COOLABLE SINGLE LINE AND CHARGING CABLE

Abstract

A single line for a charging cable includes an open support structure (011, 012) having a longitudinal extent, at least one channel conductor (2) made of electrically conductive material, and an insulation (3). The at least one channel conductor (2) wraps around and contacts the open support structure (011, 012) along its longitudinal extension. The insulation (3) wraps the open support structure (011, 012) and the at least one channel conductor (2). At least one channel (4) for a cooling fluid (5) is provided and is formed by the support structure (011, 012) and the channel conductor (2). The insulation (3) is impermeable to the cooling fluid (5) and is electrically insulating.

Claims

1. A single line (6) for a charging cable (12), comprising a) an open support structure (011,012) having a longitudinal extent, b) at least one channel conductor (2), made of electrically conductive material, and c) an insulation (3) wherein d) the at least one channel conductor (2) wraps around and contacts the open support structure (011, 012) along its longitudinal extent, and e) the insulation (3) encases the open support structure (011, 012) and the at least one channel conductor (2), and f) at least one channel (4) for a cooling fluid (5) is provided and this channel (4) is formed by the support structure (011, 012) and the channel conductors (2), and g) wherein the insulation (3) is impermeable to the cooling fluid (5) and is electrically insulating.

2. The single line (6) according to claim 1, wherein each of said channel conductors follows a helical line having a thread direction, a pitch and a radius, and the thread direction and pitch of the helical lines of all of said channel conductors are substantially equal, and wherein the radii of all helical lines of all channel conductors are equal.

3. The single line (6) according to claim 1, wherein each of the channel conductors is a stranded wire or a bundle of individual thin conductor wires.

4. The single line (6) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is a helix (011), the thread direction of which is different from the thread direction of the channel conductors and/or wherein the pitch ratio, which is the smallest pitch of the helix of one of the channel conductors divided by the pitch of the helix of the support structure, is greater than 4/3, and wherein the pitch ratio is less than 50.

5. The single line (6) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is an open profile (012) whose cross-section remains constant in shape and size along the longitudinal extension, but which shape twists about a longitudinal axis (0121) along the longitudinal extension.

6. The single line (6) according to claim 1, wherein the insulation is a fibre reinforced insulation.

7. The single line (6) according to claim 6, wherein the fibres are woven into a braid.

8. The single conductor (6) according to claim 6, wherein the fibres are arranged substantially in a layer and in said layer cover between 30 and 90% of the area of the layer.

9. A charging cable (12) comprising a first and a second single line (61, 62) according to claim 1, and a common protective sheath (7).

10. The charging cable (12) according to claim 9 further comprising an earth conductor braid (93) surrounding the first and second single lines (61, 62) and enveloped by or integrated into the common protective sheath (7), and/or an earth conductor in the form of juxtaposed wires or strands or bundles which are integrated into the common protective sheath (7) and which wrap both single lines together, strands or bundles being separated from one another by sections of protective sheath material which does not contain any earth conductor.

11. The charging cable (12) according to claim 9, further comprising at least one hose (81) made of a fluid-tight material, which is located inside the common protective sheath (7) but outside the first or second single lines (61, 62).

12. A connection system comprising a single line (61) according to claim 1 and two connection parts, each of the two connection parts comprising a fluid connection and an electrical connection, respectively, and wherein the fluid connection allows fluid to flow into or out of the single line and the electrical connection provides a path for transferring electrical power between a tap point and the conductors of the single line, and wherein each of the connection parts is formed as a chamber which has an opening for the fluid-tight connection of the single line and a second opening for the connection of a fluid line, and wherein an electrical contact for establishing an electrical connection with the conductors of the single line is located within this chamber, and this contact is connected to a current line which leads to the tapping point.

13. A charging system comprising a first and a second connection system according to claim 12, wherein the first connection system comprises the first single line of a charging cable (12) and the second connection system comprises a second single line of the charging cable (12), the charging cable comprising a common protective sheath (7), and wherein a first end of the first single line and a first end of the second single line are located at the first end of the charging cable, and a second end of the first single line and a second end of the second single line are located at the second end of the charging cable, and an end connector (13) comprises the connection part at the first end of the first single line and the connection part at the first end of the second single line, and a plug (14) comprises the connection part at the second end of the first single line and the connection part at the second end of the second single line.

