DE102020126188A1 - Assembly of a connector part with a temperature monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly of a connector part (4) for plugging connection to an associated mating connector part (30, 31) comprises a housing part (40), an electrical contact element (42) to be arranged on the housing part (40) and a temperature monitoring device (5) which has a temperature sensor (52) for monitoring a temperature at the electrical contact element (42). It is provided that the temperature monitoring device (5) has a heat-conducting element (51) which can be adjusted between a pre-assembly position and a functional position relative to the housing part (40), the heat-conducting element (51) being designed so that the contact element ( 42) on the housing part (40) and to establish a thermally conductive connection between the contact element (42) and the temperature sensor (52) in the functional position.

Description

The invention relates to an assembly of a connector part according to the preamble of claim 1 and a connector part for plugging connection to a mating connector part.

Such an assembly comprises a housing part, an electrical contact element to be arranged on the housing part, and a temperature monitoring device which has a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature at the electrical contact element.

Such an electrical assembly can, for example, be part of a connector part, which can be a plug or a socket, for example. Such a connector part can be used in particular on a charging device for transmitting a charging current. The connector part can be designed in particular as a charging plug or charging socket for charging a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor (also referred to as an electric vehicle) and can be used on the part of a charging station, e.g. as a charging plug on a charging cable, or also on the part of a vehicle as what is known as an inlet.

Charging plugs or charging sockets for charging electric vehicles must be designed in such a way that large charging currents can be transmitted. Because the thermal power loss increases quadratically with the charging current and it is also stipulated that a temperature increase at a connector part must not exceed 50 K, it is necessary to provide temperature monitoring for such charging plugs or charging sockets in order to prevent overheating of components of the charging plug or charging socket at an early stage recognize and possibly cause a modification of the charging current or even a shutdown of the charging device.

At one from the EP 2 605 339 A1 known charging plug is a temperature sensor on an insulator arranged approximately in the middle between contact elements of the contact plug. The temperature sensor can be used to detect whether excessive heating is occurring anywhere on the contact elements, in order to switch off the charging process if necessary.

At one from the GB 2 489 988 A known charging plugs, several temperature sensors are provided, which transmit temperature data via a line. Depending on the temperature range in which the temperatures recorded at the temperature sensors are located, a charging process is regulated.

From the US 6,210,036 B1 a plug connector is known in which several temperature sensors are linked in series via a single-wire line. The temperature sensors are arranged on an insulating body and, at a predetermined temperature, exhibit a significant change in resistance that is so large that a control circuit connected to the line can detect the change and adjust the current flow through the charging plug, possibly switching it off.

From the U.S. 8,325,454 B2 a connector is known in which individual contacts are assigned thermistors, which are connected in parallel with one another and turn on a thyristor when a threshold temperature is exceeded, in order in this way to switch off a current flow through the contacts.

In charging plugs known from the prior art, temperature sensors are embedded in an insulating body, for example. This is necessary in order to electrically isolate the temperature sensors from the contact elements, which can heat up. At the same time, however, this has the disadvantage that a temperature change at one of the contact elements is transmitted with a time delay via the insulating body and is therefore perceived at the temperature sensors with a time delay. Such arrangements of temperature sensors are therefore unsuitable under certain circumstances, particularly in the case of concepts that are intended to enable rapid shutdown of a load circuit in the event of a fault.

There is a need for a temperature monitoring device that can be constructed simply and cost-effectively and that allows temperature monitoring at the contact elements with a rapid response behavior for rapid initiation of countermeasures, for example rapid disconnection of a charging current.

At one from the DE 10 2015 106 251 A1 known connector part are arranged contact elements in openings of a printed circuit board. One or more sensor devices are provided on the printed circuit board, which are used to detect heating on one or more contact elements.

At one from the WO 2016/169940 A1 known connector part of a charging system for charging an electric vehicle, an electrical contact element in the form of a contact element is arranged on a carrier element in the form of a printed circuit board. For thermal coupling with a temperature sensor is in a body of the lei Terplatte embedded a coupling section that produces a thermal coupling between the contact element and the spatially spaced to the contact element arranged temperature sensor.

The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a connector part and a connector part for plugging connection with an associated mating connector part, which allow easy assembly of the connector part with reliable temperature monitoring with good response behavior during operation.

This object is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the temperature monitoring device has a heat-conducting element which can be adjusted between a pre-assembly position and a functional position relative to the housing part, the heat-conducting element being designed to enable the contact element to be arranged on the housing part in the pre-assembly position and to enable a thermally conductive connection between the contact element and the housing part in the functional position to make a temperature sensor.

Accordingly, a thermally conductive element is used to produce a thermal connection between the contact element and the temperature sensor, in order in this way to record heating at the contact element and to detect it via the temperature sensor. The thermally conductive element consists of a material with good thermal conductivity, which, however, is intended to have an electrically insulating effect in order in this way to ensure electrical insulation between the contact element and the temperature monitoring device, in particular the temperature sensor.

