Patents by Inventor Thomas Fuehrer

Thomas Fuehrer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240136748
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical plug-in connector includes: at least one contact element having a first end region for connection to a corresponding plug-in connector, and a second end region, which faces away from the first end region and for connection to a load line; a heat capacity element arrangeable on the at least one contact element at least in regions; and an insulating material arrangeable in a region between the heat capacity element and the at least one contact element for electrically isolating the heat capacity element from the at least one contact element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20240136747
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical plug connector includes: at least one contact element with a first end region for connecting to a corresponding plug connector, and a second end region facing away from the first end region; a load line, an end section of an insulating-sleeve-free region of the load line being connectable to the second end region of the at least one contact element; and a heat capacity element arrangeable at least in regions on the insulating-sleeve-free region of the load line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20240042876
    Abstract: A cooling module for a plug connector part includes a main body having a cavity in which at least one terminal region is formed for electrical contacting by an electrical load line; at least one opening opening into the cavity via which a coolant can flow through the cavity; and a mounting surface for mounting an electrical load contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas FUEHRER, Robert BABEZKI
  • Patent number: 11811160
    Abstract: A plug contact for an electrical charging connector includes: a contact element having a contact area with at least one spring-loaded contact means, and a connection area for connecting an electrical conductor; a cooling element arranged at least in some areas around the contact area; and a heat-conducting element arranged between the cooling element and the contact element. The heat-conducting element is elastic and thermally and mechanically contacts the cooling element and the contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Patent number: 11745607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charging plug (100) for coupling to a corresponding plug connection (200) and for transmitting electrical energy, said charging plug comprising a charging plug housing (110) having a latching body (10) which is provided for establishing a detachable frictional and/or interlocking connection between the charging plug (100) and the plug connection (200) together with a corresponding latching body (20) of the plug connection (200), the latching body (10) having at least one detecting element (11) in a portion of the latching body (10) which is provided for frictional and/or interlocking connection to the corresponding latching body (20), and the charging plug housing (110) having at least one sensor unit (111) by means of which the detecting element (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Führer, Robert Babezki
  • Patent number: 11718192
    Abstract: A protective grounding and cooling system for a charging plug includes at least one protective ground conductor contact for galvanic connection to a protective ground conductor, and at least one cooling device for dissipating heat generated in the charging plug. The cooling device is galvanically connected to the protective ground conductor contact. The cooling device has a protective ground conductor connection for at least partial galvanic connection to the protective ground conductor, and in that the protective ground conductor contact, the cooling device and the protective ground conductor connection are arranged such that the protective ground conductor contact is galvanically connected to the protective ground conductor connection by means of the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Führer
  • Patent number: 11648842
    Abstract: A plug connector part for charging an electrically-operated vehicle is provided. The plug connector part includes at least one electrical contact element which is connectable along an insertion direction to a counter-contact element of a counter-plug connector part and has a plurality of contact lamellae grouped around a plug opening for receiving the counter-contact element. The plug connector part also includes a spring element arranged at the contact lamellae circumferentially around the insertion direction, at least in portions, in order to provide a mechanical pre-tensing. Further, a sensor device is configured to detect a measurement variable and is arranged at least at one of the contact lamellae and is held by the spring element at the at least one of the contact lamellae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20230119572
    Abstract: A plug contact for an electrical charging connector includes: a contact element having a contact area with at least one spring-loaded contact means, and a connection area for connecting an electrical conductor; a cooling element arranged at least in some areas around the contact area; and a heat-conducting element arranged between the cooling element and the contact element. The heat-conducting element is elastic and thermally and mechanically contacts the cooling element and the contact element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20230056363
    Abstract: A contact element assembly for a plug connector part connectable to a mating plug connector part includes: a contact element that has a body and a plurality of contact lamellae that are elastically movable at the contact body and that together form a plug opening and can be brought into contact with a mating contact element of the mating plug connector part that is pluggable into the plug opening in an electrically contacting manner; and a sensor device that has a sensor element that is arranged in relation to the contact lamellae such that in an operational state of the contact lamellae the sensor element is not in electrical contact with the contact lamellae, but that come into electrical contact with the at least one of the contact lamellae upon an exceptional deformation on at least one of the contact lamellae. The sensor element is connected to an evaluation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220376525
    Abstract: A connector part for connecting to a mating connector part includes at least one load contact and at least one temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the at least one load contact. The connector part further includes an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is configured to detect at least one sensor value of the at least one temperature sensor and at least one value of a parameter with respect to an electric current flow via the at least one load contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220289049
