Concentric connector for electric vehicles

• US 8,288,986 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Charging Systems, Inc. (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Flack, Albert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes-Vivour, Temilade S
• Application Number:
  US12/387,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/302 Cooling of charging equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical connection system including a triaxial socket and a triaxial plug, each having three concentric contacts—an inner, an intermediate and an outer contact. In the process of connecting, the outer contacts connect first, the inner contacts connect second, and the intermediate contacts connect third. All contacts except the plug inner contact are connected to an insulator that covers one radial side of the contact, and extends past and over the end of the contact. Two of the insulators isolate the inner contacts from the intermediate contacts prior to either of their connections being made.

Claims

1. An electrical connection system, comprising:

a socket extending longitudinally from a proximal socket end to a distal socket end, and including an inner socket-protrusion defining a longitudinally extending inner socket-aperture, an intermediate socket-protrusion concentrically extending around the inner socket-protrusion to form an intermediate socket-aperture therebetween, and an outer socket-protrusion concentrically extending around the intermediate socket-protrusion to form an outer socket-aperture therebetween, wherein each socket-aperture has an open distal end and an inward-facing electrical conductor that extends to a respective conductor-distance from the proximal end of the socket; and

a plug extending longitudinally from a proximal plug end to a distal plug end, and including an inner plug-protrusion, an intermediate plug-protrusion concentrically extending around the inner plug-protrusion, and an outer plug-protrusion concentrically extending around the intermediate plug-protrusion, each plug-protrusion being configured with an outward-facing electrical conductor that extends a respective conductor-distance from the proximal end of the plug and is configured to be conformingly received within the respective socket-aperture by the inward-facing conductor of the respective socket-protrusion;

wherein the sum of the conductor-distances of the outer plug-protrusion and the outer socket-protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion;

wherein the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the intermediate plug-protrusion and the intermediate socket-protrusion;

wherein each socket-protrusion has an outward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the socket that is larger than the respective conductor-distance of that socket-protrusion;

wherein the intermediate and outer plug-protrusions each have an inward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the plug that is larger than the respective conductor-distance of that plug-protrusion; and

wherein each insulator extends radially to form an end-cap that covers the distal end of its respective socket-conductor.

2. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein:

the inner socket-protrusion has an outward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the socket;

the intermediate plug-protrusion has an inward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the plug; and

the sum of the insulator-distances of the inner socket-protrusion and the intermediate plug protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion.

3. The electrical connection system of claim 1, wherein the socket and plug are each configured with proximal orifices forming a passageway through their respective inner apertures for passing a coolant.

4. An electrical connection system, comprising:

a socket extending longitudinally from a proximal socket end to a distal socket end, and including an inner socket-protrusion defining a longitudinally extending inner socket-aperture, an intermediate socket-protrusion concentrically extending around the inner socket-protrusion to form an intermediate socket-aperture therebetween, and an outer socket-protrusion concentrically extending around the intermediate socket-protrusion to form an outer socket-aperture therebetween, wherein each socket-aperture has an open distal end and an inward-facing electrical conductor that extends to a respective conductor-distance from the proximal end of the socket; and

a plug extending longitudinally from a proximal plug end to a distal plug end, and including an inner plug-protrusion, an intermediate plug-protrusion concentrically extending around the inner plug-protrusion, and an outer plug-protrusion concentrically extending around the intermediate plug-protrusion, each plug-protrusion being configured with an outward-facing electrical conductor that extends a respective conductor-distance from the proximal end of the plug and is configured to be conformingly received within the respective socket-aperture by the inward-facing conductor of the respective socket-protrusion;

wherein the sum of the conductor-distances of the outer plug-protrusion and the outer socket-protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion;

wherein the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the intermediate plug-protrusion and the intermediate socket-protrusion;

wherein each socket-protrusion has an outward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the socket that is larger than the respective conductor-distance of that socket-protrusion;

wherein the intermediate and outer plug-protrusions each have an inward-facing electrical insulator that extends to an insulator-distance from the proximal end of the plug that is larger than the respective conductor-distance of that plug-protrusion;

wherein each insulator extends radially to form an end-cap that covers the distal end of its respective socket-conductor;

wherein the sum of the insulator-distances of the inner socket-protrusion and the intermediate plug protrusion is larger than the sum of the conductor-distances of the inner plug-protrusion and the inner socket-protrusion;

wherein the station electrical connector includes a sensor to sense full engagement of the station electrical connector with the device electrical connector; and

wherein the socket and plug are each configured with proximal orifices forming a passageway through their respective inner apertures for passing a coolant.