14. A method of charging an energy storage device, at a stationary charging station configured to provide cooling fluid (5) and electrical power and to which a first end of a charging cable (12) according to claim 9 is connected, comprising: a) connecting a second end of the charging cable (12) to the energy storage device, b) introducing the cooling fluid (5) under pressure into the channels (4) of the single lines (61, 62) of the charging cable (12), and c) conducting electrical energy via the channel conductors (21) of the single lines (61, 62) of the charging cable (12), wherein signal cables (101) of the charging cable (12) are used for transmitting signals for controlling and/or monitoring the charging process and/or the state of charge of the energy storage device.

15. A method of manufacturing a single line (6) according to claim 1, comprising the following steps which are carried out successively in a production line: a) providing an open support structure and multiple channel conductors as a continuous material; b) winding the channel conductors onto the support structure; c) winding further conductors around the structure created in step b); d) co-extruding the insulation around the result of step (b) or (c); e) weaving a braid of fibres or winding fibres around the insulation produced in step d), f) co-extruding a second layer of material of the insulation around the product of step e) to form a fibre reinforced insulation.

16. A method of manufacturing a charging cable according to claim 9 comprising the following steps, which are carried out sequentially in a production line: a) providing two of the single lines and additional components of an inner structure of the charging cable as endless products; b) twisting the components of the inner structure together in a first direction; c) wrapping the twisted components of the inner structure with wires, bundles or strands in a second direction different from the first direction, and d) co-extruding a protective sheath.

17. Vehicle comprising single lines (6) according to claim 1, wherein the single lines (6) establish an electrical connection between a drive energy storage unit and a drive unit and/or an electrical connection between a socket in the exterior of a vehicle and a drive energy storage unit.

18. A charging point comprising single lines according to claim 1 configured to connect a plug of a charging system to a stationary power source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0255] The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

[0256] FIG. 1a a round single line with a helix as a support structure, which is wrapped with channel conductors;

[0257] FIG. 1b a round single line with an open profile as a support structure, which is wrapped with channel conductors in the form of bundles;

[0258] FIG. 1c a round single line with a helix as support structure and a second layer of further conductors on the channel conductors;

[0259] FIG. 2a an open profile;

[0260] FIG. 2b a twisted open profile;

[0261] FIG. 2c a helix with a variable pitch;

[0262] FIG. 3a a helix as support structure wrapped with channel conductors, the support structure and the channel conductors differing in their thread direction;

[0263] FIG. 3b a helix as support structure wrapped with channel conductors, the support structure and the channel conductors having the same thread direction;

[0264] FIG. 4a a charging cable with two single lines;

[0265] FIG. 4b a first embodiment of a charging cable with two single lines, earth conductor, hoses and signal cables;

[0266] FIG. 4c a second embodiment of a charging cable with two single lines, earth conductor, hoses and signal cables;

[0267] FIG. 4d a charging cable with two single lines, hoses, shunt, signal cables and an earth conductor braid;

[0268] FIG. 5 a charging system;

[0269] FIG. 6 a plug with plug cooling;

[0270] FIG. 7 a vehicle with two single lines.

[0271] In principle, the same parts are given the same reference signs in the figures.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0272] FIG. 1a shows a cross-section of a circular single line 6 with a helix 011 as a support structure and channel conductors 21 following helical lines with a circular base, which wrap around and contact the helix 011. The channel conductors 21 conduct current flowing through the single line 6. The channel conductors 21 are directly wrapped by an insulation 3. The insulation is fibre reinforced. It comprises an inner layer of insulating material and an outer layer of insulating material and an intermediate layer in which there is a fibre fabric surrounded by insulating material as fibre reinforcement 31. Inside the helix 011 is the free volume of the channel 4 formed by the helix 011 and the channel conductors 21. However, this channel 4 is not cooling fluid-tight, so that the cooling fluid 5 can spread in the radial direction towards the insulation 3.

