Patent Description:
The present invention relates to the field of connector technology, and particularly relates to a multifunctional high-voltage connector and a battery product. The features of the preamble of the independent claim are known from <CIT>. Related technologies are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> an <CIT>.

In a battery product (such as a battery pack or a high-voltage cartridge), the common connectors comprise a high-voltage connector, a Manual Service Disconnect (MSD) and a fuse. The high-voltage connector is used for realizing the electrical connection between the battery product and an external device (such as another battery pack or another high voltage cartridge), the MSD is used for controlling the high voltage circuit in the battery product to be turned on or turned off, the fuse is used for overload protecting the high voltage circuit in the battery product.

When the energy density of the battery product is increased, it is necessary to integrate the connectors with multiple functions into an integrated multifunctional high-voltage connector, Since the multiple functions are integrated, it does not facilitate the mounting and detachment between the upper cover and the pedestal of the new multifunctional high-voltage connector, thereby resulting in low assembling efficiency and low assembling accuracy.

In view of the problem existing in the background, an object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional high-voltage connector and a battery product, the multifunctional high-voltage connector facilitates assembling, improves the assembling efficiency and assembling accuracy. The present invention is defined in the independent claim.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multifunctional high-voltage connector, which comprises a pedestal and an upper cover detachably assembled with the pedestal. The upper cover comprises: an outer shell having a first oblique-port portion; and an inner shell fixed at an inner side of the outer shell and provided with a first guide portion; the pedestal comprising: an outer base having a second oblique-port portion; and an inner base fixed at an inner side of the outer base and provided with a second guide portion. The first oblique-port portion of the outer shell cooperates with the second oblique-port portion of the outer base, and the first guide portion of the inner shell cooperates with the second guide portion of the inner base.

An angle between a lower surface of the first oblique-port portion and a longitudinal direction and an angle between an upper surface of the second oblique-port portion and the longitudinal direction are both θ, and <NUM>≤θ≤<NUM>.

The first guide portion is a recessed groove, and the second guide portion is a protrusion. Or, the first guide portion is a protrusion, and the second guide portion is a recessed groove.

The inner shell further comprises: a body portion accommodated in the outer shell; and an extending portion protruding from the body portion in a vertical direction and extending out of the outer shell. The first guide portion is provided on the extending portion and extends in the vertical direction, and the extending portion is inserted into the inner base to make the first guide portion cooperate with the second guide portion.

The first guide portions are provided on both sides of the extending portion in a longitudinal direction. Or /and, the first guide portions are provided on both sides of the extending portion in a transversal direction.

The outer shell further comprises: a first connecting portion formed at an outer side of the first oblique-port portion around a circumference of the first oblique-port portion and extending in a vertical direction. The outer base further comprises: a second connecting portion formed at an outer side of the second oblique-port portion around a circumference of the second oblique-port portion and connecting the first connecting portion. A lower surface of the first connecting portion and an upper surface of the second connecting portion are parallel to a longitudinal direction.

The outer shell further comprises: a guiding portion formed at an outside of the first oblique-port portion and extending in a direction paralleled to a lower surface of the first oblique-port portion.

The multifunctional high-voltage connector further comprises a conductive connection structure and two mating terminals. The conductive connection structure comprises: a main body portion accommodated in the inner shell of the upper cover; and two conductive connection portions formed at both ends of the main body portion in a longitudinal direction and extending out of the outer shell. the two mating terminals are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and each of the mating terminals is fixedly mounted to the inner base of the pedestal and mates with a corresponding conductive connection portions.

The inner base further comprises: a bottom plate portion; and two protruding portions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and each of the protruding portions protrudes from the bottom plate portion in a vertical direction and mounts the corresponding mating terminal. The second guide portion is provided on each of the protruding portions. Moreover, the multifunctional high-voltage connector further comprises: a harness assembly connected to one of the two mating terminals. The outer base further comprises: a mounting portion formed at an outer side of the second oblique-port portion and extending in the longitudinal direction, and the mounting portion mounts the harness assembly. The highest point of an upper surface of the second oblique-port portion is higher than a top surface of the mounting portion. In addition, the outer shell and the outer base is made of a metal material, and the inner shell and the inner base is made of an insulating material.

The present invention further provides a battery product, which comprises the multifunctional high-voltage connector described above.

