Vehicle Longitudinal Beam Charging Cable Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle charging systems lack a space-efficient and reliable method for managing charging cables, leading to potential damage and reduced trunk space utilization.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a charging cable guided within a longitudinal beam of the vehicle, which serves as a cable duct, combined with a rotatably mounted cable reel and optional spring-loaded or motor-driven winding mechanisms, ensures safe, reliable, and space-efficient handling and storage of the charging cable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the charging cable is stored externally or in a separate cable storage, then the cable can be accessed for charging, but trunk space is reduced and the cable is vulnerable to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable safetyVSAvoidtrunk space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cable reel is integrated into the longitudinal beam structure of the vehicle, merging the cable storage function with the existing structural component. This eliminates the need for separate cable storage spaces while maintaining cable accessibility and protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging cable is nested within the hollow interior space of the longitudinal beam, allowing the cable to be protected and stored within the existing structural envelope of the vehicle without requiring additional external storage volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the charging cable is routed externally along the vehicle body, then the cable is accessible, but the cable is exposed to damage and conflicts with other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable accessibilityVSAvoidcable damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The longitudinal beam serves as an intermediary protective structure through which the charging cable is guided. The hollow profile of the beam acts as a protective conduit, shielding the cable from external damage while maintaining controlled accessibility at the rear of the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a separate cable duct is installed to guide the charging cable, then the cable is protected, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable protectionVSAvoidcable management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The longitudinal beam is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the vehicle and simultaneously acts as a protective cable duct for the charging cable. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cable protection structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable guidance function is merged into the longitudinal beam structure itself, combining the structural and cable protection functions into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10384550B2Motor vehicle with a connection device

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 AUDI AG

AI summary

A motor vehicle with a traction battery and a connection device. The traction battery can be connected to an energy source external to the vehicle for recharging. In this case, the connection device has an electrical charging cable and a rotatably mounted cable reel for taking up the charging cable. The charging cable be guided in a longitudinal beam of the motor vehicle configured as a hollow profile.