[0273] FIG. 1b shows a cross-section of a circular single line 6 with an open profile 012 as a support structure and channel conductors 21a, which are wire bundles. The channel conductors 21a conduct the current flowing through the single line 6. The channel conductors 21a follow helical lines having a round base. The helical lines followed by the channel conductors 21a all have the same radius, the same thread direction and the same pitch. The channel conductors 21a are directly wrapped by an insulation 3. In cross-section, the support structure has the shape of a star with a circular connecting surface and six ribs arranged uniformly around the connecting surface. It is therefore a star cross-section of the first order. There are a total of six channels 4 of equal size formed by the open profile 012 and the channel conductors 21a, in which case also the structure of the channel conductors 21a and thus the channel 4 is intended to be permeable to the cooling fluid 5. The cooling fluid 5 can thus spread as far as the insulation 3.

[0274] FIG. 1c shows the distribution of the cooling fluid 5 in another single line 6. A cross-section through a circular single line 6 is shown with a helix 011 as a supporting structure and channel conductors 21 following helical lines with a circular base, which wrap around and touch the helix 011. The channel conductors 21 are surrounded by further conductors 22. The further conductors 22 are in electrical contact with the channel conductors 21, but do not themselves contact the support structure. Here, the diameters of the channel conductors 21 are significantly smaller than the diameters of the further conductors 22. The channel conductors 21 and the further conductors 22 jointly conduct the current flowing through the single line 6. The further conductors 22 are directly wrapped by an insulation 3. Inside the helix 011 is the free volume of the channel 4 formed by the helix 011 and the channel conductors 21. However, this channel 4 is not cooling fluid-tight, so that the cooling fluid 5 can spread in a radial direction around the further conductors 22 and up to the insulation 3.

[0275] The cooling fluid 5 is shown in grey. The insulation 3 is fluid-tight. The conductors 21, 22 themselves are generally impermeable to fluid, but the fluid is distributed in the spaces between them. Eventually it reaches the distribution shown, where substantially all conductors 21, 22 are in contact with the fluid over most of their surface area.

[0276] FIG. 2a shows an open profile 012 with a star cross-section of the second order with a round connecting surface and four ribs distributed at uniform angular intervals but having different lengths. The open profile 012 has a longitudinal axis 0121. Cross-sections along this longitudinal axis 0122a, b, c are always the same and have the shape of an upright cross, the horizontal extension always being smaller than the vertical extension.

[0277] FIG. 2b shows an open profile 012 with a star cross-section of the first order with a round connecting surface and four ribs distributed at equal angular intervals and having equal lengths. The open profile 012 has a longitudinal axis 0121 and cross-sections along this longitudinal axis 0122a, b, c are always the same in shape but are twisted with respect to each other. The shape of the cross-sections is a cross with approximately triangular ribs, the height of the triangles being equal. This is an example of a twisted open profile.

[0278] FIG. 2c shows a helix 011 with sections of different pitch 0111. This helix 011 is made of round wire. The helix 011 also has a longitudinal axis 0121.

[0279] FIG. 3a shows a helix 011 with constant pitch 0111 in side view. The pitch 0111 can be easily identified in this view, for example by looking at the distance between two points where the helix 011 appears in the field of view. Here, the pitch 0111 is a unit length. Also, in this view, the diameter 0112 of the cylinder defined by the helix 011 is equal to the width of the rectangle as which the cylinder appears in this view. Here, the radius of the base of the cylinder is equal to 1.15 units of length.

[0280] The convex envelope of the helix 011 is the cylinder shown in the side view. The points of contact of the supporting structure, i.e. the helix 011, with this circular cylinder, i.e. its convex envelope, are precisely the points of the helix 011 furthest from the longitudinal axis 0121 of the helix 011. The lines of the supporting structure in the present case, therefore, since the extension of the wire defining the helix 011 is not shown, precisely resemble the lines with which the helix 011 is drawn in FIG. 3a.

