Patent ID: 12234938

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The implementation and usage of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it is conceivable that the specific embodiments discussed are merely intended to illustrate specific ways of implementing and using the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. When describing structures and positions of components, the direction-related expressions herein, such as “upper”, “lower”, “top”, and “bottom”, are not absolute, but relative. When the components are arranged as shown in the drawings, these direction-related expressions are appropriate, but when the positions of these components in the drawings are altered, these direction-related expressions should be altered accordingly.

In the present application, an axial direction of a cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the central axis of the component, a peripheral direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the circumference of the component, and a radial direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction passing through the central axis of the component and being perpendicular to the axial direction of the component.

FIG.1andFIG.2show a connector assembly10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The connector assembly10includes a female connector100and a male connector200for being connected with the female connector100. The female connector100and the male connector200may each be connected with a fluid pipeline (not shown).

FIGS.3A to12Billustrate the female connector100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application and its components.

Referring toFIGS.3A to5, the female connector100may include a housing102, a valve assembly104, a base106, a bushing108, and a mounting member110. The housing102defines a first axial direction A1. The housing102has an opening112, for insertion of the male connector200, at a first end103of the housing102. And a first limiting member114is provided on an outer periphery of the housing102. The valve assembly104is arranged in the housing102. The base106defines a receiving passage116extending along the first axial direction A1, and the housing102is partially received in the receiving passage116. The bushing108is sleeved outside the housing102and arranged in the receiving passage116to retain the housing102in the receiving passage116, and the bushing108is elastically deformable. The mounting member110is fixed to an axial end118of the base106(that is, the end of the base106in the first axial direction A1). The first limiting member114is confined in the first axial direction A1between the axial end118and the mounting member110, and a movement space S (shown inFIG.3A) for the first limiting member114to move therein is defined between the axial end118and the mounting member110.

Referring toFIG.4, the housing102includes a first housing portion120and a second housing portion122. The first housing portion120and the second housing portion122may, for example, be separately formed and assembled with each other. This allows the second housing portion122to have various configurations to adapt to different pipelines or counterparts, expanding the application range of the female connector100. The first housing portion120and the second housing portion122may be formed by, for example, injection molding.

Referring toFIGS.4,5and9A to9C, the first housing portion120may have a generally straight cylindrical shape and define the first axial direction A1. The first housing portion120is received in the receiving passage116of the base106. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified in this specification, the first axial direction A1refers to the direction of the central axis of the first housing portion120when the first housing portion120is coaxial with the receiving passage116.

The first housing portion120may include a first housing body124and a retaining ring128. The first housing body124has a first end103and a second end105. The first end103of the first housing body124has an opening112for the insertion of the male connector200. The opening112of the housing102has a guide surface126for guiding the insertion of the male connector200into the housing102. The retaining ring128is provided at the second end105of the first housing body124. In the illustrated embodiment, the second housing portion122may have a generally bent cylindrical shape. The second housing portion122may include a coupling section130that is coupled with the first housing section120and an adapter section132for being connected with a fluid pipeline. The coupling section130of the second housing portion122may be at least partially arranged between the second end105of the first housing body124and the retaining ring128, and be retained at the second end105of the first housing body124by barbs129of the retaining ring128. A sealing member134is provided between the second end105of the first housing body124and the coupling section130to achieve a sealed assembly of the first housing portion120and the second housing portion122.

Referring toFIG.4, the valve assembly104may include a valve stem136, a sliding sleeve138and an elastic element140. Optionally, the valve stem136and the sliding sleeve138may both be formed by injection molding.

Referring toFIGS.5,10A and10B, the valve stem136may be positioned in the housing102in the first axial direction A1. The valve stem136may include a valve stem head142and a valve stem base144which are respectively located at two ends of the valve stem136, and include a valve stem middle portion146connecting the valve stem head142with the valve stem base144. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve stem136is integrally formed. The valve stem base144is substantially disc-shaped and two opposite side surfaces of the valve stem base144are substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction A1. The valve stem base144may be fixed by the first housing portion120and the second housing portion122. Specifically, the coupling section130of the second housing portion122may include an inner stepped portion131. The valve stem base144may be at least partially sandwiched between the second end105, away from the opening112, of the first housing portion120and the inner stepped portion131of the second housing portion122. The valve stem base144may be provided with through holes145extending through the two side surfaces for fluid to flow therethrough. The valve stem middle portion146substantially extends along the first axial direction A1. The valve stem middle portion146is further provided with multiple reinforcing ribs148to increase the strength of the valve stem136. The valve stem head142may gradually widen toward the opening112in the first axial direction A1such that the valve stem head142has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section.