The heat-conducting element can be made of a plastic material and/or ceramic material, for example. The heat-conducting element is a good conductor of heat, but has an electrically insulating effect. For this purpose, engineering plastics can be used, for example, to which additives are added, for example a graphite-based mineral additive consisting of crystalline carbon (e.g. a modified graphite). Other additives in particle form, for example metal particles or ceramic particles (for example boron nitride particles), can also be embedded in a plastic matrix, with the degree of filling being such that the plastic is electrically insulating despite being added and has sufficient dielectric strength. The basic matrix of the plastic modified with additives can, for example, be a polymer, for example a thermoplastic material, for example polycarbonate.

Because the heat-conducting element is a good conductor of heat on the one hand, but has an electrically insulating effect on the other, the temperature sensor of the temperature monitoring device can be arranged spatially separate from the contact element, with the heat-conducting element conducting heat from the contact element via the heat-conducting element to the sensor device, so that the temperature monitoring device quickly Response behavior when heated at the contact element. Due to the spatial separation of the sensor device from the associated contact element and the electrical insulation via the heat-conducting element, clearances and creepage distances are maintained even when high voltages are applied to the contact element.

In the functional position, the heat-conducting element is preferably in direct contact with the associated contact element. Heat is thus absorbed at the contact element via the heat-conducting element and conducted to the sensor device of the temperature monitoring device. In order to enable simple assembly of the contact element on the housing part, the heat-conducting element can be adjusted between the pre-assembly position and the functional position, which makes it possible to mount the contact element on the housing part when the heat-conducting element is in the pre-assembly position, in order to move the heat-conducting element during or after the assembly of the contact element to bring the housing part into contact with the contact element and thus convert the heat-conducting element into the functional position. Because the heat-conducting element does not prevent the contact element from being mounted on the housing part in the pre-assembly position, the mounting of the contact element on the housing part can be facilitated.

In one embodiment, the heat-conducting element can be pivoted (tilted) or displaced relative to the housing part. For this purpose, the heat-conducting element can, for example, be pivotably supported on the housing part or be guided in a displaceable manner on the housing part, for example on a guide element formed on the housing part. The heat-conducting element is thus arranged on the housing part and can be moved in a defined manner relative to the housing part, in that the heat-conducting element can be adjusted between the pre-assembly position and the functional position relative to the housing part, in order to enable simple assembly of the contact element on the housing part when the heat-conducting element is in the pre-assembly position and in the functional position, a thermally conductive connection between the contact element and the tempera ture sensor of the temperature monitoring device.

In one embodiment, a sealing element is arranged on the contact element, which is used to seal a transition between the contact element and the housing part in a moisture-tight manner. The sealing element can be designed, for example, as a peripherally closed ring element that extends around a, for example, cylindrical contact body of the contact element. When the contact element is mounted, the sealing element lies between the contact body and the housing part, so that a transition between the contact body and the housing part is sealed via the sealing element and thus moisture, for example, cannot escape from the area of a mating face, via which the connector part can be connected to an associated mating connector part can reach the inside of the housing part.

Such a sealing element usually protrudes from the contact element in the form of a bead and, compared to a contact body of the contact element, has a radially enlarged diameter in order to ensure sealing contact with the housing part when the contact element is mounted. In particular, to enable assembly of the contact element with the sealing element arranged on it on the housing part, the heat-conducting element is in the pre-assembly position during assembly of the contact element, so that the sealing element can be moved past the heat-conducting element when the contact element is attached to the housing part. If the sealing element has passed the thermally conductive element along a mounting direction, the thermally conductive element can be moved into the functional position and thus brought into contact with the contact element, so that when the contact element is mounted, a thermally conductive connection is established between the contact element and the temperature sensor of the temperature monitoring device.

In addition or as an alternative to the sealing element, a (different) add-on element can be arranged on the contact element. Such an add-on element can, for example, be designed as a ring element and at least partially encompass the contact element on a cylindrical shaft section. Such an add-on element can, for example, perform a fixing function or a support function (for example as a stop element). Such an add-on element can, for example, also be configured by a sensor or the like arranged on the contact element. Such an add-on element can also be moved past the heat-conducting element in the pre-assembly position of the heat-conducting element when the contact element is arranged on the housing part. If the add-on element has passed the thermally conductive element along the assembly direction, the thermally conductive element can be moved into the functional position and thus brought into contact with the contact element, so that when the contact element is mounted, a thermally conductive connection is established between the contact element and the temperature sensor of the temperature monitoring device.

