Charge Port Door Biasing Mechanism for Automatic Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicle charge port doors often remain open inadvertently after a charger is decoupled, which can lead to safety hazards and aesthetic issues, as they are frequently opened and closed, and may be managed by individuals other than the vehicle driver.
Innovation Solution
A charge port covering assembly that includes a biasing device, such as a spring, and a slideable member, which automatically moves the charge port door to a closed position when the charger is decoupled, using an actuator assembly to transition between open and closed states, ensuring the door remains closed without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a charge port door is manually opened and closed by users, then the door can be opened when needed for charging, but the door may remain open inadvertently after charger decoupling, creating safety hazards and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The charge port door system performs the closing action automatically without requiring user intervention. The biasing device provides continuous force to return the door to closed position, and the actuator automatically activates upon charger decoupling to release the door, allowing the system to self-correct the open state without human input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors the charger coupling state through the actuator mechanism. When the charger is decoupled, the actuator detects this state change and automatically triggers the door closing sequence by releasing the biasing device's constraint, creating a feedback loop that responds to charger presence/absence.
2Reliability
If an automatic closing mechanism is implemented using a biasing device and actuator, then the door closes automatically when charger is decoupled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator serves as an intermediary component between the charger coupling state and the biasing device. It translates the charger presence/absence condition into mechanical action by engaging or disengaging the biasing device's constraint on the door, thereby mediating the automatic closing function without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static door position to a dynamic state when the charger is coupled. The biasing device is constrained during charging to maintain door openness, and automatically transitions to active closing force when the charger is decoupled, providing dynamic adaptation to operational conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the charge port door automatically closes when the charger is decoupled, preventing it from being left open and enhancing safety and aesthetics by maintaining the door in a closed position without requiring additional user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing device configured to move to a first position when a charger is decoupled from a charge port, and to a second position when the charger is coupled to the charge port
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary charge port covering assembly includes, among other things, a biasing device configured to move to a first position when a charger is decoupled from a charge port, and to a second position when the charger is coupled to the charge port. A charge port door is moveable to a closed position when the biasing device is in the first position, and is held in an open position when the biasing device is in the second position. An exemplary charge port covering method includes, among other things, biasing a charge port door toward an open position with a biasing device in a first position, and moving the biasing device from the first position to a second position to close the charge port door.