Referring toFIGS.4,5,11A, and11B, the sliding sleeve138is arranged in the first housing portion120and is sleeved outside the valve stem136, and the sliding sleeve138is slidable between the first closed position (shown inFIG.5) and the first open position (shown inFIG.2) along the first axial direction A1. A sealing member150is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve138and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing body124. A sealing member151is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve138and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head142. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member150is in the form of an irregular sealing ring. The sealing member150is embedded in the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve138, i.e., received in an annular groove152in the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve138, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion120.

With reference toFIG.12AandFIG.12B, the outer periphery of the sealing member150has two annular flanges153arranged along the first axial direction A1, and each annular flange153tapers outward in the radial direction.

Similarly, the inner periphery of the sealing member150has two annular flanges155arranged along the first axial direction A1, and each annular flange155tapers inward in the radial direction.

Compared with a conventional sealing ring with a circular cross-section, the external force, required to draw the irregular sealing member150having two annular flanges on the inner periphery out of the annular groove152of the sliding sleeve138, is significantly increased, so that the sealing member150can be held more securely in the annular groove152, thereby preventing the sealing member150from being separated from the sliding sleeve138as the sliding sleeve138reciprocates between the first closed position and the first open position.

Referring toFIGS.4,5,11A, and11B, two ends of the elastic element140abut against an inner stepped portion139of the sliding sleeve138and the valve stem base144respectively. Optionally, the elastic element140may be in the form of a coil spring. The sliding sleeve138is biased towards the first closed position by the elastic force of the elastic element140. The outer periphery of the sliding sleeve138is provided with a limiting protrusion154. The inner periphery of the first housing portion120is provided with a limiting surface156. The limiting protrusion154and the limiting surface156may abut against each other to limit the sliding sleeve138in the first closed position.

When the sliding sleeve138is biased in the first closed position by the elastic member140, the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the sliding sleeve138respectively contact the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion120and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head142, so as to block the annular gap between the first housing portion120and the valve stem head142to further cut off the flow path of the female connector100. When the sliding sleeve138is pushed by an external force along the first axial direction A1, the sliding sleeve138can resist the elastic force of the elastic element140and move away from the valve stem head142to the first open position, so that the flow path of the female connector100is opened. With reference toFIG.2, when the sliding sleeve138is in the first open position, the fluid may flow through the gap between the sliding sleeve138and the valve stem136, and then flow into the second housing portion122through the through holes145in the valve stem base144, and then flow into the fluid pipeline (not shown) connected with the female connector100. Similarly, the fluid may flow into the housing102from the fluid pipeline connected with the female connector100along a reverse direction and then flow out of the housing102.

Referring toFIGS.4,5, and9A to9C, the female connector100may be fixed to the application environment, in which the female connector100is to be applied, via a connecting structure (not shown) on the base106. The first housing portion120of the female connector100may be partially received and retained in the receiving passage116of the base106via the bushing108. The first housing portion120may have a first limiting member114and a second limiting member158. The first limiting member114and the second limiting member158extend around the first housing body124and are spaced apart along the first axial direction A1. The bushing108is sleeved outside the first housing body124and is confined between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158.

Referring toFIGS.4,5, and8A to9C, the bushing108may be made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and at least one cavity160is defined in a peripheral wall of the bushing108. In the illustrated embodiment, the bushing108has multiple cavities160arranged in the peripheral direction of the bushing and extending in the first axial direction A1to facilitate elastic deformation of the bushing108. It is conceivable that the bushing108may have any other suitable multi-cavity configuration. For example, the peripheral wall of the bushing may be honeycomb-shaped. The bushing108has a slit162extending in the first axial direction A1. The first housing body124may be nested in the bushing108via the slit162. The inner diameter of the bushing108may be substantially equal to the outer diameter of a portion of the first housing body124located between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158. The outer diameter of the bushing108may be substantially equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the receiving passage116. The first limiting member114and the second limiting member158are shaped and/or sized such that: the second limiting member158can be inserted through the receiving passage116, and the first limiting member114is stopped outside the receiving passage116. In the embodiment shown inFIG.9AtoFIG.9C, the outer diameter of an arc portion of the first limiting member114is larger than the inner diameter of the receiving passage116, and the outer diameter of the second limiting member158is smaller than the inner diameter of the receiving passage116, so that the second limiting member158of the first housing portion120can be inserted through the receiving passage116, while the first limiting member114cannot enter the receiving passage116.

In addition, the length of the bushing108(that is, the length of the bushing108in the first axial direction A1) may be smaller than a distance between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158in the first axial direction A1.