[0281] The helical lines 211 of the channel conductors each have a pitch of about 4.5 units of length and are left-handed. The pitch angle is arctan(pitch/(π diameter))=arctan(4.5/(2 1.15 π))=32°.

[0282] Helix 011 of the support structure is right-handed and has a pitch 0111 of 1 and thus a pitch angle of arctan(1/(2.3*π))=8°.

[0283] Thus, in the example shown, the helical lines 211 of the channel conductors cross the support structure lines at an angle 0113 of (180°−32°)−8°=140°.

[0284] The pitch ratio is 4.5.

[0285] FIG. 3a shows the course of a support structure in the form of a helix 011 and the helical lines 211 with a round base which the channel conductors follow in one embodiment. The helix 011 and the helical lines 211 have a different pitch. While helical lines 211 all have the same pitch, same thread direction, and the same radius, helix 011 of the support structure has substantially the same radius but a significantly lower pitch. In the example shown, a channel conductor 21 that follows one of the helical lines 211 shown rests on the helix 011 of the support structure a total of six times during one revolution about the longitudinal axis of the support structure.

[0286] FIG. 3b shows a very similar embodiment to FIG. 3a. However, the helix 011 of the support structure and the helical lines 211 of the channel conductors now have the same pitch. While the helical lines 211 all have the same pitch, the same clearance and the same radius, the helix 011 of the support structure has substantially the same radius but a much smaller pitch. In the example shown, a channel conductor 21 that follows one of the helical lines 211 shown will rest on the helix 011 of the support structure only a total of four times during one revolution about the longitudinal axis of the support structure.

[0287] In the example shown, the helical lines 211 of the channel conductors now cross the support structure lines 011 at an angle 0113 of 32°−8°=24°, because of the same thread direction.

[0288] The pitch ratio is also 4.5 here.

[0289] In FIG. 3b, in addition to the helical lines 211 of the channel conductors, two channel conductors 21 in the form of strands are also shown. To allow the cooling fluid to exit the channel, there is a small gap 24 between the channel conductors 21. Although it may appear different in FIG. 3b, the channel conductors 21 rest on the outside of the support structure and wrap around it.

[0290] FIG. 4a shows a charging cable 12 with two single lines 61 and 62. The first and second single lines 61 and 62 have a helix 011 as a support structure and both have a round cross-section and the same diameter. The single lines 61 and 62 are only shown schematically. Whether there is only the channel conductor 21 or also further conductors 22 is left open here. All variations are possible and the first single line 61 could be constructed differently than the second single line 62. Also, the single lines 61 and 62 could differ in diameter and/or shape. The two single lines 61 and 62 are adjacent to each other and within a common protective sheath 7. Here, the protective sheath 7 has the cross-section of a rectangle with rounded corners and somewhat bulged sides. In this case, the protective sheath 7 fills the entire space between its surface and the single lines 61 and 62.

[0291] FIG. 6b shows another charging cable 12 comprising two single lines 61, 62. The two single lines 61 and 62 have the same diameter and are arranged side by side, thus defining the inner diameter of the protective sheath 7 surrounding the single lines 61, 62. The single lines 61 and 62 shown correspond to the single line shown in FIG. 1a. Inside the protective sheath 7, i.e. in the area between its inner and outer radii, there is an extended earth conductor 93 in the form of a plurality of copper wires running parallel and winding around the cable interior. This extended earth conductor 93 may also be implemented by a conductor braid. The extended earth conductor 93 can serve both as a neutral conductor and as a screen or sensor for defects or excessive temperatures in the protective sheath 7. Inside the protective sheath 7 there is also an earth conductor 9 which consists of twisted copper wires and is provided with its own insulation completely inside the inner radius of the protective sheath 7. Furthermore, inside the protective sheath 7 there are two hoses 81 as well as a shunt 11 made of synthetic fibres, as well as four groups of three signal cables 101 each.

[0292] FIG. 4c shows another charging cable 12 comprising a first and a second single line 61, 62, an earth conductor 9, seven signal cables 101 in a common sheath 10 and four hoses 81. All this is surrounded by a common protective sheath 7. The protective sheath 7 is in the form of a circular hollow cylinder having an internal diameter equal to twice the diameter of a single line. The first and second single lines 61, 62 both have a circular cross-section and the same diameter. They differ in support structure: the first single line 61 uses a helix 011, while the second single line 62 uses an open profile 012.

