Patent Description:
Currently existing electric vehicles are equipped with a large amount of batteries. To prevent long period of waiting time for charging, vehicle charging columns are generally designed to have a greater output power in order to perform fast charging on electric vehicles. However, large output power tends to cause the wires and cables to generate great amount of heat during charging. Consequently, vehicle charging columns are, in generally, equipped with pipelines for cooling equipment. The pipelines at least pass through the charging gun, and when it is considered necessary, the pipelines can further pass through other heat generating parts of the equipment.

For currently existing charging columns, the component parts are typically received inside one identical space, and the pipelines are connected via conventional joints. During the removal and repair, as the pipelines are removed and separated, the coolant inside the pipelines tends to leak out, and leakage may still occur during the assembly installation due to improper sealing. The coolant leaked out may spread outward inside the outer casing such that the electrical equipment inside the outer casing can be damaged. Furthermore, the pipelines are connected to the charging gun; therefore, it is necessary to also replace the pipelines connected between the charging gun and the water pump when the charging gun is replaced.

In view of above, the inventor seeks to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the currently existing technology after years of research and development along with the utilization of academic theories, which is also the objective of the development of the present disclosure.

In order to adress the abovementioned issues, the present invention provides a charging column according to claim <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present disclosure provides a charging column, comprising an equipment box, two isolated docking boxes, a power supply device and a charging gun. The equipment box comprises a control equipment and a delivery pipeline received therein. Each one of the isolated docking boxes is disposed outside the equipment box and includes an interior separated and physically isolated from an interior of the equipment box; each one of the isolated docking boxes further comprises at least one pair of first pair of joints connected to the delivery pipeline and a plurality of electrodes arranged therein and electrically connected to the control equipment; the two isolated docking boxes are respectively configured to be an input docking box and an output docking box. The power device is arranged inside the input docking box and connected to the plurality of electrodes inside the input docking box. The charging gun is connected from an exterior of the output docking box to an interior of the output docking box and is further connected to the electrodes inside the output docking box. The power supply device and the charging gun correspondingly include a cooling pipeline arranged thereon respectively; each one of the cooling pipelines is connected to an interior of the correspondingly isolated docking box, and each one of the cooling pipelines includes at least one pair of second pair of joints correspondingly connected to each one of the first pair of joints.

For the charging column of the present disclosure, any one of the first pair of joints and the second pair of joints correspondingly connected thereto is a pair of anti-leakage male joints, and the other one thereof is a pair of corresponding anti-leakage female joints. The pair of anti-leakage male joints comprises a male connecting pipe having a male plug and a first elastic member penetrating therethrough; one end the male connecting pipe used for connecting to the pair of anti-leakage female joints is configured to form a male interface thereon, and the first elastic member abuts against an inner wall of the male connecting pipe and the male plug in order to push the male plug to block the male interface; the pair of anti-leakage female joints comprises a female connecting pipe having one end connected to the male connecting pipe formed of a female interface; the female connecting pipe includes a female plug secured thereto, a movably arranged sleeve and a second elastic member arranged to penetrate therethrough; the female plug is separated and physically isolated from an inner wall of the female connecting pipe; the second elastic member abuts against the inner wall of the female connecting pipe and the sleeve in order to push the sleeve toward the female interface in order to be blocked between the female plug and the female connecting pipe. Accordingly, when the male connecting pipe is inserted into the female connecting pipe, the male connecting pipe pushes the sleeve away from the female plug, and the female plug pushes the male plug away from the male interface.

For the charging column of the present disclosure, a portion of the cooling pipeline is located inside the power device in order to cool the power supply device. The cooling pipeline includes a drive pump and a water tank connected thereto. The drive pump and the water tank are located inside the input docking box.

For the charging column of the present disclosure, a portion of the cooling pipeline is located inside the charging gun in order to cool the charging gun.

The charging column of the present disclosure is equipped with two isolated docking boxes, and the first pair of joints, the second pair of joints and the electrodes thereof are isolated from the equipment box by the respective isolated docking box. Accordingly, it is able to isolate and retain any coolant and falling off objects within the isolated docking box during the wiring and installation of the power device, thereby protecting the control equipment inside the equipment box from any damages.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, showing a charging column according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising an equipment box <NUM>, an isolated docking box <NUM>, a power device <NUM> and a cooling pipeline <NUM>.

The equipment box <NUM> includes a control equipment <NUM> and a delivery pipeline <NUM> received therein. The isolated docking box <NUM> is disposed outside the equipment box <NUM> and includes an interior isolated from an interior of the equipment box <NUM>. The isolated docking box <NUM> comprises at least one pair of first pair of joints <NUM>. Each of the first pair of joints <NUM> is connected to the delivery pipeline <NUM>. The isolated docking box <NUM> includes a plurality of electrodes <NUM>, and each of the electrodes <NUM> is electrically connected to the control equipment <NUM>.