Referring toFIG.5andFIG.16, since the length of the bushing108is smaller than the distance between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158, there is a certain space between the limiting member, that is the first limiting member114and/or the second limiting member158, and the axial end of the bushing108. If the male connector200is not fully aligned with the opening112of the first housing portion120when inserted and the first housing portion120is thereby deflected within the bushing108, the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158will first deflect accordingly and easily due to this space, and two axial ends of the bushing108will not immediately resist the deflection of the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158as the first housing portion120starts to deflect, which can reduce the insertion force of the male connector200(especially in the case that the axial stiffness of the bushing108is relatively large), thereby reducing the risk of damage to the female connector100.

It is conceivable that if the length of the bushing108is equal to the distance between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158, once the first housing portion120is deflected, the two axial ends of the bushing108will respectively abut against the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158and resist this deflection with a large force (especially in the case that the axial stiffness of the bushing108is relatively large), which will result in a large insertion force of the male connector200and in turn increase the risk of damage to the female connector.

Referring toFIG.3AandFIG.7, the first limiting member114located outside the receiving passage116may be limited by the mounting member110. The mounting member110may be in the form of a plate and extend substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction A1. The mounting member110may be fixed to the axial end118of the base106, for example, via fasteners164, so as to confine the first limiting member114between the axial end118and the mounting member110in the first axial direction A1. The movement space S for the first limiting member114to move therein is defined between the axial end118and the mounting member110. The axial end118of the base106may be provided with a recess166. The recess166is adjacent to and communicated with the receiving passage116in the first axial direction A1. The shape and/or size of the recess166are such designed that the recess166can accommodate the first limiting member114. The recess166and the mounting member110define the movement space S for the first limiting member114to move therein.

It is conceivable that, in the case that the mounting member110has a certain thickness, a recess may be provided on a side of the mounting member110facing the base106, so as to define together with the axial end118of the base106a movement space for the first limiting member114to move therein. The movement of the first limiting member114herein includes but is not limited to: rotation around the first axial direction A1, movement along the first axial direction A1, movement in a direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1, and deflection of the first limiting member114(that is, movement of the first limiting member114with its normal direction inclining respect to the first axial direction A1).

The female connector retains the first housing portion120in the base106by using the elastically deformable bushing108, and confines the first limiting member114of the first housing portion120between the base106and the mounting member110in a movable manner. Such configuration of female connector can absorb the assembly tolerances in various directions when the female connector100is connected with the male connector200, which will be described in detail below, and also allows the housing102to rotate within the base106, so that the circumferential orientation of the second housing portion122can be adjusted as required, thereby allowing optimization of the layout of the fluid pipeline connected to the female connector100.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.7, the mounting member110may include openings168open on one side to avoid mechanical interference with the housing102when the mounting member110is mounted on the base106along the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1.

When the female connector100is assembled, the valve assembly104is placed within the first housing portion120, and the second housing portion122is coupled with the second end105of the first housing portion120, so that the valve assembly104is retained within the housing102. Then, the bushing108is sleeved outside the portion of the first housing portion120between the first limiting member114and the second limiting member158. In this way, an assembly structure of the housing102, the valve assembly104and the bushing108can be obtained. Then, the assembly structure is inserted into the receiving passage116of the base106, so that the second limiting member158of the first housing portion120is inserted through the receiving passage116, while the first limiting member114is located in the recess166at the axial end118of the base106. Then, the mounting member110is passed through the portion of the first housing portion120between the first limiting member114and the retaining ring128in the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1, and is then placed on the base106such that fastening points on the mounting member110and the base106are aligned. And then the mounting member110is secured to the base106via the fasteners164. In this way, the first limiting member114of the first housing portion120is confined between the axial end118of the base106and the mounting member110, such that the first limiting member114is movable between the axial end118of the base106and the mounting member110while the housing102is prevented from being separated from the base106. It is conceivable that the above assembly steps are merely examples, and the assembly can be done in other sequences.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base106of the female connector100may be provided with two receiving passages116, and the female connector100may correspondingly have two housings102, two bushings108and two valve assemblies104, where the two housings102may be fixed to the base106via one mounting member110having two openings168. It is conceivable that the two housings102may also be fixed by two mounting members each having one opening. It is conceivable that the base106of the female connector100may accordingly be provided with one or more than two receiving passages, and the female connector100may include a corresponding number of housings, bushings and valve assembly/assemblies.

FIGS.13A to15Cillustrate the male connector200according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application and its components.

