Electric vehicle battery rapid charging connector
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle rapid charging connector, comprising:
- (a) a connector plug having a body, said body having a first end and an opposite second end;
(b) means for attaching an electrical cable at said first end of said body, said electrical cable including a plurality of electrical conductors therein;
(c) means for providing a plurality of sockets at said second end of said body, at least two of said plurality of sockets adapted for recharging a battery of said electric vehicle; and
(d) means for providing at least one cavity in said body and including means for determining a temperature of said connector and wherein said means for determining a temperature is adapted to affect a current that is flowing through at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors subsequent to said temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold amount; and
wherein said cavity is adapted to receive a module and wherein said module includes at least one indicator light, said at least one indicator light attached to at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for connection of a rapid charging system to an electric vehicle includes a connector plug that is attached to an electrical cable at one end that is, in turn, connected to a charging system at the remaining end of the cable. The connector plug is adapted to fit into a mating receptacle that is attached to the electric vehicle. A pair of cavities in the connector plug are adapted to receive any combination of modules that include switches, lights, or blank filler plugs. The connector plug is preferably molded from rubber. Various contacts are described having high current, or signal, or pilot functions and which mate with various length pins in the mating receptacle so as to sequence the order in which electrical conductivity is attained. Temperature sensing of the connector and shutdown subsequent to an over-temperature condition is described and allows for the use of smaller sized electrical connectors.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle rapid charging connector, comprising:
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(a) a connector plug having a body, said body having a first end and an opposite second end;
(b) means for attaching an electrical cable at said first end of said body, said electrical cable including a plurality of electrical conductors therein;
(c) means for providing a plurality of sockets at said second end of said body, at least two of said plurality of sockets adapted for recharging a battery of said electric vehicle; and
(d) means for providing at least one cavity in said body and including means for determining a temperature of said connector and wherein said means for determining a temperature is adapted to affect a current that is flowing through at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors subsequent to said temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold amount; and
wherein said cavity is adapted to receive a module and wherein said module includes at least one indicator light, said at least one indicator light attached to at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electric vehicle rapid charging connector, comprising:
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(a) a connector plug having a body, said body having a first end and an opposite second end;
(b) means for attaching an electrical cable at said first end of said body, said electrical cable including a plurality of electrical conductors therein;
(c) means for providing a plurality of sockets at said second end of said body, at least two of said plurality of sockets adapted for recharging a battery of said electric vehicle; and
(d) means for determining a temperature in said body and wherein said means for determining a temperature is adapted to affect a current that is flowing through at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors subsequent to said temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold amount; and
wherein said means for determining a temperature in said body is adapted to supply a signal through said electrical cable, said signal being representative of said temperature in said body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electric vehicle rapid charging connector, comprising:
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(a) a connector plug having a body, said body having a first end and an opposite second end;
(b) means for attaching an electrical cable at said first end of said body, said electrical cable including a plurality of electrical conductors therein;
(c) means for providing a plurality of sockets at said second end of said body, at least two of said plurality of sockets adapted for recharging a battery of said electric vehicle; and
(d) means for providing at least one cavity in said body and including means for determining a temperature of said connector and wherein said means for determining a temperature is adapted to affect a current that is flowing through at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors subsequent to said temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold amount; and
wherein said cavity is adapted to receive a module and wherein said module includes at least one switch, said at least one switch attached to at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors.
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Specification