The power device <NUM> is connected to the interior of the isolated docking box <NUM> and is further connected to the plurality of electrodes <NUM>. To be more specific, the power device <NUM> can be received inside the isolated docking box <NUM> and can be directly or indirectly connected to the electrode <NUM>. The power device <NUM> can be a device for transmitting power to the control equipment <NUM> or a device for inputting power from the control equipment <NUM>. Accordingly, the control equipment <NUM> inside the equipment box <NUM> is able to control the power transmission of the power device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cooling pipeline <NUM> is connected to the interior of the isolated docking box <NUM> and the cooling pipeline <NUM> includes at least one pair of second pair of joints <NUM> connected to each one of the first pair of joints <NUM> correspondingly. The cooling pipeline <NUM> can be completely received inside the isolated docking box <NUM>, or it can also penetrate into the isolated docking box <NUM> from the external of the isolated docking box <NUM>.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the power device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, comprises a power supply device <NUM>. The power supply device <NUM> is used to transmit power to the control equipment <NUM>. A portion of the cooling pipeline <NUM> can also be selectively arranged inside the power supply device <NUM> in order to cool the power supply device <NUM>. The cooling pipeline <NUM> can be connected with a drive pump <NUM> and a water tank <NUM> connected thereto. In addition, preferably, the drive pump <NUM> and the water tank <NUM> can be located inside the isolated docking box <NUM>. Nevertheless, it can be understood that they can also be arranged outside the isolated docking box <NUM> and connected to the interior of the isolated docking box <NUM> via the cooling pipeline <NUM>. Moreover, the configuration of the power device <NUM> is not limited to such type only. <FIG> and <FIG> shows another configuration of the power device <NUM> such that it can be located outside the isolated docking box <NUM> and connected further to the electrode <NUM> via the conductive circuit <NUM> penetrating into the isolated docking box <NUM>. To be more specific, the power device <NUM> comprises a charging gun <NUM>, and the charging gun <NUM> is used for inserting into a vehicle. In addition, the charging gun <NUM> receives power from the control equipment <NUM> in order to further transmit power to the vehicle. A portion of the cooling pipeline <NUM> is arranged inside the charging gun <NUM>, such that when a vehicle is charged through the charging gun <NUM>, the cooling pipeline <NUM> is able to cool the charging gun <NUM>.

One of the aforementioned first pair of joints <NUM> and the second pair of joints <NUM> correspondingly connected thereto is a pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and the other one thereof is a pair of corresponding anti-leakage female joints <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. When the pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> is disengaged from the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM>, they are respectively under the sealed state in order to prevent the coolant in the cooling pipeline <NUM> or the delivery pipeline <NUM> to leak out from the pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> or the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM>. After the pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> is engaged with the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM>, it is able to allow the cooling pipeline <NUM> to connect with the delivery pipeline <NUM>. The structures of the pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> and the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM> are described in detail as follows.

The pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> comprises a male connecting pipe <NUM>, and the male connecting pipe <NUM> includes a male plug <NUM> and a first elastic member <NUM> penetrating therethrough. One end the male connecting pipe <NUM> used for connecting to the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM> is configured to form a male interface 511a thereon, and the other end of the male connecting pipe <NUM> is pre-connected to the cooling pipeline <NUM> or the delivery pipeline <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> abuts against an inner wall of the male connecting pipe <NUM> and the male plug <NUM> in order to push the male plug <NUM> to block the male interface 511a.

The pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM> comprises a female connecting pipe <NUM>, and the female connecting pipe <NUM> includes one end which is female interface 521a connected to the male connecting pipe <NUM>, and the other end of the female connecting pipe <NUM> is pre-connected to the delivery pipeline <NUM> or the cooling pipeline <NUM>. The female connecting pipe <NUM> includes a female plug <NUM> secured thereto, a movably arranged sleeve <NUM> and a second elastic member <NUM> arranged to penetrate therethrough. The female plug <NUM> is isolated from an inner wall of the female connecting pipe <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> abuts against the inner wall of the female connecting pipe <NUM> and the sleeve <NUM> in order to push the sleeve <NUM> toward the female interface 521a for blocking the sleeve <NUM> between the female plug <NUM> and the female connecting pipe <NUM>. When the male connecting pipe <NUM> is inserted into the female connecting pipe <NUM>, the male connecting pipe <NUM> pushes the sleeve <NUM> away from the female plug <NUM>, and the female plug <NUM> pushes the male plug <NUM> away from the male interface 511a. Accordingly, the male connecting pipe <NUM> is connected to the female connecting pipe <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>, showing a charging column according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising an equipment box <NUM>, two isolated docking boxes <NUM> and two sets of power devices 300a/300b of different configuration. The equipment box <NUM> comprising a control equipment <NUM> and a delivery pipeline <NUM> received therein.

