The present invention relates to an electrical connector, a connector

arrangement, and a method of distributing electric energy.

BACKGROUND

Connectors for supplying electrical power are widely used in a variety of applications, for example for charging electric vehicles, for battery charging or general port-based electric power supply (cold ironing) to ships and vessels, in household appliances, in microcontrollers or microelectronics, etc. Depending on the application, it is desirable for such connectors to satisfy one or more of the requirements: providing a high transmission capacity (i.e. is capable of transferring high power relative to its size), ensuring a safe and secure connection with low risk of inadvertent disconnect, having minimal friction and wear during connection or disconnection (particularly for connectors which are subjected to frequent connection and disconnection cycles), etc.

The present invention has the objective to provide a connector, connector arrangement and a method having advantages over known solutions and techniques in the above and other areas.

SUMMARY In an embodiment, there is provided an electrical connector having a male part and a female part, the male part having at least one electrically conducting pin, the female part having at least one slot, each slot configured to receive one of the at least one pin and having an electrically conducting element, the electrically conducting element having a contact area arranged facing an inside of the slot, the female part further comprising a force transmission unit connected to the electrically conducting element and configured to push the contact area against a surface area on the pin when the pin is received in the slot. In an embodiment, the female part comprises a non-conducting element arranged between the electrically conducting element and the force

transmission unit. In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element is fixed to the nonconducting element.

In an embodiment, the force transmission unit is configured to exert a force on the electrically conducting element in a direction normal to the surface of the contact area and/or in a direction normal to a tangent plane of the contact area.

In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element has a flexible or articulated end portion connected to a first electrical distribution system. In an embodiment, the electrical connector has a second electrically conducting element having a second contact area, where the second contact area is arranged facing an inside of the slot, the female part further comprising a second force transmission unit connected to the second electrically conducting element and configured to push the second contact area against the surface area on the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the surface area and the second surface area are arranged on different sides of the pin. In an embodiment, the electrically conducting element is movable and has a first operational position in which the electrically conducting element is spaced from the pin when the pin is received in the slot and a second operational position in which the electrically conducting element is in contact with the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the second electrically conducting element is movable and has a first operational position in which the second electrically conducting element is spaced from the pin when the pin is received in the slot and a second operational position in which the second electrically conducting element is in contact with the pin when the pin is received in the slot.

In an embodiment, the position of the second electrically conducting element is fixed in relation to the slot.

In an embodiment, the female part has a housing, the electrically conducting element being arranged to be movable within the housing, and the force transmission unit is connected to the housing and to the electrically conducting element.

In an embodiment, the female part further comprises a guide element configured to guide the electrically conducting pin into the slot. In an embodiment, there is provided a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to any of the embodiments described above, wherein the male part is arranged on a movable arm connected to a stationary base and the female part is arranged on a vehicle or a vessel. In an embodiment, the connector arrangement has a first operational configuration wherein the movable arm is configured to move the male part into engagement with the female part, and a second operational configuration wherein the male part is held in engagement with the female part by the electrical connector and the movable arm is put in an idle operational state.

In an embodiment, there is provided a method of distributing electric energy, the method comprising the steps: providing a connector arrangement according to one of the embodiments described above, operating the movable arm to bring the male part into engagement with the female part, operating the electrical connector to hold the male part in engagement with the female part, putting the movable arm in an idle operational state.

In an embodiment, the method is used provide electric energy to a vehicle or a vessel. In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the stationary base comprises an elongate housing and the movable arm is arranged within the elongate housing and configured to be movable along a longitudinal axis of the elongate housing.

In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the movable arm has

a first operational position in which the male part is located inside the elongate housing, and

a second operational position in which the movable arm extends out of the elongate housing and the male part is in contact with the female part.

In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the male part comprises an elastic material and the at least one electrically conducting pin is supported by the elastic material.