    Abstract: A plug connector for charging an electric vehicle includes: a housing, which delimits a housing interior chamber; a cable, which is led through an opening in the housing into the housing interior chamber; and a seal, which seals the housing interior chamber between the cable and the housing. The seal has a sealing lip enclosing the cable and contacting the cable. The seal has a sealing ridge enclosing the cable and contacting the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220264737
    Abstract: An electrical assembly includes a support element which has a body and a surface formed on the body, an electrical functional element arranged on the support element, and a temperature monitoring device arranged on the support element for monitoring a temperature on the electrical functional element. The temperature monitoring device includes a temperature sensor arranged on the surface of the support element, a physical contact element arranged on the surface of the support element, and at least one heat-conducting device embedded in the body of the support element. The at least one heat-conducting device extends at least in sections below the temperature sensor in the body and is thermally connected to the physical contact element via at least one through-connection. The physical contact element is thermally coupled to a coupling surface operatively connected to the electrical functional element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220250491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug connector part (1) for electrical connection to a mating plug connector part (3), comprising a housing (10), at least two load contacts (11A, 11B), a protective conductor contact (12) and a grounding element (13) which is arranged in the housing (10) and is electrically connected to the protective conductor contact (12), wherein the grounding element (13) extends, in an electrically contactable manner, on a creep path (K) between the two load contacts (11A, 11B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220250490
    Abstract: A plug connector part for charging an electrically-operated vehicle is provided. The plug connector part includes at least one electrical contact element which is connectable along an insertion direction to a counter-contact element of a counter-plug connector part and has a plurality of contact lamellae grouped around a plug opening for receiving the counter-contact element. The plug connector part also includes a spring element arranged at the contact lamellae circumferentially around the insertion direction, at least in portions, in order to provide a mechanical pre-tensing. Further, a sensor device is configured to detect a measurement variable and is arranged at least at one of the contact lamellae and is held by the spring element at the at least one of the contact lamellae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Publication number: 20220234455
    Abstract: A module for a plug-in connector part includes: a sleeve; at least two busbars, arranged in the sleeve, to each of which a plug contact and at least one load line are connectable or connected; and at least one heat capacity element mounted in or on the sleeve. The module is mountable on the plug-in connector part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Fuehrer, Lucas Funk
  • Publication number: 20220077638
    Abstract: A plug socket includes: a first connector face for connecting a plug for transmitting electrical energy and/or electrical signals via at least one contact element; and a second connector face having at least one contact assembly which is fastenable or is detachably fastenable thereto, and which has the at least one contact element, and/or via which the electrical energy and/or the electrical signals is transmittable by at least one electrical line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Fuehrer, Robert Babezki, Witalij Knaub, Dennis Sprenger
  • Publication number: 20220016988
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charging plug (100) for coupling to a corresponding plug connection (200) and for transmitting electrical energy, said charging plug comprising a charging plug housing (110) having a latching body (10) which is provided for establishing a detachable frictional and/or interlocking connection between the charging plug (100) and the plug connection (200) together with a corresponding latching body (20) of the plug connection (200), the latching body (10) having at least one detecting element (11) in a portion of the latching body (10) which is provided for frictional and/or interlocking connection to the corresponding latching body (20), and the charging plug housing (110) having at least one sensor unit (111) by means of which the detecting element (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Führer, Robert Babezki
  • Publication number: 20210206280
    Abstract: A protective grounding and cooling system for a charging plug includes at least one protective ground conductor contact for galvanic connection to a protective ground conductor, and at least one cooling device for dissipating heat generated in the charging plug. The cooling device is galvanically connected to the protective ground conductor contact. The cooling device has a protective ground conductor connection for at least partial galvanic connection to the protective ground conductor, and in that the protective ground conductor contact, the cooling device and the protective ground conductor connection are arranged such that the protective ground conductor contact is galvanically connected to the protective ground conductor connection by means of the cooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas FÜHRER
  • Patent number: 11005221
    Abstract: A charging plug, having a housing for accommodating power contacts and power contacts for power transmission, and having an apparatus for detecting liquid, which apparatus is configured to detect liquid collecting inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact E-Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Führer
  • Patent number: 10675988
    Abstract: A plug connector part includes: a plug section for plugging connection to an associated counter plug connector part; at least one contact element arranged on the plug section and having at least one electrically-conductive contact section for plugging connection to an associated counter-contact element of the counter plug connector part, and a shaft section connected to the contact section for securing an electrical line to the contact element; and a casing element that is attachable to the shaft section of the at least one contact element and has a body, a plug opening formed in the body for receiving the shaft section, and a cooling channel which is formed in or on the body and extends around the plug opening for conducting a coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Fuehrer, Robert Babezki