EP-4736272-A1 - A PROTECTIVE CAP FOR A BATTERY CONNECTOR OF A VEHICLE

EP4736272A1EP 4736272 A1EP4736272 A1EP 4736272A1EP-4736272-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective cap (150) for a battery connector (100) of a vehicle (10). The protective cap (150) includes a housing (151) having an opening (151a) configured to be detachably attached to the battery connector (100). Further, a cavity (152) being configured to receive a sensing element (153) which is configured to generate an input signal based on an attachment or detachment state of the protective cap (150) with the battery connector (100). The protective cap (150) includes at least one attachment member (155), at least one locking member (156) and an elastic support member (158). The at least one attachment member (155) and the at least one locking member (156) are formed on one of plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151). The elastic support member (158) has a mounting element (159).

Inventors

Savarirajan, Charlesbenadict
Dutta, Shatyajit
GOVINDRAJAN, Srinivasan
MURTHY, ANIRUDH
PRASAD, RAGHAVENDRA
RAJARAM SAGARE, Datta

Assignees

TVS Motor Company Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240419

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A protective cap (150) for a battery connector (100) of a vehicle (10), the protective cap (150) comprises: a housing (151) having an opening (151a) configured to be detachably attached to the battery connector (100), a plurality of outer side portions (151b) and a cavity (152) being configured to receive a sensing element (153), the sensing element (153) being configured to generate an input signal based on an attachment or detachment state of the protective cap (150) with the battery connector (100); at least one attachment member (155) and at least one locking member (156) formed on one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151); and an elastic support member (158) extending away from the housing (151), the elastic support member (158) having a distal end (158b) being configured to receive a mounting element (159). 2. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting element (159) of the elastic support member (158) being configured to be attached to a wiring harness of the battery connector (100) and hangably mount the protective cap (150) when detached from the battery connector (100). 3. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment member (155) being configured to be attached to a mounting bracket (20) of the vehicle (10). 4. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member (156) being configured to be lockably attached to the battery connector (100). 5. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing element (153) comprises a plurality of electrical pins, each of the plurality of electrical pins being configured to be operably attached to the battery connector (100). 6. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a plurality of protruded slide members (154) formed on an inner surface of the housing (151) and a grip member (157) formed on one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151). 7. The protective cap (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic support member (158) comprises an attachment end (158a) being opposite to the distal end (158b), the attachment end (158a) being integrally attached to one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151). 8. An electric vehicle (10) comprising: a plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) removably disposed inside the vehicle (10), each of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) being configured to supply an electric power to drive the vehicle (10); a control unit (C) operably connected with the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) and being configured to control the supply of the electric power; and a plurality of battery connectors (100) operably connected with each other and configured to electrically connect a first battery (Bl) of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) with a second battery (B2) of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2), each of the plurality of battery connectors (100) being configured to detachably and lockably receive a protective cap (150) having a sensing element (153), the sensing element (153) being operably connected to the control unit (C) of the vehicle (10) and configured to generate an input signal based on an attachment or detachment state of the protective cap (150) with one of the plurality of battery connectors (100). 9. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of battery connectors (100) comprises a housing (101) having a first end (110), a second end (140), and a pair of electrical contact members (130) disposed inside the housing (101), the pair of electrical contact members (130) being configured to receive terminals of one of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) and configured to electrically connect the first battery (Bl) of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2) with the second battery (B2) of the plurality of batteries (Bl, B2). 10. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the second ends (140) of the housing (101) of the plurality of battery connectors (100) comprises an attachment portion (141) configured to detachably receive the protective cap (150) and a plurality of slot members (144) formed on an outer surface of the attachment portion (141). 11. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protective cap (150) comprises: a housing (151) having an opening (151a) configured to be detachably attached to the second end (140) of the housing (101) of one of the plurality of battery connectors (100), a plurality of outer side portions (151b) and a cavity (152) being configured to receive the sensing element (153); at least one attachment member (155) and at least one locking member (156) formed on one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151); and an elastic support member (158) extending away from the housing (151), the elastic support member (158) being configured to receive a mounting element (159). 12. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, comprises a mounting bracket (20) being rigidly attached to the vehicle (10), the mounting bracket (20) being configured to detachably receive the at least one attachment member (155) of the protective cap (150). 13. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of battery connectors (100) comprises a locking mechanism (124) mounted on the second end (140) of the housing (101), the locking mechanism (124) being configured to receive the locking member (156) of the protective cap (150). 14. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elastic support member (158) comprises a mounting element (159), the mounting element (159) being configured to be attached to a wiring harness of one of the plurality of battery connectors (100) and supportably mount the protective cap (150) when detached from one of the plurality of battery connectors (100). 15. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit (C) being configured to receive the input signal from the sensing element (153) and disconnect the supply of the electric power when the second battery (B2) is disconnected from the first battery (Bl) and the protective cap (150) is detached from the second end (140) of one of the plurality of battery connectors (100). 16. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensing element (153) includes a plurality of electrical pins. 17. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protective cap (150) comprises a plurality of protruded slide members (154) formed on an inner surface of the housing (151) and a grip member (157) formed on one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151). 18. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the second ends (140) of the plurality of battery connectors (100) comprises a connection port (148), the connection port (148) being configured to receive the plurality of electrical pins of the sensing element (153). 19. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of slot members (144) being configured to receive one of the plurality of protruded slide members (154) of the protective cap (150). 20. The electric vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elastic support member (158) comprises an attachment end (158a) being integrally attached to one of the plurality of outer side portions (151b) of the housing (151).