In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the movable arm extends out of the elongate housing through an end opening of the elongate housing, and wherein a damping element is arranged to support the movable arm against the end opening. In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the male part comprises a protection sleeve arranged on an outer periphery of the male part and slidable along the male part in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing.

In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the female part comprises a damping element which is arranged to support the female part against the vessel. In an embodiment, a connector arrangement according to any one of the above embodiments is provided, wherein the stationary base is arranged on a ferry slip. In an embodiment, the ferry slip comprises a ramp with a driveway thereon and an end section of the ramp configured to cooperate with a corresponding driveway on a ferry, and wherein the stationary base is arranged on the ramp.

In an embodiment, the ramp is vertically movable by means of a ramp lifting device.

In an embodiment, the stationary base is pivotable around an axis extending horizontally and perpendicular on a longitudinal axis of the ramp. In an embodiment, the male part has a substantially circular cross-section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Examples of embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figures 1 -7 illustrate embodiments of an electrical connector.

Figures 8-10 illustrate embodiments of a connector arrangement.

Figures 1 1 -16 illustrate embodiments of a connector arrangement

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 -7 illustrate an electrical connector according to an embodiment. Shown in Fig. 1 , the electrical connector has a male part 1 and a female part 2. The male part 1 has three electrically conducting pins 3a-c. The female part 2 has three slots 4a-c configured to receive the pins 3a-c. As will be described in more detail in relation to Fig. 5-7, each slot 4a-c has an electrically conducting element 5 arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c. Each electrically conducting element 5 has a contact area 7a-c, where the contact area 7a-c is arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c such as to allow it to be brought in contact with a respective pin 3a-c when the pin 3a-c is received in the slot.

As also shown in Fig. 2, the female part 2 further comprises a set of force transmission units, in the embodiment shown three actuators 6a-c configured to exert a force on each electrically conducting element 5 such as to push the contact area 7a-c against a corresponding surface area 8a-c on the pin 3a-c. The force transmission units may be hydraulic actuators, electromagnetic actuators, or any other unit capable of producing a suitable force. In the embodiment shown, the force transmission units are controllable

electromagnetic linear actuators. The actuators may be automatically or manually controlled, for example via a proximity sensor which registers the pins 3a-c being received in the slots 4a-c, by an external control system providing a signal to activate the actuators, or by a manual signal from an operator to do so.

The female part 2 further has a housing 2' and the electrically conducting element 5 is arranged in a movable manner within the housing 2'. The actuators 6a-c are connected to the housing 2' and to the electrically conducting element 5 such as to allow the relevant actuator 6a-c to move the electrically conducting element 5. The actuators 6a-c may be fixed substantially on the outside of the housing 2' on a support element 60, as illustrated in Figs 1 a and 2, and having a rod or pin extending through the housing 2' and into the female part 2 to connect the actuator to the electrically conducting element 5. Figure 4 illustrates the actuators 6a-c and the associated components without the housing 2'.

Each electrically conducting element 5 is movable and has a first operational position in which it is spaced from the respective pin 3a-c (see Fig. 5) and a second operational position in which it is in contact with the pin 3a-c (see Fig. 6). The actuators 6a-c move the electrically conducting element 5 between the first operational position and the second operational position. (The force from the actuators illustrated by arrow F in Fig. 5.) This allows the pins 3a-c to be inserted into the female part 2 without engaging the electrically conducting elements 5, thereby eliminating any friction during the insertion, or wear on the components. A non-conducting element 9 is arranged between the conducting element 5 and the respective actuator 6a-c. A part of the electrically conducting element 5 is fixed to the non-conducting element 9. The conducting element 5 may be formed as a plate structure fixed to a surface of the non-conducting element 9.

In the embodiment shown, the contact areas 7a-c are formed as flat surfaces and the surface areas 8a-c on the pins 3a-c are equivalently formed as flat surfaces. When operating the actuators, the actuator force will press each contact area 7a-c against a corresponding surface area 8a-c, thereby ensuring good electrical contact and also locking the pins 3a-c in the slots 4a-c by means of friction. The actuator force acts in a direction which is parallel to a normal vector of the flat surface of the contact area 7a-c, or at least in a direction such as to produce a force component which acts in that direction.