The present invention has the following beneficial effects: since the first oblique-port portion of the outer shell is an oblique-port structure, which reduces the weight of the upper cover and facilitates the mounting and detachment between the upper cover and the pedestal; and at the same time, the cooperation between the first guide portion of the inner shell and the second guide portion of the inner base can provide a guide for the mounting between the upper cover and the pedestal, and the cooperation between the first guide portion and the second guide portion can be reliably operated by the visual positioning, therefore it is not necessary to assemble many times and can ensure the accurate mounting between the upper cover and the pedestal, and thus the multifunctional high-voltage connector according to the present invention greatly improves the assembling efficiency and assembling accuracy of the multifunctional high-voltage connector. In addition, since the second oblique-port portion of the pedestal may also be an oblique-port structure, the cooperation between the second oblique-port portion and the first oblique-port portion of the upper cover reduces the internal space of the multifunctional high-voltage connector and improves the space utilization of the multifunctional high-voltage connector.

To make the object, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, hereinafter the present invention will be further described in detail in combination with the accompanying figures and the embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely used to explain the present invention but are not intended to limit the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specifically defined and limited, the terms "first", "second" and the like are only used for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as expressing or implying a relative importance. The term "plurality" is two or more. Unless otherwise defined or described, the terms "connect", "fix" should be broadly interpreted, for example, the term "connect" can be "fixedly connect", "detachably connect", "integrally connect", "electrically connect" or "signal connect". The term "connect" also can be "directly connect" or "indirectly connect via a medium". For the persons skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the abovementioned terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific situation.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that spatially relative terms, such as "above", "below" "inside", "outside" and the like, are described based on orientations illustrated in the figures, but are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a multifunctional high-voltage connector according to the present invention comprises an upper cover <NUM>, a pedestal <NUM>, a sealing ring <NUM>, a conductive connection structure <NUM>, two mating terminals <NUM> and a harness assembly <NUM>.

The upper cover <NUM> is detachably assembled with the pedestal <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the upper cover <NUM> may comprise: an outer shell <NUM> having a first oblique-port portion <NUM>; and an inner shell <NUM> fixed at an inner side of the outer shell <NUM> and provided with a first guide portion <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the pedestal <NUM> may comprise: an outer base <NUM> having a second oblique-port portion <NUM>; and an inner base <NUM> fixed at an inner side of the outer base <NUM> and provided with a second guide portion <NUM>. The outer shell <NUM> and the outer base <NUM> may be made of a metal material, and the inner shell <NUM> and the inner base <NUM> may be made of an insulating material.

When the upper cover <NUM> is assembled with the pedestal <NUM>, firstly the first guide portion <NUM> of the inner shell <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> of the inner base <NUM> cooperate (such as a concave-convex fit as described below) by a visual positioning, then the upper cover <NUM> can gradually approach the pedestal <NUM> along the cooperation direction of the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> until the first oblique-port portion <NUM> of the outer shell <NUM> cooperates (i.e., the first oblique-port portion <NUM> and the second oblique-port portion <NUM> abut against each other face to face) with the second oblique-port portion <NUM> of the outer base <NUM>, and it means that the upper cover <NUM> is mounted in place.

Since the first oblique-port portion <NUM> of the outer shell <NUM> is an oblique-port structure, which reduces the weight of the upper cover <NUM> and facilitates the mounting and detachment between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>; and at the same time, the cooperation between the first guide portion <NUM> of the inner shell <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> of the inner base <NUM> can provide a guide for the mounting between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>, and the cooperation between the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> can be reliably operated by the visual positioning, therefore it is not necessary to assemble many times and can ensure the accurate mounting between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>, and thus the multifunctional high-voltage connector according to the present invention greatly improves the assembling efficiency and assembling accuracy of the multifunctional high-voltage connector. In addition, since the second oblique-port portion <NUM> of the pedestal <NUM> may also be an oblique-port structure, the cooperation between the second oblique-port portion <NUM> and the first oblique-port portion <NUM> of the upper cover <NUM> reduces the internal space of the multifunctional high-voltage connector and improves the space utilization of the multifunctional high-voltage connector.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the second oblique-port portion <NUM> of the outer base <NUM> is provided with a receiving groove 211A, and the receiving groove 211A is used for receiving the sealing ring <NUM>. When the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM> are assembled, the sealing ring <NUM> is pressed in the receiving groove 211A to seal the outer base <NUM> of the pedestal <NUM> and the outer shell <NUM> of the upper cover <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an angle between the lower surface (i.e., the mounting surface) of the first oblique-port portion <NUM> and a longitudinal direction Y and an angle between the upper surface (i.e., the mounting surface) of the second oblique-port portion <NUM> and the longitudinal direction Y are both θ. Since the lighter the quality of the upper cover <NUM> is, the more it is helpful to improve the assembling efficiency and assembling accuracy of the multifunctional high-voltage connector, therefore in order to minimize the weight of the upper cover <NUM>, the size of θ needs to be designed in a reasonable extent. After many designs and operations of mounting, the inventors found that when <NUM>≤θ≤<NUM>, it is most beneficial to the mounting and detachment between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>.