Referring toFIGS.2, and13A to15A, the male connector200includes a casing202and a valve unit204. The casing202defines a second axial direction A2and has a plug end206in the second axial direction A2, and the plug end206defines a port208(shown inFIG.2). The valve unit204is arranged within the casing202and includes a valve core210and an elastic member212. The valve core210is movable in the second axial direction A2between a second closed position (shown inFIG.15A) and a second open position (shown inFIG.2). The valve core210is biased toward the second closed position by the elastic member212. The valve core210blocks the port208to cut off a flow path of the male connector200when the valve core210is in the second closed position, and the flow path of the male connector200is opened when the valve core210is in the second open position.

The casing202includes a casing body214and a base plate216. In the illustrated embodiment, the casing body214may be substantially cylindrical, and can be formed integrally with the base plate216. Optionally, the casing body214may be formed by injection molding. The male connector200may be fixed to the application environment in which the male connector200is to be applied via the base plate216.

Referring toFIGS.14, and15A to15C, the casing body214defines the second axial direction A2. The casing body214has the plug end206for insertion into the housing102of the female connector100. The plug end206has a peripheral edge218that protrudes inwardly in the radial direction. The peripheral edge218defines the port208(shown inFIG.2). The plug end206includes a sealing member220embedded in its outer periphery. The sealing member220of the plug end206may have the same configuration as the sealing member150of the female connector100described above, so as to prevent the sealing member220from being separated from the plug end206as the male connector200is connected with or disconnected from the female connector100again and again.

The valve unit204may be arranged within the casing body214. The valve unit204may further include a mounting ring222. The valve core210and the elastic member212of the valve unit204may be mounted in the casing body214via the mounting ring222. The mounting ring222may be detachably connected to an end, opposite to the plug end206, of the casing body214. When the male connector200is assembled, the valve unit204may be placed in the casing body214, and then the mounting ring222may be mounted at the end, away from the port208, of the casing body214. The assembly method is simple and efficient.

The valve core210may include a valve core head224and a bracket226. The valve core head224may gradually widen toward the port208in the second axial direction A2such that the valve core head224has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section. A sealing member228may be provided between the outer peripheral surface of the valve core head224and the inner peripheral surface of the casing body214. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member228is embedded in the outer periphery of the valve core head224, that is, received in an annular groove230of the valve core head224, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port208.

One end of the elastic member212may abut against the bracket226of the valve core210, and another end of the elastic member212may abut against the mounting ring222, so as to bias the valve core210toward the second closed position for blocking the port208. When the valve core210is biased in the second closed position by the elastic member212, the valve core head224is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port208, so that the flow path of the male connector200is cut off. When the valve core210is pushed by an external force along the second axial direction A2, the valve core210can resist the elastic force of the elastic member212and move away from the port208to the second open position, so that the flow path of the male connector200is opened. Referring toFIG.2, when the valve core210is in the second open position, the fluid can enter the casing body214from the port208of the casing body214and flow through a gap between the casing body214and the valve core head224, then flow through the mounting ring222, and thus flow into the fluid pipeline (not shown) connected with the male connector200. Similarly, the fluid may flow into the casing body214from the fluid pipeline connected with the male connector200along a reverse direction and finally flow out from the port208of the casing body214.

Referring toFIGS.2,15B and15C, the peripheral edge218of the plug end206may define a first inner peripheral inclined surface232and a second inner peripheral inclined surface234. The inner peripheral surface of the port208, the first inner peripheral inclined surface232, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface234are sequentially connected in the second axial direction A2, and the first inner peripheral inclined surface232and the second inner peripheral inclined surface234are configured to guide the sealing member228embedded in the outer periphery of the valve core210to move in the second axial direction A2into sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port208. The first inner peripheral inclined surface232and the second inner peripheral inclined surface234respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction A2, and the first angle is smaller than the second angle. The first angle may range from, for example, 5° to 15°. By guiding the sealing member228of the valve core210into the port208along the two successively arranged inner peripheral inclined surfaces inclination angles of which with respect to the second axial direction A2decrease in turn, the elastic force, provided by the elastic member212and required for the valve core210to move from the second open position to the second closed position for blocking the port208, may be reduced. Since the elastic member212only needs to provide a small elastic force, the service life of the elastic member212can be prolonged, thereby improving the service life of the male connector200. Besides, this arrangement allows the use of an elastic member212with a lower elastic modulus, making installation of the mounting ring222easier when the male connector200is assembled. In addition, the second inner peripheral inclined surface234may also abut against the bracket226of the valve core210to limit the valve core210in the second closed position.

Referring toFIG.14, in the illustrated embodiment, the casing202of the male connector200may include two casing bodies214, and the male connector200may accordingly include two valve units204. It is conceivable that the casing202of the male connector200may accordingly include one or more than two casing bodies214, and the male connector200may include a corresponding number of valve units204.