Alternatively, the contact areas 7a-c may be formed as non-flat surfaces, such as a curved surface or a serrated or angled surface. The corresponding surface area 8a-c on the pins 3a-c may be formed in a corresponding design such as to allow engagement with the contact areas 7a-c and good contact between the surfaces. In this case, the actuator force may be arranged to act in a direction which is normal to a part of the contact area 7a-c surface, or act in a direction normal to a tangent plane of the contact area 7a-c (for example in the case of a curved surface). As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the electrically conducting element 5 has a flexible end portion 5a which is connected to a first electrical distribution system 10. The end portion 5a may be made of a flexible material, comprise an articulated link, or the like. This allows some movement of the electrically conducting element 5 when being moved between the first operational position and the second operational position. The first electrical distribution system 10 may be, for example, a distribution system on a vessel which permits charging of onboard batteries or general electrical supply to the ship's machines and accessories. The electrical power can be supplied from an electric grid 1 1 , which may be shore-based. As is most clearly visible in Figs 5 and 6, the electrical connector may also have a second electrically conducting element 5' having a second contact area, where the second contact area is arranged adjacent and facing the slot 4a-c, similarly as described above. The female part 2 may in such a case comprise second actuators 6d-f (see Fig 4) configured to exert a force on the second electrically conducting element 5' such as to push the second contact area against a second surface area 8a' on the pin 3a-c. The surface area 8a-c and the second surface area 8a' are arranged on different sides, in this embodiment opposite sides, of the pin 3a-c. This configuration improves the locking functionality of the connector.

Alternatively, the second electrically conducting element 5' may be fixed in relation to the housing 2. In such a case, the upper set of actuators 6a-c may push the pins 3a-c against the second electrically conducting element 5' and hold the respective pin 3a-c locked between the electrically conducing element 5 and the second electrically conducting element 5' by means of friction force. Alternatively, the second electrically conducting element 5' may be movable and the electrically conducting element 5 may be fixed.

As can be best seen in Figs 2 and 3, the female part 2 further comprises a guide element 13 configured to guide the electrically conducting pins 3a-c into the slot 4a-c. Fig. 3 shows a cut of Fig. 2, as indicated, also showing the contact areas 7a-c.

Illustrated in Figs 8-10, in one embodiment, there is provided a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector according to any of the embodiments described above, and wherein the male part 1 is arranged on a movable arm 20 (in the figures illustrated in various different operational positions) and the female part 2 is arranged on a vehicle or a vessel 21 . In the example shown, the vehicle or vessel 21 is a ship provided with electrical power for cold ironing or battery charging from a connector arrangement arranged on a quay 23. The arm 20 may be a conventional jointed arm, which is, for example, hydraulically or electrically operated. The arm 20 may be arranged partly within, and connected to, a stationary base 22. The movable arm 20 is configured to move the male part 1 into engagement with the female part 2 when an electrical connection is required. The arm 20 may be manually or automatically controlled to achieve this. The connector arrangement according to this embodiment may obviate the need to maintain an active force from the arm 20 to hold the male part 1 in place in the female part 2 when connected, since the friction-based locking effect of the connector may be designed sufficiently large to keep the connector in place, also during relative movement between the vessel 21 and the base 22. This allows the arm 20 to be switched to a passive (or idle) mode once connected, thus not requiring any active control or energy consumption. For example, if using a hydraulic arm, the hydraulic valves can be opened to the low-pressure hydraulic system side such that the arm simply moves passively and follows the motion of the vessel 21.

