NO20161464A1

NO20161464A1 - Electrical connector, arrangement and method

Info

Publication number: NO20161464A1
Application number: NO20161464A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Severin Gjerde
Original assignee: Sevi Blue Power As
Priority date: 2016-09-15
Filing date: 2016-09-15
Publication date: 2017-06-26
Also published as: NO340823B1

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, a connector arrangement, and a method of distributing electric energy.

BACKGROUND

Connectors for supplying electrical power are widely used in a variety of applications, for example for charging electric vehicles, for battery charging or general port-based electric power supply (cold ironing) to ships and vessels, in household appliances, in microcontrollers or microelectronics, etc. Depending on the application, it is desirable for such connectors to satisfy one or more of the requirements: providing a high transmission capacity (i.e. is capable of transferring high power relative to its size), ensuring a safe and secure connection with low risk of inadvertent disconnect, håving minimal friction and wear during connection or disconnection (particularly for connectors which are subjected to frequent connection and disconnection cycles), etc.

The present invention has the objective to provide a connector, connector arrangement and a method håving advantages over known solutions and techniques in the above and other areas.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, there is provided an electrical connector håving a male part and a female part, the male part håving at least one electrically conducting pin, the female part håving at least one slot, each slot configured to receive one of the at least one pin and håving an electrically conducting element, the electrically conducting element håving a contact area arranged facing an inside of the slot, the female part further comprising a force transmission unit connected to the electrically conducting element and configured to push the contact area against a surface area on the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the female part comprises a non-conducting element arranged between the electrically conducting element and the force transmission unit.

In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element is fixed to the non-conducting element.

In an embodiment, the force transmission unit is configured to exert a force on the electrically conducting element in a direction normal to the surface of the contact area and/or in a direction normal to a tangent plane of the contact area.

In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element has a flexible or articulated end portion connected to a first electrical distribution system.

In an embodiment, the electrical connector has a second electrically conducting element håving a second contact area, where the second contact area is arranged facing an inside of the slot, the female part further comprising a second force transmission unit connected to the second electrically conducting element and configured to push the second contact area against the surface area on the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the surface area and the second surface area are arranged on different sides of the pin.

In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element is movable and has a first operational position in which the electrically conducting element is spaced from the pin when the pin is received in the slot and a second operational position in which the electrically conducting element is in contact with the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the second electrically conducting element is movable and has a first operational position in which the second electrically conducting element is spaced from the pin when the pin is received in the slot and a second operational position in which the second electrically conducting element is in contact with the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the position of the second electrically conducting element is fixed in relation to the slot.

In an embodiment, the female part has a housing, the electrically conducting element being arranged to be movable within the housing, and the force transmission unit is connected to the housing and to the electrically conducting element.

In an embodiment, the female part further comprises a guide element configured to guide the electrically conducting pin into the slot.

In an embodiment, there is provided a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to any of the embodiments described above, wherein the male part is arranged on a movable arm connected to a stationary base and the female part is arranged on a vehicle or a vessel.

In an embodiment, the connector arrangement has a first operational configuration wherein the movable arm is configured to move the male part into engagement with the female part, and a second operational configuration wherein the male part is held in engagement with the female part by the electrical connector and the movable arm is put in an idle operational state.

In an embodiment, there is provided a method of distributing electric energy, the method comprising the steps: providing a connector arrangement according to one of the embodiments described above, operating the movable arm to bring the male part into engagement with the female part, operating the electrical connector to hold the male part in engagement with the female part, putting the movable arm in an idle operational state.

In an embodiment, the method is used provide electric energy to a vehicle or a vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figures 1-7 illustrate embodiments of an electrical connector.

Figures 8-10 illustrate embodiments of a connector arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1-7 illustrate an electrical connector according to an embodiment. Shown in Fig. 1, the electrical connector has a male part 1 and a female part 2. The male part 1 has three electrically conducting pins 3a-c. The female part 2 has three slots 4a-c configured to receive the pins 3a-c. As will be described in more detail in relation to Fig. 5-7, each slot 4a-c has an electrically conducting element 5 arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c. Each electrically conducting element 5 has a contact area 7a-c, where the contact area 7a-c is arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c such as to allow it to be brought in contact with a respective pin 3a-c when the pin 3a-c is received in the slot.

As also shown in Fig. 2, the female part 2 further comprises a set of force transmission units, in the embodiment shown three actuators 6a-c configured to exert a force on each electrically conducting element 5 such as to push the contact area 7a-c against a corresponding surface area 8a-c on the pin 3a-c. The force transmission units may be hydraulic actuators, electromagnetic actuators, or any other unit capable of producing a suitable force. In the embodiment shown, the force transmission units are controllable electromagnetic linear actuators. The actuators may be automatically or manually controlled, for example via a proximity sensor which registers the pins 3a-c being received in the slots 4a-c, by an external control system providing a signal to activate the actuators, or by a manual signal from an operator to do so.

