Connector assembly having a cable connected charging pin and socket in fluid communication with one another

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12155141-B2
Application number	US-202117457305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2021
Priority date	Dec 2, 2021
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A connector assembly for charging a work machine includes at least one charging cable and at least one connector arrangement. The connector arrangement includes a socket. The socket defines a plurality of first through-apertures extending radially relative to a first longitudinal axis and a first passage. The connector arrangement also includes a charging pin adapted to couple with the socket. The charging pin defines a plurality of second through-apertures extending radially relative to a second longitudinal axis and a second passage. Further, when the socket is connected with the charging pin, the second passage aligns with the first passage and the second passage is in fluid communication with the first passage. Moreover, when the socket is connected with the charging pin, a fluid flowing through the socket and the charging pin is adapted to at least one of cool and clean the connector assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector assembly for charging a work machine, the connector assembly comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive compressed air from an external air source,
at least one charging cable;
a first connector arrangement; and
a second connector arrangement,
the first connector arrangement including:
a first socket extending along a first longitudinal axis, the first socket defining:
a plurality of first through-apertures extending radially relative to the first longitudinal axis, and
a first passage extending along the first longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with each of the plurality of first through-apertures,
 the plurality of first through-apertures being configured to introduce the compressed air from the receptacle and into the first connector arrangement; and

a charging pin electrically connected to the at least one charging cable,
the charging pin being configured to couple with the first socket,
the charging pin extending along a second longitudinal axis,
the charging pin defining:
 a plurality of second through-apertures extending radially relative to the second longitudinal axis; and
 a second passage extending along the second longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with each of the plurality of second through-apertures,
 wherein, when the first socket is connected with the charging pin:
 the second passage aligns with the first passage and the second passage is in fluid communication with the first passage; and
 a fluid flowing through the first socket and the charging pin is configured to at least one of cool or clean the connector assembly,

the fluid including the compressed air,
the second connector arrangement including a second socket, and
the receptacle including:
a first guiding device configured to guide the fluid into the first connector arrangement through the first socket, and
a second guiding device configured to guide the fluid out of the second connector arrangement through the second socket.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when the first socket is connected with the charging pin:
the fluid flows through each of the first and second passages; and
the fluid exits the first connector arrangement through one or more of the plurality of second through-apertures.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein, when the first socket is disconnected from the charging pin, the fluid flowing through the first socket is configured to clean the first socket, and
wherein, when the first socket is connected with the charging pin:
the fluid enters the first socket through one or more of the plurality of first through-apertures; and
the fluid exits the first socket through the first passage.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the charging pin is a first charging pin,
wherein the second connector arrangement further includes a second charging pin, and
wherein, when the first socket is connected with the first charging pin and the second socket is connected with the second charging pin:
the fluid enters the first connector arrangement through the first socket;
the fluid exits the first connector arrangement through the first charging pin;
the fluid exiting the first charging pin enters the second connector arrangement through the second charging pin; and
the fluid exits the second connector arrangement through the second socket.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of first through-apertures are defined proximate to a first end of the first socket, and
wherein the first socket includes one or more socket contacts disposed proximate to a second end of the first socket,
the second end being defined opposite to the first end.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plug,
wherein the charging pin is mounted within the plug.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle further includes:
a third guiding device configured to guide the fluid into the first connector arrangement through the first socket and guide the fluid out of the second connector arrangement through the second socket.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first guiding device and the second guiding device include a baffle and a louver.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the receptacle includes a receptacle box, and
wherein the second connector arrangement is disposed between the first connector arrangement and an inlet port of the receptacle box.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plug disposed at an end of a charging cable of the at least one charging cable.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the receptacle includes:
a receptacle box configured to receive the compressed air from the external air source,
a receptacle outer shell connected to the receptacle box with one or more mechanical fasteners, and
a receptacle insulator sleeve, and

wherein the connector assembly further includes:
a plug outer shell that is configured to be adjacent to the receptacle outer shell, and
a plug insulator sleeve that is configured to be adjacent to the plug outer shell and the receptacle insulator sleeve.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible pipe configured to receive a charging cable of the at least one charging cable.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the receptacle further includes:
an inlet port configured to be connected to the external air source, and
an outlet port configured to let the fluid out of the receptacle, and

wherein the first guiding device and the second guiding device are between the inlet port and the outlet port.

14. The connector assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the receptacle includes a receptacle box, a receptacle outer shell, and a receptacle insulator sleeve,
wherein the first socket is mounted in the receptacle,
wherein a first fluid channel is defined between the receptacle insulator sleeve and the first socket,
wherein the receptacle box is configured to receive the compressed air, and
wherein the first fluid channel is configured to provide the compressed air from the receptacle box and to the plurality of first through-apertures.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14 ,
wherein the receptacle outer shell is connected to the receptacle box with one or more mechanical fasteners,
wherein a second fluid channel is defined between a plug insulator sleeve and a portion of the charging pin, and
wherein the plurality of second through-apertures are configured to provide an exit for the compressed air from the first connector arrangement and into the second fluid channel.

16. A method for at least one of cooling or cleaning a connector assembly for charging a work machine, the method comprising:
connecting a charging pin of a first connector arrangement of the connector assembly with a first socket of the first connector arrangement,
the first socket extending along a first longitudinal axis,
the first socket defining a plurality of first through-apertures extending radially relative to the first longitudinal axis, and
a first passage extending along the first longitudinal axis and in fluid communication with each of the plurality of first through-apertures,
the charging pin being electrically connected to at least one charging cable and extending along a second longitudinal axis,
the charging pin defining:
a plurality of second through-apertures extending radially relative to the second longitudinal axis, and
a second passage extending along

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Baumann Jonathan M

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H01R43/002

  Maintenance of line connectors, e.g. cleaning · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M10/44

  Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title

• B08B9/032

  by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing (B08B9/04 takes precedence {; by fluid jets mounted on cleaning devices B08B9/0433}) · CPC title