In one configuration, the assembly has a contact carrier on which the contact element is arranged and/or which fixes the contact element after assembly. For example, a plurality of contact elements can be arranged or fixed together on the contact carrier, so that an arrangement of contact elements is created via the contact carrier, which enables the contact elements to be mounted together on the housing part. The contact elements are held in a defined positional relationship to one another via the contact carrier and are mechanically firmly connected to one another.

The contact carrier can be configured to interact with the heat-conducting element when placed on the housing part, so that when the contact element is arranged on the housing part, the heat-conducting element is automatically transferred from the pre-assembly position to the functional position. The adjustment of the thermally conductive element to produce the thermally conductive connection thus takes place automatically when the contact element is attached to the housing part, so that during assembly the thermally conductive element is brought into contact with the contact element and is also brought closer to the temperature sensor for heat transfer.

In one configuration, an active element serves to interact with the heat-conducting element. The active element can be formed on the contact carrier or directly on the contact element and is designed such that when the contact element is arranged on the housing part, the active element acts on the heat-conducting element and moves it from the pre-assembly position into the functional position.

The active element can, for example, provide a force deflection. The contact element is attached to the housing part, for example, in a mounting direction, while the heat-conducting element is to be adjusted transversely to the mounting direction, for example by displacing the heat-conducting element transversely to the mounting direction or essentially tilting it transversely to the mounting direction to the housing part.

For force deflection, the active element can have, for example, a first ramp element that is designed to interact with a second ramp element of the heat-conducting element. The first ramp element and the second ramp element can, for example, each implement a ramp. It is also conceivable to form one of the ramp elements by a ramp and the other ramp element by a pin or the like, which runs onto the ramp when the active element and the heat-conducting element interact.

Due to the interaction between the active element and the heat-conducting element, the assembly of the contact element on the housing part is thus forcibly coupled with an adjustment of the heat-conducting element from the pre-assembly position into the functional position. When the contact element is attached to the housing part, the heat-conducting element is automatically transferred from the pre-assembly position to the functional position, so that the heat-conducting element is brought into contact with the contact element and a thermal connection is thus established between the contact element and the temperature sensor.

In one configuration, the temperature monitoring device has a carrier plate on which the temperature sensor is arranged. The support plate can be formed, for example, by a printed circuit board on which other electrical or electronic functional components, for example a control device for the connector part, are also arranged.

The carrier plate can be extended, for example, transversely to the mounting direction in which the contact element can be attached to the housing part, with the temperature sensor being arranged, for example, on a side of the carrier plate pointing in the mounting direction. For example, the support plate can be arranged on the housing part to the rear of a plug-in face of the connector part, with the temperature sensor being arranged on such a side of the support plate that the temperature sensor points towards the housing part. In the functional position, the heat-conducting element approaches the temperature sensor and is advantageously in contact with the temperature sensor, so that an advantageous thermal coupling to the temperature sensor is established.

However, the carrier plate can also be extended along the assembly direction.

In one configuration, the heat-conducting element has a contact section for surface-to-surface and/or form-fitting contact with the contact element. The heat conducting element comes into contact with the contact element with the contact section when the contact element is mounted on the housing part and the heat conducting element is in the functional position. On a side facing the contact element, the contact section can be shaped, for example, complementary to a contour of the contact element. For example, the contact section—with a cylindrical shape of the contact element—can be curved concavely, so that a planar contact with a, for example, cylindrical contact body of the contact element can be produced for advantageous heat transfer between the contact element and the heat-conducting element.

In one configuration, the heat-conducting element has a transfer section for transferring heat to the temperature sensor. The transmission section can, for example, extend at an angle, in particular at right angles, to the contact section, so that the heat-conducting element can be brought closer to the temperature sensor of the temperature monitoring device, which is arranged on a carrier plate, for example, when transferring from the pre-assembly position to the functional position.

In one embodiment, a plug-in connector part for plug-in connection with an associated mating plug-in connector part has an assembly of the type described above. A connector face can be formed on such a connector part, in the area of which one or more contact elements protrude, so that a mating connection for electrical contacting with the mating connector part can be established via the connector face.

A plurality of temperature monitoring devices can also be provided on such a connector part, it being possible, for example, for a separate temperature monitoring device to be provided on each contact element that is used to transmit large (load) currents. The temperature sensors of the temperature monitoring devices can be arranged on a common carrier plate, for example in the form of a printed circuit board, with each temperature sensor advantageously being assigned to exactly one contact element.

The connector part can be used, for example, as a charging plug or as a charging socket of a charging system for charging an electric vehicle. For this purpose, the connector part has contact elements which serve as load contacts for transmitting a charging current, for example in the form of a direct current or in the form of an alternating current. A temperature monitoring device is preferably arranged on such load contacts, with each contact element being assigned its own temperature monitoring device in an advantageous embodiment. The temperature monitoring device is connected to a control device, for example, so that the Temperature monitoring device recorded signals can be evaluated and used to control a charging current transmitted via the load contacts.