[0293] The earth conductor 9 also has a round cross-section. It consists of neutral conductor wires 91 and neutral conductor insulation 92. The diameter of the earth conductor 9 is ⅔ of the diameter of the first single line 61.

[0294] The sheath 10 of the sheathed signal cables 101 also has a diameter of approximately ⅔ of the first single line 61. In cross-section, the sheath 10 of the sheathed signal cables 101 is circular. Each of the signal cables 101 also has a circular cross-section. The sheath 10 is thin. Two of the illustrated signal cables 101 comprise a signal conductor 1011 which is directly surrounded by a protective layer 1012. The signal conductor 1011 has a signal conductor cross-section 1013.

[0295] The conductor cross-section 23 of the first single line 61 is also shown. It includes both the conductor cross-section of the channel conductors 21 of the single line 61 and the conductor cross-section of possible further conductors 22 in electrical contact with the channel conductors 21.

[0296] The conductor cross-section 23 of the first single line 61 is more than 20 times the signal conductor cross-section 1013.

[0297] Each of the four hoses 81 has a circular cross-section and an outside diameter of about ⅓ the diameter of the first single line 61.

[0298] The first and second single lines 61, 62 are arranged adjacent to each other and in contact.

[0299] Above the point of contact and in contact with both single lines 61, 62 is arranged the sheath 10 with the signal cables 101 sheathed therein. Below the point of contact and in contact with both single lines 61, 62 is arranged the earth conductor 9. The two hoses 81 returning the cooling fluid 5 of the single lines 61, 62 are each arranged to be in contact with one of the single lines 61 or 62 and the earth conductor 9. The two hoses 81 supplying the plug cooling system 146 are each arranged to be in contact with one of the single lines 61 or 62 and the sheath 10. This results in a tight packing of all the components of the charging cable 12 and the two single lines 61, 62. Moreover, in this arrangement there are as many as eight points lying on the circumference of the arrangement. The inside of the protective sheath 7 corresponds exactly to the circumference of the arrangement. Four of the eight points are exactly 90° apart and are formed by solid conductors, the single lines 61, 62, the earth conductor 9 and the signal cables 101 in their sheath 10. The potentially compressible hoses 81 lie between these barely compressible structures. Under strong pressure, the hoses 81 may well be somewhat deformed, but the barely compressible structures on both sides protect them from complete closure.

[0300] In a preferred embodiment, the support structure of both single lines 61, 62 is a helix 011 made of wire of chromium-nickel steel with a wire diameter of 0.6 mm. This is surrounded by 14 channel conductors 21 of uncoated copper wires each having a cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm.sup.2, resulting in a conductor cross-section 23 of the single line 61 of 35 mm.sup.2. An insulation, preferably made of TPE or EPDM, surrounds the channel conductors 21 and completes the single line 61. The insulation is reinforced by an aramid or hemp fibre braid. The single line 62 is of the same construction. In the charging cable 12, in addition to two such single lines 61, 62, there are six signal cables 101 with a conductor cross-section 1013 of 0.75 mm each.sup.2, which are arranged around a shunt 11 and are held together by a common sheath 10. The cable also comprises two hoses 81, each with an internal diameter of 4 mm, an earth conductor 9 with a conductor cross-section of 16 mm.sup.2, and two strands of shunt 11. The arrangement is preferably as described in FIG. 4c, although the hoses 81 for supplying the plug cooling 146 have been replaced by shunt 11.

[0301] FIG. 4d shows another charging cable 12 comprising first and second single lines 61, 62, three hoses 81, three strands of shunt 11, six signal cables 101, an extended earth conductor 93 in the form of a braid and a protective sheath 7. The six signal cables 101 are arranged around a strand of shunt 11 and are bound together by a sheath 10.