The female part 2 further has a housing 2' and the electrically conducting

element 5 is arranged in a movable manner within the housing 2'. The actuators 6a-c are connected to the housing 2' and to the electrically conducting element 5 such as to allow the relevant actuator 6a-c to move the electrically conducting element 5. The actuators 6a-c may be fixed substantially on the outside of the housing 2' on a support element 60, as illustrated in Figs 1a and 2, and håving a rod or pin extending through the housing 2' and into the female part 2 to connect the actuator to the electrically conducting element 5. Figure 4 illustrates the actuators 6a-c and the associated components without the housing 2'.

Each electrically conducting element 5 is movable and has a first operational position in which it is spaced from the respective pin 3a-c (see Fig. 5) and a second operational position in which it is in contact with the pin 3a-c (see Fig. 6). The actuators 6a-c move the electrically conducting element 5 between the first operational position and the second operational position. (The force from the actuators illustrated by arrow F in Fig. 5.) This allows the pins 3a-c to be inserted into the female part 2 without engaging the electrically conducting elements 5, thereby eliminating any friction during the insertion, or wear on the components.

A non-conducting element 9 is arranged between the conducting element 5 and the respective actuator 6a-c. A part of the electrically conducting element 5 is fixed to the non-conducting element 9. The conducting element 5 may be formed as a plate structure fixed to a surface of the non-conducting element 9.

In the embodiment shown, the contact areas 7a-c are formed as flat surfaces and the surface areas 8a-c on the pins 3a-c are equivalently formed as flat surfaces. When operating the actuators, the actuator force will press each contact area 7a-c against a corresponding surface area 8a-c, thereby ensuring good electrical contact and also locking the pins 3a-c in the slots 4a-c by means of friction. The actuator force acts in a direction which is parallel to a normal vector of the flat surface of the contact area 7a-c, or at least in a direction such as to produce a force component which acts in that direction.

Alternatively, the contact areas 7a-c may be formed as non-flat surfaces, such as a curved surface or a serrated or angled surface. The corresponding surface area 8a-c on the pins 3a-c may be formed in a corresponding design such as to allow engagement with the contact areas 7a-c and good contact between the surfaces. In this case, the actuator force may be arranged to act in a direction which is normal to a part of the contact area 7a-c surface, or act in a direction normal to a tangent plane of the contact area 7a-c (for example in the case of a curved surface).

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the electrically conducting element 5 has a flexible end portion 5a which is connected to a first electrical distribution system 10. The end portion 5a may be made of a flexible material, comprise an articulated link, or the like. This allows some movement of the electrically conducting element 5 when being moved between the first operational position and the second operational position. The first electrical distribution system 10 may be, for example, a distribution system on a vessel which permits charging of onboard batteries or general electrical supply to the ship's machines and accessories. The electrical power can be supplied from an electric grid 11, which may be shore-based.

As is most clearly visible in Figs 5 and 6, the electrical connector may also have a second electrically conducting element 5' håving a second contact area, where the second contact area is arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c, similarly as described above. The female part 2 may in such a case comprise second actuators 6d-f (see Fig 4) configured to exert a force on the second electrically conducting element 5' such as to push the second contact area against a second surface area 8a' on the pin 3a-c. The surface area 8a-c and the second surface area 8a' are arranged on different sides, in this embodiment opposite sides, of the pin 3a-c. This configuration improves the locking functionality of the connector.

Alternatively, the second electrically conducting element 5' may be fixed in relation to the housing 2. In such a case, the upper set of actuators 6a-c may push the pins 3a-c against the second electrically conducting element 5' and hold the respective pin 3a-c locked between the electrically conducing element 5 and the second electrically conducting element 5' by means of friction force. Alternatively, the second electrically conducting element 5' may be movable and the electrically conducting element 5 may be fixed.

As can be best seen in Figs 2 and 3, the female part 2 further comprises a guide element 13 configured to guide the electrically conducting pins 3a-c into the slot 4a-c. Fig. 3 shows a cut of Fig. 2, as indicated, also showing the contact areas 7a-c.

Illustrated in Figs 8-10, in one embodiment, there is provided a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to any of the embodiments described above, and wherein the male part 1 is arranged on a movable arm 20 (in the figures illustrated in various different operational positions) and the female part 2 is arranged on a vehicle or a vessel 21. In the example shown, the vehicle or vessel 21 is a ship provided with electrical power for cold ironing or battery charging from a connector arrangement arranged on a quay 23.