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION A PROTECTIVE CAP FOR A BATTERY CONNECTOR OF A VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The present invention relates to battery connectors of a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective cap for a battery connector of the vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [002] Electric vehicles (EVs) as well as the hybrid vehicles have gained significant popularity and high demands due to their environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness. In hybrid vehicles, apart from the internal combustion usages, an electric propulsion system with additional batteries is provided to drive the vehicle in predefined conditions. The electric vehicles are powered by one or more batteries, to provide the necessary energy for propulsion whereas the number of batteries depends upon the power requirements and configuration of the vehicle. With the advent in renewable technologies, battery systems were developed to introduce the provision of removable rechargeable batteries which can be replaced and/or used in conjunction with other charged batteries, if required. The removed battery can also be charged separately from the vehicle while the vehicle may run on another battery. Such batteries are designed to be easily removable, allowing for convenient replacement or recharging. [003] In existing configuration of vehicles, removable batteries are connected to each other through battery connectors. Battery connectors electrically connect terminals of one battery with terminals of another battery through power terminals. While removing or replacing batteries, the battery connector of one battery is required to be detached from another battery connector. It has been observed that when one of the batteries is removed from the electrical vehicle, the power terminals of the remaining battery connectors are exposed and pose safety concerns. [004] Moreover, the electric vehicles are designed and manufactured with multiple variants possessing different configurations in specifications of battery storage as well as the traction power. Some variants of the vehicles and especially, the lower variants are assembled with lesser number of batteries as compared to higher variants of the same vehicle. Due to mass manufacturing, the general configuration of the battery storage and battery connectors remains the same to avoid additional costs and reduce assembly time and due to which a storage space for additional battery is left vacant and the power terminals of the battery connectors are left open or exposed in lying condition inside the battery storage space. In such situations, a battery current from the available and/or stored battery keeps flowing through the exposed power terminals and an accident contact with these power terminals can lead to short circuits, or other hazards. [005] Further, it has also been observed that in vehicles whereas the battery storage compartment is adjacent and/or being used or shared commonly with utility storage compartment, the exposed power terminals of the battery connectors may contact stored metal objects, articles therein and thus are susceptible to cause damage to the articles or the components of the battery system and including the vehicle itself. Furthermore, when the power terminals of the battery connector are in open condition, dust and/or water particles enters and accumulates inside the battery connector which leads to power terminal corrosion and causes further damage to the battery connector as well as the battery. [006] In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a protective cap for protecting a battery connector which solve at least one of the aforesaid problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [007] In one aspect of the invention, a protective cap for a battery connector of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The protective cap includes a housing having an opening, a sensing element, at least one attachment member, at least one locking member, and an elastic support member. The opening being configured to be detachably attached to the battery connector. The housing includes a cavity and a plurality of outer side portions. The cavity being configured to receive a sensing element. The sensing element being configured to generate an input signal based on an attachment or detachment state of the protective cap with the battery connector. The at least one attachment member and the the at least one locking member being formed on one of the plurality of outer side portions of the housing. The elastic support member extends away from the housing. The elastic support member includes a distal end being configured to receive a mounting element. [008] In an embodiment, the mounting element of the elastic support member being configured to be attached to a wiring harness of the battery connector and hangably mount the protective cap when detached from the battery connector. [009] In an embodiment, the at least one attachment member being configured to be attached to a