Referring toFIG.2, when the male connector200is connected with the female connector100, the plug end206of the male connector200is inserted into the female connector100via the opening112of the female connector100and pushes the sliding sleeve138of the female connector100away from the first closed position to the first open position, and at the same time, the valve stem head142of the female connector100pushes the valve core210of the male connector200away from the second closed position to the second open position, so that the flow paths of the female connector100and the male connector200are both opened and in fluid communication with each other, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid pipelines respectively connected to the female connector100and the male connector200.

When the male connector200is disconnected from the female connector100by pulling the plug end206of the male connector200out of the female connector100, the sliding sleeve138of the female connector100and the valve core210of the male connector200respectively return to the first closed position and the second closed position, and at this time, the flow paths of the female connector100and the male connector200are both closed, and the fluid in the fluid pipelines respectively connected to the female connector100and the male connector200will not leak.

The tolerance absorption function of the female connector100will be described below with reference toFIGS.1to16, taking the application of the connector assembly10to establish fluid communication between a thermal management system in a battery pack and a coolant supply system in a vehicle as an example.

The female connector100of the connector assembly10may be fixed to the vehicle body and be in fluid communication with fluid pipelines in the coolant supply system of the vehicle. The male connector200may be fixed to the battery pack and be in fluid communication with fluid pipelines in the thermal management system of the battery pack.

For the female connector100and the male connector200in the illustrated embodiment, two fluid passages will be formed after the male connector200is connected with the female connector100, where the coolant in the thermal management system of the battery pack, that has exchanged heat with the battery, can enter the coolant supply system of the vehicle through one fluid passage, and the low-temperature coolant in the coolant supply system can be replenished to the thermal management system of the battery pack through the other fluid passage.

When the battery pack is replaced, the male connector200on the battery pack is preliminarily aligned with the female connector100on the vehicle body, and then the plug end206of the male connector200is inserted into housing102of the female connector100through the opening112of the female connector100.

During the connection of the male connector200on the battery pack with the female connector100on the vehicle body, if the male connector200is inserted into the female connector100in a correct insertion direction (that is, the first axial direction A1of the female connector100is parallel to the second axial direction A2of the male connector200) but the plug end206of the male connector200is not completely aligned with the opening112of the female connector100, the plug end206of the male connector200can still be inserted into the housing102via the opening112having the guide surface126. And since the bushing108for holding the housing102can be elastically deformed and a movement space S that allows the first limiting member114to move therein is defined between the axial end118of the base106and the mounting member110, the housing102within the bushing108can be shifted in synchronization with the casing body214of the male connector200to complete the connection of the male connector200with the female connector100. After the battery pack is mounted and fixed in place on the vehicle, the male connector200will return to its preset correct position. Accordingly, the housing102will synchronously return to its preset correct position. In this way, the male connector200and the housing102of the female connector100are both returned to their preset correct positions.

Further, during the connection of the male connector200on the battery pack with the female connector100on the vehicle body, if the male connector200is not inserted in the correct direction but is obliquely inserted toward the female connector100(that is, the first axial direction A1of the female connector100is angled with respect to the second axial direction A2of the male connector200), the plug end206of the male connector200can still be inserted into the housing102via the opening112having the guide surface126. And due to the elastically deformable bushing108and existence of the movement space S that allows the first limiting member114to move therein, the housing102within the bushing108can be deflected following the casing body214of the male connector200(the first limiting member114can be deflected in the movement space S), to complete the connection of the male connector200with the female connector100. After the battery pack is mounted and fixed in place on the vehicle, the male connector200will return to its preset right position. Accordingly, the housing102will synchronously return to its preset right position. In this way, the male connector200and the housing102of the female connector100are both returned to their preset right positions.

Therefore, the female connector100and the connector assembly10according to the present application can absorb the installation tolerances in various directions when the female connector100is connected with the male connector200. It is conceivable that the female connector100and the connector assembly10according to the present application can be applied to various scenarios where a fluid communication needs to be established.

It should be understood that the embodiments shown inFIGS.1to16only illustrate the shape, size and arrangement of each optional component of the female connector and the connector assembly according to the present application. However, these embodiments are merely intended to illustrate, rather than limit. Other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the idea and scope of the present application.

The technical contents and technical features of the present application have been disclosed above. However, it can be understood that, those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concept under the creative concept of the present application, and all these various changes and improvements still fall within the protection scope of the present application. The description of the foregoing embodiments is illustrative rather than restrictive, and the protection scope of the present application is determined by the appended claims.