The arm 20 may be a conventional jointed arm, which is, for example, hydraulically or electrically operated. The arm 20 may be arranged partly within, and connected to, a stationary base 22. The movable arm 20 is configured to move the male part 1 into engagement with the female part 2 when an electrical connection is required. The arm 20 may be manually or automatically controlled to achieve this. The connector arrangement according to this embodiment may obviate the need to maintain an active force from the arm 20 to hold the male part 1 in place in the female part 2 when connected, since the friction-based locking effect of the connector may be designed sufficiently large to keep the connector in place, also during relative movement between the vessel 21 and the base 22. This allows the arm 20 to be switched to a passive (or idle) mode once connected, thus not requiring any active control or energy consumption. For example, if using a hydraulic arm, the hydraulic valves can be opened to the low-pressure hydraulic system side such that the arm simply moves passively and follows the motion of the vessel 21.

In other embodiments, the electrical connector according to any one of the embodiments described above may be employed for transferring electric energy and/or electronic signals in an electric vehicle charger, in a household appliance, in a microcontroller or in a microelectronics system.

Embodiments described herein may thus achieve one or more of the following advantages: little or no friction when connecting, an evenly distributed and stable pressure between the contact surfaces of a male and a female connector prior to the voltage being switched on, a high transmission capacity, low wear and long lifetime of the connector, a mechanically simple and secure connection process, and reduced control requirement and energy consumption in connector arrangements.

Claims

1. An electrical connector håving a male part (1) and a female part (2), the male part (1) håving at least one electrically conducting pin (3a-c), the female part (2) håving at least one slot (4a-c), each slot (4a-c) configured to receive one of the at least one pin (3a-c) and håving an electrically conducting element (5), the electrically conducting element (5) håving a contact area (7a-c) arranged facing an inside of the slot (4a-c), the female part (2) further comprising a force transmission unit (6a-c) connected to the electrically conducting element (5) and configured to push the contact area (7a-c) against a surface area (8a-c) on the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c).

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the female part (2) comprises a non-conducting element (9,9') arranged between the electrically conducting element (5) and the force transmission unit (6a-c).

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the electrically conducting element (5) is fixed to the non-conducting element (9,9').

4. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the force transmission unit (6a-c) is configured to exert a force on the electrically conducting element (5) in a direction normal to the surface of the contact area (7a-c) and/or in a direction normal to a tangent plane of the contact area (7a-c).

5. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrically conducting element (5) has a flexible or articulated end portion (5a) connected to a first electrical distribution system (10).

6. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, håving a second electrically conducting element (5') håving a second contact area (7a'), where the second contact area is arranged facing an inside of the slot (4a-c), the female part (2) further comprising a second force transmission unit (6d-f) connected to the second electrically conducting element (5') and configured to push the second contact area (7a') against the surface area (8a-c) on the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c).

7. An electrical connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the surface area (8a-c) and the second surface area (8a') are arranged on different sides of the pin (3a-c).

8. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrically conducting element (5) is movable and has a first operational position in which the electrically conducting element (5) is spaced from the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c) and a second operational position in which the electrically conducting element (5) is in contact with the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c).

9. An electrical connector according to claim 8 in conjunction with claim 6 or 7, wherein the second electrically conducting element (5') is movable and has a first operational position in which the second electrically conducting element (5') is spaced from the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c) and a second operational position in which the second electrically conducting element (5') is in contact with the pin (3a-c) when the pin (3a-c) is received in the slot (4a-c).

10. An electrical connector according to claim 8 in conjunction with claim 6 or 7, wherein the position of the second electrically conducting element (5') is fixed in relation to the slot (4a-c).

11. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the female part (2) has a housing (2'), the electrically conducting element (5) being arranged to be movable within the housing (2'), and the force transmission unit (6a-c) is connected to the housing (2') and to the electrically conducting element (5).

12. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim, the female part (2) further comprising a guide element (13) configured to guide the electrically conducting pin (3a-c) into the slot (4a-c).

13. A connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the male part (1) is arranged on a movable arm (20) connected to a stationary base (22) and the female part (2) is arranged on a vehicle or a vessel (21).

14. A connector arrangement according to claim 13, håving a first operational configuration wherein the movable arm (20) is configured to move the male part (1) into engagement with the female part (2), and a second operational configuration wherein the male part (1) is held in engagement with the female part (2) by the electrical connector and the movable arm (20) is put in an idle operational state.

15. A method of distributing electric energy, the method comprising the steps: providing a connector arrangement according to one of claims 13 and 14, operating the movable arm (20) to bring the male part (1) into engagement with the female part (2), operating the electrical connector to hold the male part (1) in engagement with the female part (2), putting the movable arm (20) in an idle operational state.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method is used provide electric energy to a vehicle or a vessel (21).