The manner of cooperation between the first guide portion <NUM> of the inner shell <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> of the inner base <NUM> may be a concave-convex fit. Specifically, the first guide portion <NUM> is a recessed groove (as shown in <FIG>); correspondingly, the second guide portion <NUM> is a protrusion (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). Alternatively, the first guide portion <NUM> is a protrusion; correspondingly, the second guide portion <NUM> is a recessed groove.

Referring to <FIG>, the outer shell <NUM> may further comprise a first connecting portion <NUM> formed at an outer side of the first oblique-port portion <NUM> around a circumference of the first oblique-port portion <NUM> and extending in a vertical direction Z. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer base <NUM> may further comprise a second connecting portion <NUM> formed at an outer side of the second oblique-port portion <NUM> around a circumference of the second oblique-port portion <NUM>.

Both the first connecting portion <NUM> and the second connecting portion <NUM> may be provided as multiple in number. The multiple first connecting portions <NUM> are spaced apart at the outer side of the first oblique-port portion <NUM> around the circumference of the first oblique-port portion <NUM>, the multiple second connecting portion <NUM> are spaced apart at the outer side of the second oblique-port portion <NUM> around the circumference of the second oblique-port portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, each first connecting portion <NUM> may be connected to the corresponding second connecting portion <NUM> by a fastener S (such as a connecting bolt). In order to ensure that the locking force of the fastener S is not decomposed during the process of connecting, both a lower surface of the first connecting portion <NUM> and an upper surface of the second connecting portion <NUM> are parallel to the longitudinal direction Y. In other words, the lower surface of the first connecting portion <NUM> and the upper surface of the second connecting portion <NUM> are both planar. In order to increase the strength of the upper cover <NUM>, referring to <FIG>, the outer shell <NUM> may comprise a guiding portion <NUM> formed at the outside of the first oblique-port portion <NUM> and protruding from the first oblique-port portion <NUM>. It should be noted that, since the first oblique-port portion <NUM> is the oblique-port structure, if the guiding portion <NUM> extends in the vertical direction Z, it is easy to enlarge the mass difference between the two ends of the upper cover <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y, which makes the center of gravity shifted and is not beneficial to the mounting and detachment between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>. Therefore, in order to facilitate the mounting and operation, the guiding portion <NUM> may be provided at both sides of the outer shell <NUM> in a transversal direction X and extending in a direction paralleled to the lower surface of the first oblique-port portion <NUM>, that is, the guiding portion <NUM> extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal direction Y.

Referring to <FIG>, the outer base <NUM> may further comprise a mounting portion <NUM> formed at an outer side of the second oblique-port portion <NUM> and extending in the longitudinal direction Y, and the mounting portion <NUM> mounts the harness assembly <NUM>. In the process of assembling, in order not to interfere with the cooperation between the first oblique-port portion <NUM> and the second oblique-port portion <NUM>, the highest point of the mounting surface of the second oblique-port portion <NUM> is higher than a top surface of the mounting portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the inner shell <NUM> may further comprise: a body portion <NUM> accommodated in the outer shell <NUM>; and an extending portion <NUM> protruding from the body portion <NUM> in the vertical direction Z and extending out of the outer shell <NUM>. The first guide portion <NUM> is provided on the extending portion <NUM> and extends in the vertical direction Z, when the upper cover <NUM> is assembled with the pedestal <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> of the inner shell <NUM> is inserted into the inner base <NUM> of the pedestal <NUM> to make the first guide portion <NUM> cooperate with the second guide portion <NUM>.

The first guide portion <NUM> is provided as multiple in number. In an embodiment, the multiple first guide portions <NUM> are provided on both sides of the extending portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y. In another embodiment, the multiple first guide portions <NUM> may be provided on both sides of the extending portion <NUM> in the transversal direction X. In still another embodiment, the multiple first guide portions <NUM> are provided on both sides of the extending portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y and both sides of the extending portion <NUM> in the transversal direction X at the same time. That the first guide portion <NUM> adopts the above arrangement manner makes the opposite sides of the upper cover <NUM> limited in position during the process of assembling, thereby further ensuring the accurate mounting between the upper cover <NUM> and the pedestal <NUM>.

