Removable Vehicle Battery Cover Locking for Sealing and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for on-board electrical power units in vehicles, such as bicycles and scooters, face challenges in facilitating easy installation and removal, preventing noise and contact degradation, ensuring compartment closure, and protecting against mechanical stresses and water intrusion.
Innovation Solution
A closure and protection system featuring a hinge-attached cover with integrated locking mechanisms that allow simultaneous operation for locking and unlocking, ensuring the power supply unit is securely attached to the vehicle, reducing vibrations, and maintaining compartment sealing, while disengageable mechanical connections prevent hinge damage during stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the power supply unit is loosely fitted into a housing attached to a hood, then the hood can be rotatably mounted and easily opened, but the power supply unit vibrates relative to the housing which generates noise and degrades electrical contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is segmented into two independent but coordinated mechanisms: hood locking means that engage between the hood and vehicle chassis, and battery locking means that secure the power supply unit to the vehicle. This segmentation allows each mechanism to perform its specific function while working together through a common locking assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood locking means and battery locking means are merged into a single common locking assembly that operates simultaneously under one user input. This combining allows the user to lock or unlock both the hood and power supply unit with a single action, simplifying operation while ensuring both components are securely fixed to prevent vibration and contact degradation.
2Reliability
If a key-locked cover is used to seal the charging compartment, then the compartment can be secured, but removing or adjusting the cover complicates the process of replacing or removing the power unit
Solution Approach 1:
The hood locking means and battery locking means are integrated into a single common locking assembly that operates simultaneously. When the user operates the locking mechanism once, both the hood (providing compartment security) and the power supply unit are locked or unlocked together, eliminating the need for separate operations and simplifying the power unit replacement process.
3Reliability
If a permanently hinged cover with locking mechanism is used, then the power supply unit can be locked to prevent theft, but the operations required to install or remove the power supply unit are complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The hood locking means (which provides theft prevention by securing the hood to the chassis) and the battery locking means (which secures the power supply unit) are combined into a single common locking assembly. This integration allows both functions to be achieved simultaneously with a single user input, avoiding the need for multiple separate locking operations and simplifying the installation and removal processes.
4Ease of operation
If the hinge connects the hood to the vehicle chassis, then the hood can be mounted, but the hinge is at high risk of damage when the hood is in the open position due to the long lever arm effect
Solution Approach 1:
The disengageable mechanical connection is designed to automatically detect and respond to excessive mechanical stress on the hinge. When stress exceeds a predetermined threshold (indicating potential damage), the connection disengages to release the hood, preventing further stress accumulation that could damage the hinge. This preliminary protective action occurs before actual damage can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a protective mechanism that anticipates potential hinge damage by providing a disengageable mechanical connection designed to fail safely under excessive load. This beforehand protection allows normal operation while preventing catastrophic hinge failure through controlled disengagement when stress thresholds are exceeded.
Data Source
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AI summary
Vehicle (1) having a receiving compartment (3) shaped to receive and contain a removable power supply unit, with an opening (4) for the passage of the power supply unit, and with a hood (5) hinged on a hinge (6) and forced into a retracted position by a hood return spring, wherein: - hood locking means (7), actuable by a user, are arranged to retain and reversibly lock a second end of the hood (5b) to the vehicle (1), - battery locking means (8), actuable by the user, are arranged to retain and reversibly lock a second end of the battery in the receiving compartment (3),- the hood locking means (7) and the battery locking means (8) are linked to each other so as to operate simultaneously under the effect of a single input from the user, producing the locking and/or unlocking of the hood (5) and the power supply unit.