LIQUID COOLED CABLE AND CHARGING CABLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A liquid cooled cable (1) includes a conductor (2) with at least two cable strands (3). The conductor (2) is encompassed b a hose (5) spaced in a sectional view at least partially apart from the conductor (2) by an interstitial space (6). The interstititial space (6) is arranged between an inner wall (7) of the hose (5) and the cable strands (3) of the conductor (2). The interstitial space (6) conducts a cooling liquid (15) along the conductor (2).

Claims

1. A liquid cooled cable (1) comprising; a. a conductor (2) including at least two cable strands (3); b. the conductor (2) encompassed by a hose (5) spaced at least partially apart from the conductor (2) by an it space (o) arranged between an inner wall (7) of the hose (4) and the cable strands (3) of the conductor (2); c. the interstitial space (6) including a cooling liquid (15) in the hose (5) along the conductor (2).

2. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cable strands (3) are stranded with respect to each other in a helical manner in a longitudinal direction (x) of the conductor (2).

3. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cable strands (3) comprise wires (4) stranded with respect to each other.

4. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 3, wherein the wires (4) of a cable strand (3) are mechanically compressed with respect to each other.

5. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conductor (2) comprises one of: a. two cable strands (3) in a cross-section being spaced by 180° apart from each other with respect to a center (16) of the conductor (2); and b. three cable strands (3) in a cross-section being spaced by 120° apart from each other with respect to the center (16) of the conductor (2).

6. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two cable strands (3) are spaced apart from each other by a spacer.

7. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hose (5) comprises an essentially circular cross-section.

8. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hose (5) is self-supporting.

9. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conductor (2) is arranged laterally movable with respect to the hose (5) resulting in a variable interstitial space (6).

10. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the length of twist of the cable strands (3) is in the range of 7 to 15 times a diameter of an envelope curve (9) of the corresponding conductor (2).

11. The liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the inner wall (7) of the hose (5) is in the range of 5% to 15% bigger than the diameter of an envelope curve (9) of the corresponding conductor (2).

12. A charging cable (10) comprising at least one liquid cooled cable (1) according to claim 1.

13. The charging cable (10) according to claim 12, wherein the charging cable (10) comprises two liquid cooled cables (1) arranged adjacent to each other.

14. The charging cable (10) according to claim 12, wherein the charging cable (10) comprises a flow hose (12) for the cooling liquid (15).

15. The charging cable (10) according to claim 12, wherein the charging cable (10) comprises an outer hose (11).

16. A method for making of a liquid cooled cable (1) comprising the following steps: a. providing a conductor (2) including at least two cable strands (3); b. encompassing the conductor (2) with a hose (5) extruded over the at least two cable strands (3) in a continuous manner spaced at. least partially apart from the conductor (2) by an interstitial space (6) arranged between an inner wall (7) of the hose (5) and the cable strands (3) of the conductor (2). c. conducting a cooling liquid (15) within the interstitial space (6) in the hose (5) along the conductor (2).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least two cable strands (3) during production are stranded with respect to each other in a helical manner in a longitudinal direction (x) of the conductor (2).

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the wires (4) of at least one cable strand (3) are mechanically compressed the with respect to each other before the hose (5) is extruded over the at least two cable strands (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The herein described disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the disclosure described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a variation of a cross-section of a charging cable according to the disclosure:

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first variation of a liquid cooled cable according to the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of the liquid cooled cable according to FIG. 2;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a section view along section line DD according to FIG. 3;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second variation of a liquid cooled cable according to the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of the liquid cooled cable according to FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a section view along section line DD according to FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a variation of a charging cable 10 according to the disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a first variation of a liquid cooled cable 1 according to the disclosure in a perspective view. FIG. 3 shows the liquid cooled cable 1 according to FIG. 2 in a side view and FIG. 4 shows a section view of the liquid cooled cable 1 according to section line DD of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a second variation of a liquid cooled cable 1 according to the disclosure in a perspective view. FIG. 6 shows the liquid cooled cable 1 according to FIG. 5 in a side view and FIG. 7 shows a section view of the liquid cooled cable 1 according to section line DD of FIG. 6.