Each one of the two isolated docking boxes <NUM> is disposed outside the equipment box <NUM> and each of the isolated docking boxes <NUM> includes an interior isolated from an interior of the equipment box <NUM>. Each one of the isolated docking boxes <NUM> further comprises at least one pair of first pair of joints <NUM> connected to the delivery pipeline <NUM>, and each one of the isolated docking boxes <NUM> includes a plurality of electrodes <NUM> arranged therein and electrically connected to the control equipment <NUM>. The two isolated docking boxes <NUM> are respectively configured to be an input docking box <NUM> and an output docking box <NUM>.

One of the sets of power devices 300a comprises a power supply device <NUM>, and it is arranged inside the input docking box <NUM> and connected to the electrodes <NUM> inside the input docking box <NUM>. A portion of the cooling pipeline <NUM> is located inside the power supply device <NUM> in order to cool the power supply device <NUM>. The cooling pipeline <NUM> includes a drive pump <NUM> and a water tank <NUM> connected thereto. The water tank <NUM> is provided for storing the coolant, and the drive pump is provided for driving the coolant to circulate and flow inside the cooling pipe <NUM> and the delivery pipe <NUM>. The drive pump <NUM> and the water tank <NUM> can be arranged inside the input docking box <NUM>, or they can also be arranged outside the input docking box <NUM> and further connected to the interior of the input docking box <NUM> via the cooling pipeline <NUM>.

According to another configuration of the power device 300b, it comprises at least one charging gun <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the power device 300b preferably comprises two sets of identical charging guns <NUM>; however, the present disclosure is not limited to the quantity of the charging gun <NUM>. Each charging gun <NUM> is connected to the interior of the output docking box <NUM> from the external of the output docking box <NUM> and is further connected to the electrodes <NUM> inside the output docking box <NUM>. A portion of the cooling pipeline <NUM> is located inside the charging gun <NUM> in order to cool the charging gun <NUM>.

The corresponding power supply device <NUM> and the charging gun <NUM> are respectively arranged with a cooling pipeline <NUM>. Each cooling pipeline <NUM> is connected to the interior of each corresponding isolated docking box <NUM>, and each cooling pipeline <NUM> includes at least one pair of second pair of joints
The power supply device <NUM> and the charging gun <NUM> correspondingly include a cooling pipeline <NUM> arranged thereon respectively. Each one of the cooling pipelines <NUM> is connected to an interior of the correspondingly isolated docking box <NUM>, and each one of the cooling pipelines <NUM> includes at least one pair of second pair of joints <NUM> correspondingly connected to each one of the first pair of joints <NUM>. Any one of the first pair of joints <NUM> and the second pair of joints <NUM> correspondingly connected thereto is a pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM>, and the other one thereof is a pair of corresponding anti-leakage female joints <NUM>. The structures of the pair of anti-leakage male joints <NUM> and the pair of anti-leakage female joints <NUM> are identical to the ones described in the first exemplary embodiment and as shown in <FIG>; therefore, details thereof are omitted hereafter.

Claim 1:
A charging column, comprising:
an equipment box (<NUM>) comprising a control equipment (<NUM>) and a delivery pipeline (<NUM>) received therein;
two isolated docking boxes (<NUM>) respectively disposed outside the equipment box (<NUM>) and each enclosing an interior separated and physically isolated from an interior of the equipment box (<NUM>); each one of the isolated docking boxes (<NUM>) further comprising at least one pair of first pair of joints (<NUM>) connected to the delivery pipeline (<NUM>) and a plurality of electrodes (<NUM>) arranged therein and electrically connected to the control equipment (<NUM>); the two isolated docking boxes (<NUM>) respectively configured to be an input docking box (<NUM>) and an output docking box (<NUM>);
two power devices (300a/300b), wherein the respective power devices (300a/300b) comprise a power supply device (<NUM>) for transmitting power to the control equipment (<NUM>) and a charging gun (<NUM>) for receiving power from the control equipment (<NUM>);
wherein the power supply device (<NUM>) is arranged inside the input docking box (<NUM>) and connected to the plurality of electrodes (<NUM>) inside the input docking box (<NUM>);
wherein the charging gun (<NUM>) is connected from an exterior of the output docking box (<NUM>) to an interior of the output docking box and further connected to the electrodes (<NUM>) inside the output docking box (<NUM>);
wherein the control equipment (<NUM>) controls the power transmission from the power supply device (<NUM>) to the charging gun (<NUM>); and
wherein the power supply device (<NUM>) and the charging gun (<NUM>) correspondingly include a cooling pipeline (<NUM>) arranged thereon; each one of the cooling pipelines (<NUM>) is connected to an interior of the correspondingly isolated docking box (<NUM>), and each one of the cooling pipelines (<NUM>) includes at least one pair of second pair of joints (<NUM>) correspondingly connected to each one of the first pair of joints (<NUM>).