IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,641,506
Granted Patent B2
US 7,641,506 · App. 12/405,277 · Granted Jan 5, 2010

Electrical connection device and connector

Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,641,506
App. No.
12/405,277
Granted
Jan 5, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to a connection device, in particular a heavy-duty plug-type connection, with a first connector and a second connector, which each have a contact-making element in order to produce an electrical connection in the connected state of the connectors; the connectors bearing against one another at a connection region in the connected state; at least one of the connectors comprising a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant; the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point between the contact-making elements; all of the access points of the coolant line being arranged outside of the connection region.

Claims (45)

1. A connection device for a heavy-duty plug-type connection, with a first connector and a second connector, which each have a contact-making element in order to produce an electrical connection in the connected state of the connectors;

the connectors bearing against one another at a connection region in the connected state;

at least one of the connectors comprising a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant;

the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point between the contact-making elements;

wherein

all of the access points of the coolant line are arranged outside the connection region, and

wherein the first connector comprises a housing with a contact-making element accommodated therein, a section of the coolant line being formed between the housing and the contact-making element, the housing having a passage for accommodating the contact-making element of the second connector,

the passage being formed in such a way that it is closed in the connected state by means of the contact-making element of the second connector so as to prevent the emergence of the coolant, and

a closure element being provided in order to close the passage in the non-connected state so as to prevent the emergence of the coolant.

2. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connector is in the form of a female connector and the second connector is in the form of a male connector.

3. The connection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the closure element is prestressed by a spring element, which presses the closure element in the non-connected state against a stop into the passage in order to close said passage.

4. The connection device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a further section of the coolant line is formed within the contact-making element.

5. The connection device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the contact-making element of the second connector has a cylindrical form.

6. The connection device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the passage is provided with a sealing element in order to seal off the passage so as to prevent the emergence of the coolant.

7. The connection device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the passage is provided with a sealing element in order to seal off the passage so as to prevent the emergence of the coolant.

8. The connection device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a further section of the coolant line is formed within the contact-making element.

9. A connection device for a heavy-duty plug-type connection, with a first connector and a second connector, which each have a contact-making element in order to produce an electrical connection in the connected state of the connectors;

the connectors bearing against one another at a connection region in the connected state;

at least one of the connectors comprising a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant;

the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point between the contact-making elements;

wherein

all of the access points of the coolant line are arranged outside the connection region, and

wherein the coolant line is arranged in a separate cooling unit, which is fastened on the contact-making element of the at least one connector.

10. The connection device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first connector is in the form of a female connector and the second connector is in the form of a male connector.

11. An electrical connector, in particular a heavy-duty plug, for producing an electrical connection, comprising:

a contact-making element in order to make contact with a further contact-making element of a further connector in a connected state so as to produce the electrical connection;

a connection region, which is provided to bear, in the connected state, on a corresponding further connection region of the further connector; and

a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant;

the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point at the contact-making element; wherein all of the access points of the coolant line are arranged outside of the connection region, and

a housing with a contact-making element accommodated therein is provided, with a section of the coolant line being formed between said housing and said contact-making element,

the housing having a passage for accommodating the contact-making element of the further connector,

a closure element being provided in order to close, in the non-connected state, the passage so as to prevent the emergence of the coolant.

12. A connection module with one or more electrical connectors as claimed in claim 11 , which are coupled to a coolant pump and a heat exchanger via coolant lines.

13. The connector as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the closure element is prestressed by a spring element, which presses the closure element, in the non-connected state, against a stop into the passage.

14. A connection module with one or more electrical connectors as claimed in claim 13 , which are coupled to a coolant pump and a heat exchanger via coolant lines.

15. An electrical connector, in particular a heavy-duty plug, for producing an electrical connection, comprising:

a contact-making element in order to make contact with a further contact-making element of a further connector in a connected state so as to produce the electrical connection;

a connection region, which is provided to bear, in the connected state, on a corresponding further connection region of the further connector; and

a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant;

the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point at the contact-making element; wherein all of the access points of the coolant line are arranged outside of the connection region, and

wherein the coolant line is arranged in a separate cooling unit, which is fastened on the contact-making element.

16. A method of providing a heavy-duty plug-type connection based on a connection device having a first connector and a second connector, which each have a contact-making element in order to produce an electrical connection in the connected state of the connectors; the connectors bearing against one another at a connection region in the connected state, the method comprising:

providing with at least one of the connectors a coolant line with one or more access points for the supply and discharge, respectively, of a coolant, the coolant line being provided at the contact-making element in order to dissipate heat from a contact point between the contact-making elements;

arranging all of the access points of the coolant line outside the connection region; and

arranging the coolant line in a separate cooling unit, which is fastened on the contact-making element of the at least one connector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: SACHER, ROBERT; KNAPP, WOLFGANG
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 022551/0387 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 08152900 · Mar 18, 2008 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090239408A1 · Sep 24, 2009