (6) is in direct contact with the charging contacts (2) and / or the line contacts (3). Charging coupler (1) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the latent heat store (6) has a sheath (8), which encloses the phase change material (7). Charging coupler (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latent heat accumulator (6) within the charge coupler (1) is arranged. Charging coupler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each case a latent heat accumulator (6) is arranged in the form of a hollow cylinder around a respective charging contact (2) and / or around a respective line contact (3). Charging coupler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the phase change material (7) is embedded in a pore structure or encapsulated in a foam structure. Charging coupler (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrically insulating separating element (9) is arranged between two latent heat accumulators (6). Charging cable (20) for the connection of a storage module (31) for electrical energy in a motor vehicle (30) to a power supply unit (40) for the provision of electrical energy, comprising at least one charging coupler (1) for connection to a motor vehicle (30) and / or for connection to a power supply unit (40) for the provision of electrical energy, characterized in that at least one of the charging couplers (1) are designed according to one of the preceding claims. Charging cable (20) to Claim 8 , characterized in that the charging cable (20) has a charging cable cooling device (21) with at least one latent heat store (6) with a phase change material (7), wherein the charging cable cooling device (21) is at least partially flexible. A motor vehicle (30) comprising a storage module (31) for electrical energy, a charging coupler (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 7 and an electrical supply line (4) which connects the at least one charging coupler (1) to the storage module (31) in an electrically conductive manner.

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