[0302] The signal cables 101, the strands of the shunt 11, the hoses 81 and the single lines 61, 62 all have a circular cross-section. The protective sheath 7 has the shape of a hollow circular cylinder. On its inner side lies the extended earth conductor 93, which also has the shape of a round hollow cylinder. Inside this hollow cylinder formed by the extended earth conductor 93 are the two single lines 61, 62 and all the other components of the charging cable. The inner radius of the braid of the extended earth conductor 93 is equal to the diameter of a single line 61, and the diameter of the two single lines 61, 62 is equal. The braid of the extended ground conductor 93 is configured to allow a small increase in its inner radius. The sheath 10 and one of the hoses 81 have a diameter of approximately ⅔ of the diameter of the first single line 61. The two remaining hoses 81 and the two strands of the shunt 11, which are located outside the sheath 10, preferably have a diameter of approximately ⅓ of the diameter of the first single line 61.

[0303] In a preferred embodiment, a single line 6 has a helix 011 with a diameter of 7.4 mm, comprising chromium-nickel-steel wire with a diameter of 0.6 mm as a support structure. This is surrounded by several layers of copper wire, with the layer of copper wires nearest the support structure constituting the channel conductors. The number of wires and the diameter of the wires are selected in such a way that the conductor cross-section 23 of the single line 6 is 35 mm.sup.2. These channel conductors 21 and the further conductors 22 are surrounded by an insulation, preferably of EPDM or TPE, with the thickness of 2 mm, so that the single line 6 has a diameter of 12 mm.

[0304] In a preferred embodiment of a charging cable 12, the charging cable 12 comprises two of these single lines 61, 62, two hoses 81 made of polyurethane (PUR) with an outer diameter of 4.0 mm and a hose 81 with an outer diameter of 8.0 mm, the wall thickness of the large hose 81 being 1 mm and that of the small hoses 81 being 0.5 mm. The hose 81 with an outer diameter of 8.0 mm receives the cooling fluid 5 which has flowed through the channels 4 of both single lines 61, 62 and cools them. The hoses 81 with an outer diameter of 4.0 mm serve as a supply and return line for a plug cooling 146. Furthermore, the charging cable 12 comprises six signal cables 101 each with a conductor cross-section 1013 of 0.75 mm.sup.2 and a conductor diameter of 1 mm. This is surrounded by an insulation 3 with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm. These six signal cables 101 are arranged around a shunt 11, preferably made of PP or PE, with a diameter of 2 mm. A sheath 10 with a thickness of 0.5 mm is arranged around the six signal cables 101. The whole arrangement is surrounded by a braid of copper wires with a diameter of 0.25 mm, the braid forming a cylinder with an inner diameter of 24 mm. A protective sheath 7 with a wall thickness of 2.75 mm surrounds everything, so that the charging cable 12 has a total diameter of 30 mm. This charging cable 12 is easy to grip. It contains a volume of 90.5 mm.sup.3 of copper per mm of length, and a volume of 67.5 mm.sup.3 of water per mm of length when the charging cable 12 is operated with water as the cooling fluid 5. This gives a weight of slightly less than 1 g/mm length of charging cable or 1 kg/m length of cable. With cooling using water at 20° C. and a flow rate of 1.8 l/min, this charging cable 12 can transmit a current of 700 A over a length of 7 m without the surface becoming hotter than 50° C. at an ambient temperature of 20° C. Under the same conditions, almost 600 A can be transmitted without the charging cable 12 becoming hotter than 40° C. anywhere on its surface.

[0305] FIG. 5 shows a charging system comprising a charging cable 12, a plug 14 and an end connector 13. The end connector 13 comprises electrical contacts 131 and a fluid supply 132 for the cooling fluid 5. The end connector 13 comprises two connector parts, but these are not visible in the present figure. The fluid feed 132 is configured to provide a pump or piping system that provides the cooling fluid 5 with a desired pressure differential between the inflow and outflow of the fluid feed 132. The fluid supply 132 comprises the fluid connections of the two connection parts that the end connector 13 comprises. The electrical contacts 131 are configured to be connected to a power source providing the power to be transmitted. The electrical contacts 131 are the tapping points of the connection parts that the end connector 13 comprises.