[0026] In a variation, a charging cable 10 according to the present disclosure usually comprises a first and a second liquid cooled cable 1 which usually have a similar design. The liquid cooled cables 1 are forseen to transport electric current to an electric vehicle (not shown in detail) to charge the electric vehicle. The first and the second liquid cooled cable 1 are arranged in an outer hose 11 which help to protect the first and the second liquid cable against outer influences during operation. As shown in in FIG. 1, a flow hose 12 may be arranged in the outer hose 11 to return cooling liquid 15 flowing in the liquid cooled cables 1 as described hereinafter in more detail. Depending on the field of application, two liquid cooled cables 1 can share a common flow hose 12. Alternatively or in addition, each liquid cooled cable 1 may comprise its own flow hose 12. If necessary, the charging cable 10 may comprise a ground wire 13 and/or at least one data line 14 to transmit information along the charging cable 10.

[0027] A liquid cooled cable 1 according to the present disclosure usually comprises a conductor 2 which comprises at least two cable strands 3. The cable strands 3 of the conductor 2 are encompassed by a hose 5. In a cross-sectional view, they are usually spaced at least partially apart from the hose 5 by an interstitial space 6 arranged between an inner wall 7 of the hose 5 and the cable strands 3 of the conductor 2. The interstitial space 6 is foreseen to conduct a cooling liquid 15 along the conductor 2. Good results can be achieved when the cooling liquid 15 is in direct contact with the outer wires 4 of the cable strands 3 Usually, the at least two cable strands 3 are stranded with respect to each other in a helical manner in a longitudinal direction x of the conductor 2. As a result, the interstitial space 6 which is defined by the strands 3 of the conductor 2 and the inner wall 7 of the hose 5, are also helically shaped forcing the cooling liquid 15 on a helical path around a center 16 of the conductor 2. Preferably the inner wall 7 of the hose 5 is flat thereby supporting a linear flow of the cooling liquid 15. Preferably, the cable strands 3 each consist of a bundle of wires 4 stranded with respect to each other. To obtain a higher area current carrying cross-section, the wires 4 of a strand 3 may be mechanically compressed with respect to each other. Preferably, the conductor 2 comprises two cable strands 3 in a cross-section being spaced by 180° apart from each other with respect to a center 16 of the conductor 2 or three cable strands 3 in a cross-section being spaced by 120° apart from each other with respect to the center 16 of the conductor 2. If appropriate, the at least two cable strands 3 may be spaced apart from each other by a spacer (not shown in detail) arranged in a longitudinal direction between them. Thereby it would be possible to obtain a more even internal cooling, Preferably, the hose 5 comprises an essentially circular cross-section offering an even distribution of the cooling liquid 15. Depending on the field of application, other shapes of cross-sections may be appropriate. The hose 5 is preferably self-supporting. Alternatively, it can e.g. be encompassed by a supporting structure, e.g. in the form of a spiral coil made from spring steel, maintaining the cross-section when lateral forces occur or during bending. Good results can be achieved, when the conductor 2 is arranged laterally movable with respect, to the hose 5 resulting in a variable interstitial space 6. The length of twist of the cable strands 3 is preferably in the range of 7 to 15 times the diameter of an envelope curve 9 of the corresponding conductor 2. Furthermore, the diameter of the inner wall 7 of the hose 5 is preferably in the range of 5% to 15% bigger than the diameter of an envelope curve 9 of the corresponding conductor 2. In both cases, depending on the field of application, other values may be possible. In a preferred variation, the charging cable 10 comprises two liquid cooled cables 1 arranged adjacent to each other. In addition, the charging cable 10 may comprise a flow hose 12 for the cooling liquid 15. For better protection, the charging cable 10 comprises an outer hose 11.

[0028] The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure