CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY, PLATE FOR USE WITH SUCH AN ASSEMBLY AND A COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector assembly including a plate (10) having an orifice (10a) and a spigot (12), said spigot (12) having an internal flow path for liquid, and connector means (14) for connecting the spigot (12) to the metal plate (10) so as to guide the liquid flowing in the flow path through said orifice (10a), said connector means (14) including a protruding collar structure (16) surrounding said orifice (10a).

It is proposed that the connector means (14) further includes a ring-shaped snap-on module (18) configured to be fitted over the collar structure (16), said snap-on module (18) including a cylindrical insertion part (18a) configured to be inserted into an orifice (10a) of said collar structure (16), wherein a remote end of the cylindrical insertion part (18a) in the insertion direction is provided with first snap-on structures engaging with the collar structure (16).

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising: a plate (10) having an orifice (10a) and a spigot (12), said spigot (12) having an internal flow path for liquid, and connector means (14) for connecting the spigot (12) to the metal plate (10) so as to guide the liquid flowing in the flow path through said orifice (10a), said connector means (14) including a protruding collar structure (16) surrounding said orifice (10a), wherein a male end of said spigot (12) is configured to be inserted in said collar structure (16), wherein the connector means (14) further includes a ring-shaped snap-on module (18) configured to be fitted over the collar structure (16), said snap-on module (18) including a cylindrical insertion part (18a) configured to be inserted into an orifice (10a) of said collar structure (16), wherein a remote end of the cylindrical insertion part (18a) in the insertion direction is provided with first snap-on structures engaging with the collar structure (16).

2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plate is a sheet metal plate (10) and wherein said collar is integrally made of the sheet metal of said sheet metal plate (10) by a sheet metal forming process.

3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical inner wall of the insertion part (18a) of the ring-shaped snap-on module (18) is provided a with a notch configured to receive a first O-ring (20).

4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein an inner circumference of the collar structure (16) includes a structure configured to support an O-ring to be arranged between collar structure (16) and the outer wall of the insertion part (18a).

5. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped snap-on module (18) further includes an outer wall surrounding said collar structure (16) and a second O-ring (22) is provided in a gap between the outer wall and the collar structure (16).

6. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped snap-on module (18) is a plastic part.

7. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the collar structure (16) is a cylindrical double layer structure with a rim being arranged on the inside of the collar structure (16).

8. The connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical double layer structure obtained by folding the sheet metal back.

9. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the male end of said spigot (12) includes at least one latching structure on a radial outside surface, said latching structures being configured to interact with corresponding latching structures on a cylindrical inner surface of said connector means (14).

10. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said latching structure on the radial outside surface of the end portion of the spigot (12) is configured to engage around a rim of the cylindrical inner surface of said connector means (14).

11. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical inner surface of said connector means (14) is a cylindrical inner surface of said ring-shaped snap-on module (18).

12. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first snap-on structures are configured to engage with the lower rim of the collar structure (16).

13. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement in the insertion direction is provided by first snap-on structures of the cylindrical insertion part (18a) with the collar structure (16) and is locked by the insertion of said male end of said spigot (12).

14. A cooling plate, heat exchanger or battery plate assembly including a plate (10) with a collar structure (16) suitable for use in a connector assembly according claim 1.

15. A cooling system for battery assemblies, including a connector assembly according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] FIG. 1 shows connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a sheet metal plate including a collar structure according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 is an explosion view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a pre-assembled structure including a metal plate and a snap-on module according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a sheet metal plate including a collar structure according to the second embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a spigot of a connector assembly according to third embodiment of the invention; and

[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a snap-on module according to the third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIGS. 1 and 3 show a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention. The connector assembly is configured for use in a battery cooling system of an electric or hybrid vehicle and guides the cooling liquid to a heat exchanger. One of the walls of the heat exchanger is a sheet metal plate 10 having an orifice 10a and a spigot 12 to be attached to the orifice 10a. The spigot 12 has an internal, angular flow path for liquid, e.g. coolant or water ending in an orifice 10c arranged within the orifice 10a. Connector means 14 are provided for connecting the spigot 12 to the metal plate 10 so as to guide the liquid flowing in the flow path through the orifice 10c. The connector means 14 include a protruding collar structure 16 surrounding the orifice 10a.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 2 the collar structure 16 is integrally made of the sheet metal of said sheet metal plate 10 by a sheet metal forming process such as punching and deep-drawing. The circular cylindrical collar structure 16 protrudes from the sheet metal plate 10 as a roughly cylinder-barrel shaped circular wall in a direction perpendicular to a main plane or tangential plane of the sheet metal plate 10.

[0033] The collar structure 16 lends stability to the connection between the spigot 12 and the sheet metal plate 10 and stabilizes the rim of the orifice 10a provided in the centre of the collar structure 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the collar structure 16 has double layer structure obtained by folding the sheet metal back, the rim of the sheet metal being arranged on the inside of the collar structure 16.

[0034] The connector means 14 further includes a ring-shaped snap-on module 18 formed as an injection-moulded plastic part configured to be fitted over the collar structure 16. The snap-on module 18 includes a cylindrical insertion part 18a configured to be inserted into an orifice 10a of said collar structure 16, wherein a remote end of the cylindrical insertion part 18a in the insertion direction is provided with a plurality of latches 18b with snap-fitting protrusions protruding radially outward as first snap-on structures engaging with the lower rim of the collar structure 16. When inserting the cylindrical insertion part 18a into the orifice 10a of the collar structure 16, the latches 18b are deflected radially inward and snap back upon reaching the final engagement position.

[0035] The cylindrical inner wall of the insertion part 18a of the ring-shaped snap-on module 18 is provided with a notch 18c configured to receive a first O-ring 20.

[0036] A male end of the spigot 12 is configured to be inserted into an orifice 10b of the ring-shaped snap-on module 18 and thus into the collar structure 16 and locked in place by interacting with the connector means 14. A flange 28 of the spigot limits the depth of its insertion into the snap-on module 18. The inward deflection of the latches 18b is blocked by the spigot. The male end of said spigot 12 includes a plurality latching structures on a radial outside surface of its end portion, the latching structures being configured to engage with the lower rim, latches or other mating structures of the cylindrical inner surface of the ring-shaped snap-on module 18. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the latching ends of the spigot 12 protrude slightly over the inner (lower) surface of the snap-on module 18.

[0037] The ring-shaped snap-on module 18 further includes an outer wall surrounding the collar structure 16 and abutting to the radially outer wall of the collar structure 16 such that the overall profile of the ring-shaped snap-on module 18 is that of a reverse U-shape clipped onto the collar structure 16.

[0038] A second O-ring 22 sealing the connection between the snap-on module 18 and the metal plate 10 is arranged on an inner circumference of the collar structure 16, wherein the latter includes a flange 16a protruding radially inward configured to support the second O-ring 22 arranged between collar structure 16 and the outer wall of the insertion part 18a.

[0039] The remote end of the spigot 12 is configured with a barb structure fitting into a coolant hose, which may for example be further fixed by a hose clamp. However, the structure of the remote end of the spigot 12 is not particularly limited and may be of any structure suitable for connecting hoses or tubes.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an explosion view of the connector assembly including the spigot 12, the snap-on module 18, the first O-ring 20 sealing the connection between spigot 12 and snap-on module 18 and the second O-ring 22 sealing the connection between the snap-on module 18 and the metal plate 10.

[0041] The ring-shaped snap-on module 18 may be pre-assembled and snapped on the collar structure 16 of the metal plate 10 in an easily transportable unit without requiring special tools. The pre-assembled structure is illustrated in FIG. 5. The pre-assembled unit can be transported without risk of loss of the snap-on module 18 and the spigot 12 and a hose can then be attached in the final assembly of the application using the connector assembly.

[0042] The sheet metal plate 10 with the collar structure 16 is part of a cooling plate, heat exchanger or battery plate assembly but is not limited thereto. The invention can be applied to an easy connectable spigot 12 for all kinds of receptacles in any material.

[0043] The sheet metal plate 10 and the connector assembly are suitable for use in a cooling system, in particular for battery assemblies, for transporting cooling liquids.

[0044] FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second and third embodiment of the invention. In order to avoid repetitions, the following specification of these further embodiments is limited to differences to the first embodiment of the invention. Regarding the unchanged features, the skilled person is referred to the above specification of the first embodiment. The same reference signs are used for identical features of features having a similar effect in order to emphasize the similarities.

[0045] In the second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an O-ring 22 is provided in a gap between the outer wall and the collar structure 16 to seal the connection between the snap-on module 18 and the sheet metal plate 10. The flange on the inside of the collar structure 16 can be dispensed with in this embodiment.

[0046] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a spigot 12 and a snap-on module of a connector assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention the end portion of the spigot 12 to be inserted into the orifice 10b of the snap-on module 18 is provided with recesses 24 accommodating inwardly protruding end portions of a subset of latches 18b1 of the snap-on module 18. A second subset of latches 18b2 engages radially outward with the orifice 10a of the sheet metal plate 10 (not illustrated). The limited width of the recesses 24 in the circumferential direction define the relative rotational position of the spigot 12 and the snap-on module 18, which is further defined by mating structures 26, 26′ on an upper surface of the snap-on module 18 and on a flange 28 of the spigot 12.