A temperature sensor of the type described here can, for example, be formed by a temperature-dependent resistor, for example a resistor with a positive temperature coefficient (so-called PTC resistors), whose resistance value increases with increasing temperature (also referred to as a PTC thermistor, which has good electrical conductivity and has a reduced electrical conductivity at higher temperatures). Such temperature sensors can, for example, also have a non-linear temperature characteristic and can be made of a ceramic material, for example (so-called ceramic PTC thermistors).

However, it is also possible, for example, to use an electrical resistor with a negative temperature coefficient (so-called NTC resistors) as the temperature sensor, the resistance value of which falls as the temperature rises.

Alternatively or additionally, temperature sensors formed by semiconductor components can also be used.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Elektrofahrzeugs mit einem Ladekabel und einer Ladestation zum Aufladen;
• 2 eine Ansicht eines Steckverbinderteils in Form eines Inlets auf Seiten eines Fahrzeugs;
• 3 eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Steckverbinderteils;
• 4A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der Montage eines Kontaktelements an einem Gehäuseteil;
• 4B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A-A gemäß 4A;
• 5A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der weiteren Montage des Kontaktelements an dem Gehäuseteil;
• 5B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie B-B gemäß 5A;
• 5C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt E gemäß 5B;
• 6A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der weiteren Montage des Kontaktelements an dem Gehäuseteil;
• 6B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie C-C gemäß 6A;
• 6C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt F gemäß 6B;
• 7A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei montiertem Kontaktelement;
• 7B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie D-D gemäß 7A;
• 8 eine Teilexplosionsansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels eines Steckverbinderteils;
• 9A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der Montage eines Kontaktelements;
• 9B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A-A gemäß 9A;
• 10A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der weiteren Montage;
• 10B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie B-B gemäß 10A;
• 10C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt C gemäß 10B;
• 11A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der weiteren Montage des Kontaktelements an dem Gehäuseteil;
• 11B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie D-D gemäß 11A;
• 11C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt E gemäß 11 B;
• 12A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei der weiteren Montage des Kontaktelements;
• 12B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie F-F gemäß 12A;
• 12C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt G gemäß 12B;
• 13A eine Draufsicht auf das Steckverbinderteil, bei montiertem Kontaktelement;
• 13B eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie H-H gemäß 13A;
• 13C eine vergrößerte Ansicht im Ausschnitt I gemäß 13B;
• 14A eine Schnittansicht durch ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines Steckverbinderteils, bei der Montage eines Kontaktelements;
• 14B eine ausschnittsweise vergrößerte Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß 14A;
• 15A die Schnittansicht gemäß 14A, bei weiterer Montage des Kontaktelements;
• 15B eine ausschnittsweise vergrößerte Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß 15A; und
• 16 eine Anordnung des Steckverbinderteils bei montiertem Kontaktelement.

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of an electric vehicle with a charging cable and a charging station for charging;
• 2 a view of a connector part in the form of an inlet on the side of a vehicle;
• 3 a view of an embodiment of a connector part;
• 4A a plan view of the connector part, during the assembly of a contact element on a housing part;
• 4B a sectional view along the line AA according to FIG 4A ;
• 5A a plan view of the connector part, during further assembly of the contact element on the housing part;
• 5B a sectional view along the line BB according to FIG 5A ;
• 5C an enlarged view of detail E according to 5B ;
• 6A a plan view of the connector part, during further assembly of the contact element on the housing part;
• 6B a sectional view along the line CC according to FIG 6A ;
• 6C an enlarged view of section F according to FIG 6B ;
• 7A a plan view of the connector part, with the contact element mounted;
• 7B a sectional view along the line DD according to FIG 7A ;
• 8th a partially exploded view of another embodiment of a connector part;
• 9A a plan view of the connector part, during the assembly of a contact element;
• 9B a sectional view along the line AA according to FIG 9A ;
• 10A a plan view of the connector part, in the further assembly;
• 10B a sectional view along the line BB according to FIG 10A ;
• 10C an enlarged view of section C according to FIG 10B ;
• 11A a plan view of the connector part, during further assembly of the contact element on the housing part;
• 11B a sectional view along the line DD according to FIG 11A ;
• 11C an enlarged view of detail E according to 11b ;
• 12A a plan view of the connector part, in the further assembly of the contact element;
• 12B a sectional view along the line FF according to FIG 12A ;
• 12C an enlarged view of section G according to FIG 12B ;
• 13A a plan view of the connector part, with the contact element mounted;
• 13B a sectional view along the line HH according to FIG 13A ;
• 13C an enlarged view in detail I according to 13B ;
• 14A a sectional view through a further embodiment of a connector part, during the assembly of a contact element;
• 14B an enlarged view of a detail of the arrangement according to FIG 14A ;
• 15A the sectional view according to 14A , with further assembly of the contact element;
• 15B an enlarged view of a detail of the arrangement according to FIG 15A ; and
• 16 an arrangement of the connector part with the contact element mounted.

1 shows a vehicle 1 in the form of a vehicle driven by an electric motor (also referred to as an electric vehicle) in a schematic view. The electric vehicle 1 has electrically chargeable batteries, via which an electric motor for moving the vehicle 1 can be supplied with electricity.

In order to charge the batteries of the vehicle 1 , the vehicle 1 can be connected to a charging station 2 via a charging cable 3 . For this purpose, the charging cable 3 can be plugged with a charging plug 30 at one end into an associated mating connector part 4 in the form of a charging socket of the vehicle 1 and is connected at its other end via another charging plug 31 with a connector part 4 in the form of a charging socket on the charging station 2 electrical connection. Charging currents with a comparatively high current intensity are transmitted to the vehicle 1 via the charging cable 3 .

The connector part 4 on the vehicle 1 side and the connector part 4 on the charging station 2 side can differ. It is also possible to arrange the charging cable 3 firmly on the charging station 2 (without connector part 4).

2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a connector part 4 in the form of a charging socket, for example on the side of a vehicle (also referred to as a vehicle inlet), which can be plugged into an associated mating connector part 30 in the form of a charging plug on a charging cable 3, in order to connect the electric vehicle 1 to the charging station 2 to connect to the charging system. The connector part 4 has a housing part 40 on which plug-in sections 400, 401 are formed, with which the connector part 30 can be plugged along a plug-in direction E. Plug-in openings are formed on the plug-in sections 400, 401, in which contact elements 41, 42 are arranged, via which an electrical connection to the associated mating connector part 30 can be established in the event of a plug-in connection.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, contact elements 41 are arranged on a first, upper plug-in section 400, via which, for example, a charging current in the form of an alternating current can be transmitted. In addition, contact elements can be present via which control signals can be transmitted.

In contrast, two contact elements 42 are arranged on a second, lower plug-in section 401, via which a charging current can be transmitted in the form of a direct current. The contact elements 42 are connected to load lines 43 via which the charging current is conducted.

During operation, the contact elements 41, 42 heat up when a charging current is transmitted, with high currents being able to flow in particular via the contact elements 42 for transmitting a charging current in the form of a direct current, for example up to 500 A or even more. In order to rule out excessive heating at the connector part 4 and, if necessary, to initiate measures to counteract excessive heating, a temperature rise at the contact elements 42 is to be monitored.

at a in 3 until 7A , 7B In the illustrated embodiment of a connector part 4 in the form of a charging socket, which can be attached, for example, to the side of an electric vehicle, a plug-in section 401 is formed on a housing part 40, within which contact elements 42 are to be arranged for transmitting a charging current in the form of a direct current. In the mounted position, the contact elements 42 each protrude with a contact body 421, which forms a contact opening 422 for receiving a mating contact in the form of a contact pin, into the area of the plug-in section 401, so that a mating connector part can be plugged into the plug-in connector part 4 along a plug-in direction E .

In the illustrated embodiment, two contact elements 42 in the form of load contacts are arranged on a contact carrier 44 and are mechanically fixed in receiving openings 440 of the contact carrier 44, so that the contact elements 42 are mounted together on the housing part 40 by connecting the contact carrier 44 to the housing part 40 be able. The contact carrier 44, like the housing part 40, is made of an electrically insulating material and carries the contact elements 42 in a mechanically fixed manner, so that the contact elements 42 are fixed in the correct position on the housing part 40 via the contact carrier 44 when the connector part 4 is mounted.

As per the sequence 4A , 4B towards 7A , 7B As can be seen, the contact carrier 44 is to be attached to the housing part 40 for the assembly of the connector part 4 in an assembly direction M with contact elements 42 arranged thereon. In this case, the contact elements 42 are inserted into plug-in domes formed on the plug-in section 401 plugged in and, with the connector part 4 ( 7A , 7B) such a position in the plug-in section 401 that a mating connector part can be plugged into the plug-in connector part 4 along the plug-in direction E.

In the embodiment according to 3 until 7A , 7B each contact element 42 realizing a load contact is assigned a temperature monitoring device 5, which comprises a temperature sensor 52 arranged on a carrier plate 50 in the form of a printed circuit board. The temperature sensors 52 assigned to the contact elements 42 can be used to record and detect heating of the contact elements 42 in order to take countermeasures if necessary in the event of excessive heating of one or both of the contact elements 42, for example by modifying a charging current or a charging process is interrupted.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the temperature sensors 52 of the temperature monitoring devices 5 assigned to the individual contact elements 42 are arranged on a common carrier plate 50 in the form of a printed circuit board. As this is shown in the enlarged view 6C As can be seen, the temperature sensors 52 are arranged on a side 500 of the printed circuit board 50 which faces the housing part 40 and points in the mounting direction M.

In order to thermally connect the temperature sensor 52 to the associated contact element 42, a heat-conducting element 51 is provided, which is arranged on the housing part 40 and, when the contact element 42 is mounted, rests flat against the contact body 421 with a contact section 512 and also with a transmission section 513 against the temperature sensor 52 is approximated such that heat is conducted from the contact element 42 towards the temperature sensor 52 and can be absorbed at the temperature sensor 42 . The contact section 512 and the transmission section 513 form a right angle to one another. The contact section 512 is concavely curved in accordance with the cylindrical shape of the contact body 421, so that the contact section 512 can lie flat against the contact body 421.

Each contact element 42 has a contact body 421 with an essentially cylindrical shape, to which a connection end 420 for connecting an electrical load line to the contact element 42 is connected at an end remote from the plug-in section 401 . A sealing element 45 in the form of a peripherally closed O-ring is arranged on the contact body 421, which seals a transition between the contact element 42 and the housing part 40 and, when the connector part 4 is mounted, in sealing contact with a sealing surface 402 (see Fig . 6C ) of the housing part 40 is.

The sealing element 45 is like this, for example 4B and 5B as can be seen, radially opposite the contact body 421 in order to seal a transition between the contact element 42 and the housing part 40 in a moisture-tight manner when the contact element 42 is mounted. In order to facilitate the assembly of the contact element 42 on the housing part 40 and in particular to be able to move the sealing element 45 past the heat-conducting element 51, the heat-conducting element 51 is arranged adjustably on the housing part 40 so that the heat-conducting element 51 before and during the assembly of the contact element 42 Can assume pre-assembly position with respect to the contact body 421 set back contact section 512.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the heat-conducting element 51 is supported on the housing part 40 such that it can be tilted about a pivot point 510, as is shown, for example, in FIG 6C is evident. In the pre-assembly position, the contact section 512 is tilted relative to the contact body 421 and is therefore not in contact with the contact body 421 when the contact element 42 is placed on the housing part 40 . The transmission section 513 is remote from the temperature sensor 52 .

The heat-conducting element 51 has a support element 511 in the form of a ramp, which interacts with an active element 46 when the contact carrier 44 with the contact elements 42 arranged thereon is attached to the housing part 40 . The active element 46 forms a ramp element 460 in the form of a ramp which, when the contact carrier 44 is attached to the housing part 40, runs onto the support element 511 in the form of the ramp on the heat-conducting element 51, as shown in FIG 6C can be seen, thereby tilting the heat-conducting element 51 in an adjustment direction V to the housing part 40 and bringing it into a functional position for establishing a thermal connection between the contact element 42 and the temperature sensor 52 .

By tilting the heat-conducting element 51, the contact section 512 comes into planar contact with the contact body 421, so that the heat-conducting element 51 is thermally connected to the contact element 42. When the heat conducting element 51 is tilted, the transmission section 513 also approaches the temperature sensor 52 and comes into contact with the temperature sensor 52, for example, so that a thermal connection is established between the contact element 42 and the temperature sensor 52.

The tilting of the thermally conductive element 51 takes place automatically when the contact carrier 44 with the contact elements 42 arranged thereon is mounted on the housing part 40. During assembly, the sealing element 45 first reaches after it has been moved past the contact section 512 of the thermally conductive element 51 (see 5C ), in abutment with the associated sealing surface 402 on the housing part 40, as shown 6C is evident. When moving the contact carrier 44 in the fully assembled position according to 7A , 7B the active element 46 with the ramp element 460 formed on it runs in the form of the ramp on the support element 511 in the form of the ramp on the heat conducting element 51 and thereby adjusts the heat conducting element 51 so that it comes into contact with the contact element 42. When the contact carrier 44 is mounted, the thermal connection between the contact element 42 and the temperature sensor 52 is established, so that the temperature of the contact element 42 can be monitored during operation of the connector part 4 .

While in the embodiment according to 3 until 7A , 7B the heat-conducting element 51 is arranged on the housing part 40 such that it can be tilted, at an in 8th until 13A-13C illustrated embodiment, a heat conducting element 51 is arranged displaceably on a housing part 40 of a connector part 4.

The housing part 40 of the embodiment according to 8th until 13A-13C has plug-in sections 400, 401, on each of which contact elements can be arranged, contact elements 42 in the form of load contacts, for example for transmitting a charging current, being arranged on the plug-in section 401. Each contact element 42 forming a load contact has a substantially cylindrical contact body 421, which is designed as a contact pin and protrudes into the associated plug-in section 401 in the assembled position, so that an electrical connection to an associated mating contact of a mating connector part can be established. A connection end 420 for connecting an electrical load line to the contact element 42 is arranged on an end remote from the plug-in section 101 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, two contact elements 42 are to be mounted in the plug-in section 401 , which are arranged together on a contact carrier 44 and for this purpose are accommodated in receiving openings 440 on the contact carrier 44 .