The conductive connection structure <NUM> is fixedly mounted to the upper cover <NUM>. Specifically, referring to <FIG>, the conductive connection structure <NUM> may comprise: a main body portion <NUM> accommodated in the inner shell <NUM> of the upper cover <NUM>; and two conductive connection portions <NUM> formed at both ends of the main body portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y and extending out of the outer shell <NUM>, and each of the conductive connection portions <NUM> is used for mating connection with one of the mating terminals <NUM>. Here, the conductive connection structure <NUM> may be a fuse or a one-piece structure (that is a whole piece of connection sheet).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the two mating terminals <NUM> are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction Y, and each of the mating terminals <NUM> is fixedly mounted to the inner base <NUM> of the pedestal <NUM>. Here, the mating terminal <NUM> has elasticity. When the mating terminal <NUM> are mated with the corresponding conductive connection portion <NUM> of the conductive connection structure <NUM>, the mating terminal <NUM> can clamp the conductive connection portion <NUM>, thereby ensuring the connection reliability between the conductive connection structure <NUM> and the mating terminal <NUM> during the process of use.

Referring to <FIG>, the inner base <NUM> may further comprise: a bottom plate portion <NUM>; and two protruding portions <NUM> spaced apart in the longitudinal direction Y, each of the protruding portions <NUM> protrudes from the bottom plate portion <NUM> in the vertical direction Z and mounts the corresponding mating terminal <NUM>. The second guide portion <NUM> is provided on each of the protruding portions <NUM>.

When the upper cover <NUM> is assembled with the pedestal <NUM>, based on the cooperation between the first guide portion <NUM> of the inner shell <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> of the inner base <NUM>, the conductive connection portion <NUM> of the conductive connection structure <NUM> can be accurately inserted into the corresponding protruding portion <NUM> and mated with the mating terminal <NUM> in the protruding portion <NUM>, thereby avoiding the ablation problem caused by the abrasion of the mating terminal <NUM> due to multiple attempts.

Referring to <FIG>, the harness assembly <NUM> is mounted to the pedestal <NUM> and connected to one mating terminal <NUM> (the other mating terminal <NUM> is exposed at the bottom of the pedestal <NUM>). Specifically, the harness assembly <NUM> may comprise: a wire harness body <NUM>, one end of the wire harness body <NUM> is fixed to the mounting portion <NUM> of the outer base <NUM> and the other end of the wire harness body <NUM> protrudes from the mounting portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction Y; and a connection terminal <NUM> connected to the one end of the wire harness body <NUM> and the one mating terminal <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A multifunctional high-voltage connector, comprising a pedestal (<NUM>) and an upper cover (<NUM>) detachably assembled with the pedestal (<NUM>);
the upper cover (<NUM>) comprising: an outer shell (<NUM>) having a first oblique-port portion (<NUM>); and an inner shell (<NUM>) fixed at an inner side of the outer shell (<NUM>) and provided with a first guide portion (<NUM>);
the pedestal (<NUM>) comprising: an outer base (<NUM>) having a second oblique-port portion (<NUM>); and an inner base (<NUM>) fixed at an inner side of the outer base (<NUM>) and provided with a second guide portion (<NUM>);
the first oblique-port portion (<NUM>) of the outer shell (<NUM>) cooperating with the second oblique-port portion (<NUM>) of the outer base (<NUM>), and the first guide portion (<NUM>) of the inner shell (<NUM>) cooperating with the second guide portion (<NUM>) of the inner base (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the first guide portion (<NUM>) is a recessed groove, and the second guide portion (<NUM>) is a protrusion; or the
first guide portion (<NUM>) is a protrusion, and the second guide portion (<NUM>) is a recessed groove;
wherein the
inner shell (<NUM>) further comprises: a body portion (<NUM>) accommodated in the outer shell (<NUM>); and an extending portion (<NUM>) protruding from the body portion (<NUM>) in a vertical direction (Z) and extending out of the outer shell (<NUM>);
the first guide portion (<NUM>) is provided on the extending portion (<NUM>) and extends in the vertical direction (Z), and the extending portion (<NUM>) is inserted into the inner base (<NUM>) to make the first guide portion (<NUM>) cooperate with the second guide portion (<NUM>);
the outer shell (<NUM>) further comprises: a guiding portion (<NUM>) formed at an outside of the first oblique-port portion (<NUM>) and extending in a direction paralleled to a lower surface of the first oblique-port portion (<NUM>).