[0306] The plug 14 includes two connector parts 147a, b, the common boundary of which is indicated by a dashed line in the present figure.

[0307] The plug 14 comprises in its interior a fluid return 141 which receives cooling fluid 5 from one of the single lines 61, 62 and conducts it into the other single line or which receives cooling fluid 5 from both single lines 61, 62 and conducts it into one or two hoses 81 of the charging cable. The fluid return 141 is realized by the design of the fluid connections of the two connector parts that the plug comprises. Furthermore, the plug 14 comprises electrical contacts 142 by means of which an electrical connection to the energy storage device to be charged can be established. The electrical contacts 142 are the tapping points of the two connection parts that the plug 14 comprises. The plug 14 may further comprise other contacts which are connected to signal cables 101 and via which a data exchange can take place between the apparatuses connected to the charging cable 12.

[0308] FIG. 6 shows a section through a plug 14 with a plug cooling 146. The plug 14 comprises three connections for hoses 81 of the cable 145, 144 and two connections for single lines 143. The two connections for single lines 143 are formed as tubes of good conducting material. The channel conductors 21 and the possibly further conductors 22 are brought into contact with the tube, for example by placing them over the outside of the tube and clamping and/or soldering them there. By this clamping and/or soldering, the cooling fluid 5 is prevented from reaching the outside of the tube. The tube preferably has an internal diameter which is approximately the same size or slightly larger than the channel or channels 4 of the single line 6 to be connected. The interior of the tube is preferably made of an electrically insulating material. The fluid enters the interior of the tube. Shortly after the connection, in the interior of the plug 14, the tube splits: the good conducting material of the tube wall is combined and merges into the desired shape of the electrical contact 142 at the plug outlet, the tapping point. The insulating material inside the tube forms a tube which merges with the tube of the connector for the second single line 143, eventually leading to the connector for a hose 144. This is the fluid return 141 of the plug 14. The connection for a hose 144 may comprise a tube which widens conically towards the connector. The hose 81 may be pulled over this tube and then clamped in place. In the same way, the other two connections for hoses 145 may be designed. These represent the outflow and return flow for the plug cooling 146. This comprises one or more cooling lines which pass those parts of the plug 14 which are to be specifically cooled.

[0309] For the sake of clarity, the two connecting parts 147a,b have not been specifically marked in this figure: The contacts 142 represent the tapping points of the connection parts 147a,b. The fluid connection of one connector part leads into the fluid connection of the other connector part. The fluid port of the other connector part includes the fluid return 141 and the port for a hose 144.

[0310] FIG. 7 shows a vehicle 15 with two single lines 16 that provide a connection between an outlet 152 and a traction energy storage device 151.

[0311] In summary, the conductor cross-sections of the single lines 6, the ground conductor 9 and the signal cables 101 can be selected according to the respective requirements. Likewise, the arrangement of the components of the charging cable can be selected to suit the requirements. For example, sensors may be integrated into the charging cable 12 and the number of signal cables 101 may be selected to be higher or lower. In particular, strands of shunt 11 may be replaced by signal cables 101, sensors, further hoses 81, further conductors for transmitting electrical power or unstructured filling material. The protective sheath 7 may be reinforced, for example with electrically insulated rings or a wire helix to further improve rollover resistance. Further reinforcement may also be provided around the protective sheath 7. Instead of tinned copper, bare copper, copper alloys, aluminium or other conductor materials may be used, throughout or only in parts of the single lines 6 and/or the charging cable. Similarly, the tubing 81 may be EPDM, nylon, polyamide or silicone. The hoses may be fibre reinforced. The wall thicknesses of insulations and hoses 81 can be selected according to the respective requirements. The material of the protective sheath 7 and the material of the insulation 3 of the single lines 61, 62 may be identical. The sheath 10 of the signal cables 101 may be dispensed with. The channel conductors 21 may be configured as single wires, bundles or strands of wires. Wires and groups of wires may be replaced by tapes or strands of multiple wires. The protective sheath 7 need not be round, but may also conform to the shape of the cable components or to external conditions.