Each contact element 42 is assigned a temperature monitoring device 5 each with a temperature sensor 52 arranged on a carrier plate 50 in the form of a printed circuit board, so that heating at the contact elements 42 can be monitored.

Each temperature monitoring device 5 has a heat-conducting element 51 which, in the installed position ( 13A-13C ) is in contact with the contact body 421 of the contact element 42 and establishes a thermal connection with the associated temperature sensor 52 . The heat-conducting element 51 has a concavely curved contact section 512 which faces the contact element 42 and is in contact with the contact body 421 of the contact element 42 in the installed position. A transmission section 513 arranged at right angles to the contact section 512 is located in the region of the temperature sensor 52 and is used for heat conduction to the temperature sensor 52, as shown in FIG 10C is evident.

In the embodiment according to 8th until 13A-13C the heat conducting element 51 is arranged displaceably on the housing part 40 along an adjustment direction V, which is directed transversely to the assembly direction M. For this purpose, the heat-conducting element 51 is accommodated in an associated guide element 53 which is formed on the housing part 40 and forms slot openings 530 in which web elements 514, which protrude laterally from the heat-conducting element 51, lie, as is shown, for example, in FIG 8th in synopsis with 10C and 11C is evident.

In a pre-assembly position before and during assembly of the contact carrier 44 with the contact elements 42 arranged on it on the housing part 40, each heat-conducting element 51 is set back counter to the adjustment direction V, so that each contact element 42 has a sealing element 45 arranged on the contact body 421 on the respectively assigned contact section 512 can be moved past, as in the transition from 9A , 9B towards 11A-11C is evident.

When the contact element 42 is attached to the housing part 40, the sealing element 45 runs onto a (conical) ramp 403 and then onto an associated cylindrical sealing surface 402 on the housing part 40, as can be seen in particular from the enlarged view according to FIG 11C is evident. Active elements 46 formed on the contact carrier 44 slide along the web elements 514 and arrive as shown in FIG 12A-12C in transition towards 13A-13C can be seen, with ramp elements 460 in the form of ramps in contact with ramp elements 511 in the form of ramps on the web elements 514, so that the ramp elements 460, 511 running on each other result in a force deflection on the web elements 514 and the heat conducting element 51 in the adjustment direction V with the contact section 512 in contact with the associated contact element 42 is pressed.

In the mounted position, the thermally conductive element 51 is in a functional position in which the contact section 512 is in contact with the associated contact element 42 and a thermally conductive connection is thereby established between the contact element 42 and the associated temperature sensor 52 .

14A , 14B until 16 show yet another embodiment of a connector part 4, which largely according to the embodiment 3 until 7A , 7B is equivalent to. In particular, the sectional view according to FIG 14A largely according to the sectional view 4B , the sectional view according to 15A largely according to the sectional view 5B and the sectional view according to FIG 16 largely according to the sectional view 7B .

In contrast to the embodiment according to 3 until 7A , 7B is in accordance with the embodiment 14A , 14B until 16 on the contact body 421 of the contact element 42, in addition to the sealing element 45, a further add-on element 47 is arranged, which can be designed, for example, as a ring element and extends circumferentially around a cylindrical shaft section of the contact body 421. The additional add-on element 47 can, for example, perform a fixing function or a support function, for example in the sense of a stop element or the like, for example to support and/or fix the contact body 421 in the mounted position relative to the housing part 40 of the connector part 4 .

When mounting the contact element 42 on the housing part 40, the add-on element 47 can be moved past the heat-conducting element 51 of the temperature monitoring device 5 in the same way as the sealing element 45, so that the heat-conducting element 51, viewed along the mounting direction M, with its contact section 512 beyond the add-on element 47 on the Contact body 421 comes to rest, as from the sequence of 14A , 14B up to the mounted position according to 16 is evident.

In the pre-assembly position, the heat-conducting element 51 is in a pivoted position, shown in 14A , 14B and 15A , 15B , So that the contact section 512 is spaced from the contact body 421 and assumes such a radial position that the sealing element 45 and the attachment element 47 can be moved past the contact section 512 . Once the sealing element 45 and the add-on element 47 have passed the contact section 512, the heat-conducting element 51 interacts with the active element 47 on the contact carrier 44, in that the active element 46 runs onto the heat-conducting element 51 with a run-on element 460 in the form of a run-up slope, causing the latter to rotate around the pivot point 510 is pivoted so that the contact section 512 is pressed into contact with the contact body 421 .

In the assembled position shown in 16 , the abutment section 512 bears against the contact body 421 in order to produce a thermally conductive connection.

Apart from the add-on element 47, the embodiment according to 14A , 14B until 16 functionally identical to the embodiment according to 3 until 7A , 7B , so that reference should also be made to the previous statements.

The heat conducting elements 51 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG 3 until 7A , 7B , according to 8th until 13A-13C and according to 14A , 14B until 16 are preferably made of an electrically insulating but highly thermally conductive material. A thermal connection between the respective contact element 42 and the associated temperature sensor 52 is thus established via the heat-conducting elements 51, with electrically voltage-resistant insulation.

Because the heat-conducting element 51 is adjustably arranged on the housing part 40, this results in simple assembly, with the heat-conducting connection being established automatically when the contact element 42 is mounted.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in a completely different manner.

A connector part of the type described here can advantageously be used in a charging system for charging an electric vehicle. The connector part can be a charging socket (as in the illustrated embodiment) or a charging plug.

However, another use is also conceivable. In principle, a connector part of the type described can be used wherever temperature monitoring, for example on contact elements, is desirable.

Reference List

1

vehicle

2

charging station

3

charging cable

30, 31

charging plug

4

connector part

40

housing part

400, 401

mating section

402

sealing surface

403

ramp

41

contact element

42

contact element

420

connection end

421

contact body

422

contact opening

43

load lines

44

contact carrier

440

intake opening

45

sealing element

46

active element

460

casserole element

47

add-on element

5

temperature monitoring device

50

carrier board (printed circuit board)

500

side

51

heat conducting element

510

pivot point

511

casserole element

512

investment section

513

transfer section

514

bar element

52

temperature sensor

53

guide element

530

slot opening

E

mating direction

M

mounting direction

V

adjustment direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2605339 A1 [0005]
• GB 2489988A [0006]
• US 6210036 B1 [0007]
• US8325454B2 [0008]
• DE 102015106251 A1 [0011]
• WO 2016/169940 A1 [0012]

Claims (15)

Assembly of a connector part (4) for plugging connection with an associated mating connector part (30, 31), with a housing part (40), an electrical contact element (42) to be arranged on the housing part (40) and a temperature monitoring device (5), which has a temperature sensor (52) for monitoring a temperature on the electrical contact element (42), characterized in that the temperature monitoring device (5) has a heat-conducting element (51) which can be adjusted between a pre-assembly position and a functional position in relation to the housing part (40), the Heat conducting element (51) is designed to enable the contact element (42) to be arranged on the housing part (40) in the pre-assembly position and to produce a heat conducting connection between the contact element (42) and the temperature sensor (52) in the functional position. assembly claim 1 , characterized in that the heat conducting element (51) to the housing part (40) is pivotable or displaceable. assembly claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the heat conducting element (51) is tiltably supported on the housing part (40) or displaceably guided on a guide element (53) formed on the housing part (40). Assembly according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized by a sealing element (45) arranged on the contact element (42) for moisture-tight sealing of a transition between the contact element (42) and the housing part (40) and/or an attachment element (47) arranged on the contact element (42), wherein the The sealing element (45) and/or the add-on element (47) can be moved past the heat-conducting element (51) in the pre-assembly position of the heat-conducting element (51) when the contact element (42) is arranged on the housing part (40). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a contact carrier (44) on which the contact element (42) is arranged and which is to be attached to the housing part (40) in order to mount the contact element (42), the contact carrier (44) being formed to interact with the arrangement of the contact element (42) on the housing part (40) with the heat-conducting element (51). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an active element (46) which is designed to interact with the heat-conducting element (51) in order to convert the heat-conducting element (51) from the pre-assembly position into the functional position. assembly claim 6 , characterized in that the active element (46) has a first ramp element (460) and the heat-conducting element (51) has a second ramp element (511), the first ramp element (460) and the second ramp element (511) running onto one another and thereby the heat-conducting element (51) from the pre-assembly position to the functional position. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature monitoring device (5) has a carrier plate (50) on which the temperature sensor (52) is arranged. assembly claim 8 , characterized in that the carrier plate (50) is transverse to a mounting direction (M) in which the contact element (42) can be attached to the housing part (40) extends. assembly claim 9 , characterized in that the temperature sensor (52) is arranged on a side (500) of the carrier plate (50) pointing in the mounting direction (M). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-conducting element (51) has a contact section (512) for surface contact with the contact element (42). assembly claim 11 , characterized in that the abutment portion (512) on a contact element (42) side facing complementary to a contour of the contact element (42) is shaped. assembly claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the heat conducting element (51) has a transmission section (513) for transmitting heat to the temperature sensor (52). assembly Claim 13 , characterized in that the transmission section (513) extends at a right angle to the abutment section (512). Connector part (4) for plugging connection to an associated mating connector part (30, 31), wherein the connector part (4) has an assembly according to one of the preceding claims.

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