Figures 1 1 -14 illustrate an embodiment of a connector arrangement. In this embodiment, the stationary base 122 comprises an elongate housing 123 and the movable arm 120 is arranged within the elongate housing 123 and configured to be movable along a longitudinal axis a of the elongate housing 123. Fig. 1 1 shows two states of the connector arrangement, a first (top of Fig. 1 1 ) in which the connector arrangement is in a disconnected state, and a second (bottom of Fig. 1 1 ) in which the connector arrangement is in a

connected state. In the first, i.e. disconnected, operational position, the male part 1 is located inside the elongate housing 123, and in the second, connected, operational position, the movable arm 120 extends out of the elongate housing 123 and the male part 1 is in contact with the female part 2 arranged on the vessel 21 .

Fig. 12 illustrates the male part 1 of this embodiment in more detail. The male part 1 here comprises an elastic material 124 at its front end, and the electrically conducting pins 3a-c extend through the elastic material 124. They are thus supported by the elastic material 124 in all direction. Alternatively, the elastic material 124 may be arranged only on selected sides of the electrically conducting pins 3a-c (for example, top and bottom) if sufficient support is thereby obtained. By providing elastic material 124 in this configuration, better support of the connector arrangement is obtained, for example if the vessel 21 moves in relation to the stationary base 122.

A damping element 126 may also be arranged in the end opening 125 of the elongate housing 123 and arranged to support the movable arm 120 against the end opening 125 when the movable arm 120 extends out of the elongate housing 123 through the end opening 125 of the elongate housing 123.

The male part 1 may also comprise a protection sleeve 127 arranged on an outer periphery of the male part 1 and slidable along the male part 1 in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis a of the elongate housing 123. The protective sleeve 127 can be seen in Fig. 12-14. By sliding the protective sleeve 127 forward, it may cover (at least partly) the electrically conducting pins 3a-c and thus protect these from weather or other external impacts. This is illustrated in Fig. 13, which shows the situation as the male part 1 is about to engage the female part 2. The protective sleeve 127 is in the forward position, thus protecting the electrically conducting pins 3a-c prior to connection. As the protective sleeve 127 engages the female part 2, it will slide backwards on the male part 1 , and the male part 1 can be brought into engagement with the female part 2. Fig. 14 illustrates the situation as the male part 1 has just disconnected from the female part 2. The arm 120 is moved backwards. As the protective sleeve 127 reaches the elongate housing 123, it will be stopped. The male part 1 may continue backwards, being withdrawn into the protective sleeve 127. Thus, it may not be necessary to withdraw the male part 1 fully inside the elongate housing 123 in order to achieve satisfactory protection against weather or other external impacts, but may be sufficient to withdraw it only into the protective sleeve 127.

The female part 2 may also comprise a damping element 128 (see Figs 1 1 , 13, and 14) which is arranged to support the female part 2 against the vessel 21 . This further aids the support of the connector arrangement, for example if the vessel 21 moves in relation to the stationary base 122.

The male part 1 may have a substantially circular cross-section, and the female part 2 may have an equivalent substantially circular cross-section area to receive the male part 1 . The guide element 13 may also have a circular cross- section.

Figs 15 and 16 show an embodiment of a connector arrangement. In this embodiment, the stationary base 122 is arranged on a ferry slip 200. The ferry slip 200 comprises a ramp 201 with a driveway 202 thereon and an end section 203 of the ramp is configured to cooperate with a corresponding driveway on a ferry. The stationary base 122 is arranged on the ramp 201 such that the male part 1 may be moved by the arm 20, 120 such as to cooperate with the corresponding female part 2 on the ferry.

The ramp 201 is vertically movable by means of a ramp lifting device 204 in order to account for tidal differences and varying displacement of the ferry. In this embodiment, as can be seen in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16, the stationary base 122 is pivotable around an axis extending horizontally and perpendicular on a longitudinal axis x of the ramp 201 . This allows the male part 1 to be connected safely to the ferry while the ferry is being unloaded, and while vehicles are driving along the driveway, both of which may create movement between the ferry and the ramp 201. The loads acting on the connector arrangement are thus reduced.