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EP-4741214-A1 - A CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT, A CABLE COILING DEVICE AND A CHARGING CABLE ASSEMBLY

EP4741214A1EP 4741214 A1EP4741214 A1EP 4741214A1EP-4741214-A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a connector arrangement (1) for a charging cable (28) for an electric vehicle. The connector arrangement (1) comprises a first connector interface (10) configured to be fixed to a first connector (34) of a vehicle charging cable (28), and a second connector interface (12) configured to releasably accommodate a second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28). The connector arrangement (1) further comprises a socket interaction device (14) configured to engage a socket lid (38) of a vehicle charging station (40), to open the socket lid (38) and to keep the socket lid (38) open, upon a manual operation of the connector arrangement (1).

Inventors

  • Hjort, Mathias
  • Fält, Tommy

Assignees

  • CTEK Sweden AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (15)

  1. A connector arrangement (1) for a charging cable (28) for an electric vehicle, the connector arrangement (1) comprising: - a first connector interface (10) configured to be fixed to a first connector (34) of a vehicle charging cable (28), - a second connector interface (12) configured to releasably accommodate a second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28), and wherein the connector arrangement (1) further comprises a socket interaction device (14) configured to engage a socket lid (38) of a vehicle charging station (40), to open the socket lid (38) and to keep the socket lid (38) open, upon a manual operation of the connector arrangement (1).
  2. The connector arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connector arrangement (1) comprises a unitary body comprising the first and second connector interfaces (10, 12).
  3. The connector arrangement (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the socket interaction device (14) comprises a rigid structure protruding from the connector arrangement (1).
  4. The connector arrangement (1) according to claim 3, wherein the rigid structure comprises an engagement member (16), configured to engage a socket lid (38) of a vehicle charging station (40).
  5. The connector arrangement (1) according to any one of the previous claims wherein the manual operation of the connector arrangement (1) comprises a manually controlled movement of the connector arrangement (1) in relation to a connector socket (42) of a vehicle charging station (40).
  6. The connector arrangement (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the second connector interface (12) comprises a locking mechanism (18) configured to releasably lock a second connector (36) of a vehicle charging cable (28) in accommodation with the second connector interface (12).
  7. The connector arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism (18) comprises a mechanically biased locking member (20) configured to engage a structure (22) of the second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28).
  8. The connector arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the mechanically biased locking member (20) is manually operable to release the second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28) from engagement with the locking member (20).
  9. The connector arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 7-8, wherein the second connector interface (12) comprises a sleeve (24) configured to accommodate the second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28) and wherein the mechanically biased locking member (20) is arranged on the sleeve (24) and comprises a protrusion (25) configured to protrude through the sleeve (24) to engage the structure (22) of the second connector (36) of the vehicle charging cable (28) accommodated in the sleeve (24).
  10. A cable coiling device (2) for a vehicle charging cable (28), the cable coiling device (2) comprising an elongated flexible pre-shaped member (26) configured to be fixed to a vehicle charging cable (28) and to extend along at least a part of a length of the vehicle charging cable (28).
  11. The cable coiling device (2) according to claim 10, wherein the pre-shaped member is arranged inside a flexible tube (29), which tube (29) is fixed to the vehicle charging cable (28) and which extends along at least a part of the length of the vehicle charging cable (28).
  12. A charging cable assembly (3) for electric vehicles, the charging cable assembly comprising: - a vehicle charging cable (28) having a first end (30) and a second end (32), - a first connector (34) arranged at the first end (30), - a second connector (36) arranged at the second end (32), and wherein the charging cable assembly (3) comprises the connector arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1-9, and/or the cable coiling device (2) according to any one of claims 10-11.
  13. The charging assembly (3) according to claim 13, comprising the connector arrangement (1) according to claim 1-9, wherein the first connector interface (10) is fixedly attached to, or integrated with the first connector (34).
  14. The charging assembly (3) according to claim 13, comprising the connector arrangement (1) according to claim 1-9, wherein the second connector (36) is releasably accommodated by the second connector interface (12).
  15. The charging assembly (3) according to claim 13, comprising the cable coiling device (2) according to any one of claims 10-11, wherein the pre-shaped member (26) is fixedly attached to the charging cable (28), or integrated in the charging cable (28).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to charging cables for electric vehicles. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a connector arrangement, a cable coiling device and a charging cable assembly. The disclosure can be applied to charging cables for electric vehicles, which charging cables comprise connectors. However, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle or charging cable. BACKGROUND Users of electrically driven vehicles need to carry cables having connectors at the ends for connecting between a charging station and the vehicle to charge the vehicle's batteries. The cables usually measure a couple of meters in length to be able to connect the vehicle with the charging station, which may be positioned at varying distances from a charging interface of the parked vehicle. When a user parks the vehicle at a charging station to commence charging, he/she must collect the cable from a storage compartment, such as the trunk, of the vehicle and connect one connector to a socket of the charging station and the other connector to the charging interface of the vehicle. The cable may be in disarray from the latest use of the cable, forcing the user to untangle the cable before connecting the connectors. Due to the length of the cable, it is difficult for a use who handles the two connectors to avoid dropping an intermediate section of the cable on the ground between the vehicle and the charging station. The ground may be wet and dirty, which will soil the cable such that the water and dirt will later end up in the trunk of the vehicle when the cable is stowed after use. In addition, it may be hard to connect a connector of the cable to a socket of the charging station when carrying two connectors in the hands, and especially when the socket is closed by a socket lid. SUMMARY Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an improved charging cable arrangement which rectifies the issues outlined above. In particular aspects, objects of the invention are to provide a charging cable arrangement which may be operated using only one hand, which keeps the cable in order, and which reduces the risk of soiling the cable by contact with the ground. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the object is at least partly achieved by a connector arrangement according to claim 1. Hence, there is provided a connector arrangement for a charging cable for an electric vehicle, the connector arrangement comprises a first connector interface configured to be fixed to a first connector of a vehicle charging cable, and a second connector interface configured to releasably accommodate a second connector of the vehicle charging cable. The connector arrangement further comprises a socket interaction device configured to engage a socket lid of a vehicle charging station, to open the socket lid and to keep the socket lid open, upon a manual operation of the connector arrangement. The connector arrangement is thus a device which is configured to hold the first and second connectors of a vehicle charging cable. The first and second connectors are preferably kept adjacent to each other. The configuration of the connector arrangement results in a device which may fix the first and the second connector in relation to each other. It is thereby possible to use one hand to hold the two connectors. A user may for instance hold one of the connectors in one hand and the other connector will be carried along because it is secured to the connector arrangement. The user may alternatively hold a part of the connector arrangement in one hand and the first and second connectors will be carried along due to their mechanical connection to the connector arrangement. The first connector interface may be fixation device configured to be fixedly attached to the first connector. The first connector interface may alternatively be integrated with the first connector as a structural part of the first connector. The second connector interface may be a holder configured to releasably hold the second connector such that the second connector may be removed from the connector arrangement. The socket interaction device is a structural element of the connector arrangement, which structural element is dimensioned such that a user may put it in physical contact with the socket lid by moving the connector arrangement. Further movement of the connector arrangement may open the lid using the socket interaction device and the first connector may subsequently be inserted in the socket while the socket lid is kept open by the socket interaction device. The socket interaction device is configured to enable a user to hold the connector arrangement, to open the socket lid and to insert the first connector in the socket using only one hand. When the first connector has been inserted in the socket, the second connector may be removed from the second connector interface of the connector arrangement such that the second connec